Romanian Car Insurance: Bucharest Drivers Face 18% Hike as Other Regions See Decreases

Bucharest residents are bracing for a significant increase in mandatory car insurance (RCA) premiums, with prices expected to climb by up to 18%. This surge contrasts sharply with a projected decrease in insurance costs for drivers in other regions of Romania. According to a recent news report, the reference tariff for a car with up to 102 horsepower, driven by someone under 30 years old in Bucharest or Ilfov, could rise from 3,656 lei to an additional 180 lei with a 5% increase, or up to 650 lei with an 18% increase. For drivers aged 41-50 with a car between 103-136 horsepower, a 5% increase would mean an extra 110 lei on a current premium of 2,260 lei, while an 18% hike would add approximately 400 lei. Drivers over 60 with a 407 horsepower vehicle, currently paying 4,107 lei, could see their premiums increase by 200 lei with a 5% rise, or a substantial 740 lei with an 18% increase. Analysts suggest that while Bucharest faces significant increases, other counties might experience a decrease of up to 8% in RCA policy prices. This disparity raises questions about fairness for drivers in densely populated urban areas.