Since the late nineties, the Traffic Law contemplated mandatory insurance For vehicles. In the two previous governments, the civil liabilitybut its entry into force was postponed and finally suspended due to the Covid-19 pandemic.
However, As of May 1, 2025the Hiring of third parties insurance will be a mandatory requirement for the circulation of vehicles and motorcycles in Guatemala.
This measure seeks to establish a greater control and order in road safety.
In addition, it implies that drivers must comply with current regulations, which includes possessing a valid driver’s license to be able to hire insurance.
Mandatory insurance in Guatemala: five things that are known
These are the confirmed aspects about the mandatory insurance against third parties in Guatemala, including coverage, costs, fines and regulations established in the government agreements.
Minimum vehicle coverage values
Third parties insurance establishes minimal coverage amounts according to the type of vehicle:
- Motorcycle: Q380,060.00
- Private vehicle: Q760,120.00
- Urban passenger transport vehicle: Q1.520,240.00
- Load vehicle: Q1.520,240.00
Types of compensation
The policies will offer Three types of coverage For people affected in an accident:
- Degradation table (For permanent disabilities)
- Temporary disability value or job suspension
Fines for not having insurance
The drivers that Do not hire insurance against third parties will face economic sanctions:
- Urban passenger transport: Q4,000
- Load transport: Q4,000
If the driver is involved in a accident and does not have the insurancethe fines will quote:
- Private vehicle: Q3,200
- Urban passenger transport: Q15,000
- Load transport: Q15,000
Amount of compensation
The compensation will apply uniformly for all types of vehicles and oscillate between one and fifty non -agricultural monthly minimum wages.
The value to compensate will be between Q3 thousand 723.05 and Q186 thousand 152.50depending on the Injury severity. By deaththe payment will be Q186 thousand 152.50.
Insurance coverage
He Safe against third parties will cover only physical damage that an insured vehicle can cause people in a traffic accident. This includes injured and deceased.
Unlike other civil liability policies that can be acquired in addition, this insurance will not cover material damage such as vehicles, posts, constructions or other goods.
Mandatory in Guatemala: what is about to be defined
Fixed value of the basic premium
The exact costs of insurance premiums have not yet been defined. According to Hermann GirónPresident of the Board of Directors of the Guatemalan Association of Insurance Institutions (AGIS), details on the costs of insurance by vehicle type will be announced March 25, 2025.
According to the organization Guate for Guatesome unofficial estimates indicate possible values for the daily cousin: between Q1 and Q9.28which would cover the types of vehicles in the agreements published on March 17.
The values have not been officially confirmed and it will be the AGIS authorities who report in the next few days the commercial prices agreed for policies.
Final content of the policies
Insurers have already worked in base texts for policies, taking as reference the current insurance.
However, these must comply with the requirements established in the Government agreements published by the Ministry of the Interior.
VEHICLE STATE VERIFICATION
The authorities of the Superintendence of Tax Administration (SAT), on previous occasions, have indicated that they will implement mechanisms to prevent vehicles with Destruction certificates or declared unusable are used in Guatemala.
Despite this, the regulations that will establish the Expert and verification criteria to authorize the circulation of these vehicles and their access to insurance policies. Although Girón confirmed that on the side of the insurance companies they would be in charge of including any vehicle state that has authorization to circulate in the country.
What are the regulations
He Mandatory insurance against third parties is regulated by four government agreementsaccording to the type of vehicle:
- Motorcycles: Government Agreement 46-2025
- Private vehicles: Government Agreement 47-2025
- Urban passenger transport (with or without remuneration): Government Agreement 48-2025
- Load transport: Government Agreement 49-2025 (includes heads, trails, trailers and other load transport attachments)
The mandatory insurance against third parties in Guatemala is a measure that seeks to improve road safety and ensure that accident victims receive compensation.
Although the normative bases and some key parameters have already been established, fundamental aspects such as the Fixed cost of the premium, the detailed content of the policies and the regulation on vehicles with a history of destruction.
The next few days will be key to defining these points, so drivers must remain informed about the official provisions before the entry into force of the measure May 1, 2025.