On 15 October 2026, Bulgaria’s Parliament adopted amendments to the Insurance Code concerning short-term “Гражданска отговорност” policies. Many owners of cars, motorcycles, motorhomes and seasonally used vehicles immediately wondered whether they could now obtain insurance for one month instead of a year.
We explain who can actually obtain policies for 30 days, three months or six months, what happens when insurance expires, when registration may be terminated automatically and whether you need to visit the Traffic Police (KAT) to restore it.
Adoption by Parliament does not itself mean that a law has entered into force. Before taking out a short-term policy, check when the amendments were published in the State Gazette (“Държавен вестник”) and when they take effect.
What has changed in car insurance in Bulgaria?
“Гражданска отговорност” is Bulgaria’s compulsory motor third-party liability insurance, broadly equivalent to OSAGO.
The amendments do not give every vehicle owner an unrestricted right to monthly insurance. Their main purpose is to prevent insurers from refusing short-term contracts in the cases expressly provided for by law.
The law provides for policies lasting:
- 30 days;
- 3 months;
- 6 months.
Eligibility for such a policy depends on the vehicle’s category and registration status.
Which vehicles qualify for short-term insurance?
The amendments primarily concern vehicles used seasonally or subject to a special registration regime:
- motorcycles and mopeds;
- category L vehicles;
- motorhomes and caravans;
- slow-moving vehicles;
- self-propelled machinery;
- vehicles with temporary registration.
For an ordinary passenger car with permanent registration, seasonal use alone does not give the right to take out monthly insurance.
Before entering into a contract, check the current wording of Article 489 of Bulgaria’s Insurance Code.
Can you leave a car uninsured if it is kept in a garage?
This is one of the most common questions among vehicle owners in Bulgaria.
As a general rule, a registered vehicle that has not officially been taken out of service must have valid “Гражданска отговорност” insurance.
The insurance obligation remains even if the vehicle is unused and kept in a garage or on private parking premises. The law takes account of its registration status, rather than whether it is being driven.
Simply allowing insurance to lapse can therefore have serious consequences.
What happens when insurance expires?
Once the policy expires, the information is sent to Bulgaria’s Guarantee Fund.
The procedure is as follows:
- The owner receives a notice that there is no valid insurance.
- The owner has 14 days to provide evidence of insurance.
- If the information is not received, the Guarantee Fund notifies the registration authority.
- The Traffic Police (KAT) may terminate the vehicle’s registration administratively.
Lack of insurance and termination of registration are separate legal consequences. Even if registration has not yet been terminated, using the vehicle without a valid policy is prohibited.
Is registration restored automatically after new insurance is obtained?
Yes. In most cases, the law provides for automatic restoration of registration.
After a new insurance contract is concluded, the information is transferred through the Guarantee Fund to the Bulgarian Ministry of Interior’s system. Registration may be restored on that basis without a separate application from the owner.
If the information has not appeared in the system or automatic restoration has not occurred, the owner may apply to the Traffic Police with the valid policy and vehicle documents.
Is the procedure different for companies and individuals?
No.
If the vehicle is registered to a company (EOOD or OOD), the procedure for terminating and restoring registration due to lack of insurance is the same as for individuals.
After a new policy is obtained, the mechanism for administrative restoration of registration applies regardless of whether the vehicle belongs to an individual or a legal entity.
How can you lawfully keep a vehicle off the road for winter?
If you do not intend to use the vehicle for a long period, consider the official procedure for temporarily taking it out of service (“временно спиране от движение”).
This option helps avoid problems with compulsory insurance and the vehicle’s registration status.
Keeping a vehicle in a garage and not driving it do not replace the official procedure for temporarily taking it out of service.
Frequently asked questions
Can I obtain one month’s insurance for an ordinary passenger car?
No. The general procedure does not provide that right. Eligibility for a short-term policy depends on the vehicle category and the conditions in Article 489 of the Insurance Code.
Does a vehicle kept in a courtyard need insurance?
Yes, if it is registered and has not officially been taken out of service.
Will registration be terminated immediately when insurance expires?
No. The law provides for notification of the owner and a prescribed procedure involving the Guarantee Fund.
Do I need new number plates after registration is restored?
Generally, no. Restoring registration after new insurance has been obtained does not require the vehicle to be registered again.
Can I drive immediately after purchasing a new policy?
Before driving, check that the insurance has taken effect, the information has been sent to the Guarantee Fund and registration has been restored in the Ministry of Interior’s system.
