How MTPL Price Is Calculated: Bonus-Malus and Coefficients

The MTPL policy price is not fixed — it's calculated individually, for each vehicle and driver, based on several risk factors. The GENERAL Asigurări online form shows you the exact price for your details in a few minutes, with no obligation.

Why does the MTPL price differ from one driver to another?

Two drivers with the same car can pay different MTPL premiums, because the premium reflects individual risk, not just the vehicle type. The MTPL price from GENERAL Asigurări is calculated individually for each vehicle and driver, based on the vehicle's type and engine capacity, the driver's experience and claims history — the bonus-malus system — the vehicle's use, including as a taxi, and the owner's legal status.

These factors are not a secret internal formula invented by each insurer separately: every insurer applies them under the approved MTPL methodology — a common framework set for the compulsory insurance market, not a variable each company makes up on its own.

The bonus-malus system: how it works over the years

Bonus-malus is the mechanism that links the MTPL price to your driving history. Drivers with no at-fault accidents get a discount year after year — the bonus builds up gradually, as periods pass without a claim paid because of your fault. Drivers with at-fault accidents, on the other hand, pay more — the malus applies when the insurer records a loss you caused that was paid to an injured party.

In practice, history matters over the long term: every year without an at-fault accident brings you closer to a more favourable bonus class, while a single at-fault accident can break that streak and push the premium back up. The bonus-malus class is applied automatically when the policy is calculated, based on your MTPL insurance history — it's not something you declare yourself, but something the system assesses from existing data.

Note: the exact bonus-malus classes and the discount or surcharge percentages for each class are not confirmed in the sources available for this article.

What other factors affect the premium?

• Vehicle type and engine capacity. A car with a more powerful engine, or in a different category, represents a different risk profile than a smaller or older model, and this is reflected in the premium calculation — regardless of who is driving.
• How the vehicle is used. A vehicle used as a taxi has a different risk profile from one used purely for personal purposes — which is why this use must be declared correctly when the policy is issued, not only if an accident happens.
• The owner's legal status. Whether the owner is an individual or a legal entity is also a factor taken into account when setting the premium.
• Declaring this data correctly matters twice over: besides the correct premium calculation, MTPL requires you to notify the insurer, when the contract is signed, about the vehicle's intended use and the owner's legal status — including whether it will be used as a taxi.

Incorrect data can affect both the price calculated for you and how a future claim is handled.

What the MTPL policy itself covers and doesn't cover, regardless of price, is explained in the dedicated article.

What the bonus-malus system is NOT

Bonus-malus is not a fixed discount you negotiate with the insurer over the phone — it's calculated automatically, from your claims history, with no manual intervention from you or the agent. It also has nothing to do with how long you've been with a particular insurer or how loyal you are to a brand: the factors are applied uniformly, under the approved MTPL methodology, no matter which company you buy the policy from.

And it's not the only thing that determines the final price: two drivers with exactly the same claims history can still be quoted different premiums, because of the other factors — vehicle type, use, or owner status. Bonus-malus adjusts the price based on history, but it doesn't set it alone.

Why renewing MTPL on time matters

Bonus-malus is calculated based on your MTPL insurance history — which means an uninterrupted history, with no gaps, is exactly what the system evaluates. An MTPL contract usually runs for 12 months. If you renew the policy no later than the last day the old one is valid, your cover continues without interruption, starting the day right after the previous contract expires.

If, instead, you go for a while without a valid MTPL policy and then take out a new one, cover only starts the day after the new contract is signed — not retroactively. For the price to be calculated correctly, the vehicle's and driver's details need to be up to date in what's sent to the insurer, whether you're renewing on time or signing a completely new contract.

How do you find the exact price of your policy?

The only correct way to find the MTPL price for your situation is to enter the real vehicle and owner details into the online form. The GENERAL Asigurări MTPL online form automatically pulls information from the state databases and shows you the premium calculated for your specific profile before you buy the policy. For details on what the policy itself covers — not just the price — see the MTPL insurance page.

What to remember

1. The MTPL price is calculated individually, for each vehicle and driver — there's no single price for everyone.
2. Bonus-malus links the price to your history: with no at-fault accidents, the premium drops year after year; with an at-fault accident, it rises.
3. Vehicle type and engine capacity, how it's used — including as a taxi — and the owner's legal status also affect the premium.
4. The same factors are applied by every insurer, under one approved MTPL methodology.
5. Calculate the exact price of your policy — it takes a few minutes and involves no obligation.