RCA and CASCO in Moldova: what is the difference between mandatory and voluntary car insurance

RCA and CASCO are different types of car insurance. RCA is the mandatory motor third-party liability insurance policy for vehicle owners and covers damage that the driver causes to third parties. CASCO is voluntary insurance for your own car against damage, theft and other risks provided for in the contract. RCA is required for legal participation in road traffic, while CASCO helps protect your own vehicle.

Many drivers in Moldova know that they cannot use a car without RCA, but they do not always understand how this policy differs from CASCO. This leads to typical questions: if I have RCA, do I also need CASCO? Will RCA cover the repair of my car? Can I buy CASCO without RCA? Why does CASCO cost more if RCA is mandatory? And in what cases does voluntary car insurance really make sense?

The main difference is simple: RCA protects your liability towards other road users, while CASCO protects your own car. If you are at fault in a road accident, RCA helps compensate the injured party for the damage. But the repair of your own car is not paid under your RCA policy. To protect your own vehicle, you need a CASCO policy.

In this article, we explain what RCA and CASCO are in Moldova, what risks they cover, how they differ in terms of price, conditions and payouts, when only mandatory insurance may be enough and when it is worth additionally arranging voluntary insurance.

What RCA is

RCA is mandatory motor third-party liability insurance for vehicle owners. Such a policy is required for owners of cars registered in Moldova in order to participate legally in road traffic. In essence, RCA does not protect the at-fault driver’s car, but their liability towards other people.

If the driver causes damage to another car, property or the health of third parties, the insurance company reviews the case and, if the terms of the contract and the law are met, pays compensation to the injured party.

RCA in Moldova is a regulated type of insurance. The RCA Data system is used for calculating and checking policies. It is important for the driver not only to pay for the insurance, but also to make sure that the data in the policy is correct: owner, vehicle, registration certificate number, validity period, insurance company and other information.

Through Superpolis.md, you can buy RCA online, calculate the price, pay for the policy and receive the insurance document without visiting an office. This is convenient if your old insurance is about to expire or if you need to quickly arrange mandatory car insurance for your vehicle.

What risks RCA covers

RCA covers the driver’s civil liability towards third parties. This means that the policy is needed in case a road accident causes damage to another person, a car or property.

Usually, RCA may cover:

• damage to the injured party’s car;
• damage to other property, if it occurred as a result of a road accident;
• injury to the health of affected persons;
• cases provided for by law and the terms of mandatory car insurance.

For example, if a driver caused an accident and damaged someone else’s car, the repair of the injured party’s car may be paid under the at-fault driver’s RCA. But the at-fault driver’s own car is not repaired under their RCA policy. This is a key point that is important to understand before an insured event occurs.

RCA is also not universal protection against all car-related expenses. It does not cover theft, damage to the car in a parking lot, a fallen branch, hail, fire, vandalism or damage to your own car if you were at fault in the accident. For such situations, another type of protection is needed — CASCO.

When RCA compensation may not be enough

RCA performs an important function: it protects injured parties and reduces the financial burden on the person responsible for the accident. But this policy may not be enough if the driver wants to protect their own car.

The most common situation is an accident caused by you. If you damage someone else’s car, the injured party may receive compensation under your RCA. But you will have to pay for the repair of your own car yourself if you do not have CASCO.

The second situation is damage to the car without another participant in the accident. For example, the car was damaged by a fallen tree, hail, fire, a natural event, damage in a parking lot or actions of third parties. RCA usually does not cover such cases because they are not related to your civil liability towards a person injured in a road accident.

The third situation is car theft. RCA is not designed to protect against theft. If a driver wants to protect the car from theft or serious damage, voluntary CASCO insurance should be considered.

The fourth situation is an expensive car or a car bought on credit, in leasing or recently purchased. Even minor damage to a new or expensive car can be costly. In such cases, RCA covers only liability towards others, but does not help restore your own vehicle.

The fifth situation is a car under warranty. Even if you are not at fault in the accident and you are the injured party, RCA compensation may not be enough if the car is under warranty and repairs must be carried out at an official dealer.

During the damage assessment process, when damaged components or parts need to be replaced, the calculation procedure depends on the age and mileage of the car. For vehicles up to three years old from the year of manufacture and with mileage of up to 100,000 km, the repair cost is determined based on documents issued by a repair unit agreed by the parties or by the repair unit indicated in the valid warranty certificate. In this case, new original components and parts are used for the vehicle repair.

For cars older than three years and/or with mileage over 100,000 km, the approach may be different: new licensed components and parts, non-original aftermarket equivalent parts or used original parts may be taken into account for the repair, provided that they comply with technical standards and road safety requirements and are available on the local market. If such parts are not available on the local market, the damage may be determined based on the cost of new original components and parts.

In practice, this is important for the owner of a car under warranty because RCA compensation may cover repairs and replacement of parts according to the rules for calculating insurance compensation, but it may not always fully cover all expenses related to servicing at an official dealer and maintaining the warranty conditions. As a result, the owner may face a choice: pay the difference out of pocket in order to carry out repairs according to the dealer’s requirements and keep the warranty, or repair the car under the conditions covered by RCA, but with a risk to the warranty.

What CASCO is and how voluntary insurance works

CASCO is voluntary car insurance. Unlike RCA, it is aimed at protecting your own vehicle. A CASCO policy may cover damage, theft, natural events, fire, illegal actions of third parties and other risks if they are included in the contract.

The main feature of CASCO is that the terms are determined by the specific insurance company and the selected programme. Different insurers may have different lists of risks, deductibles, insured amounts, repair rules, photo inspection requirements, payment terms and exclusions.

CASCO is especially relevant for new, expensive, credit, leasing and frequently used cars. It may also be useful for drivers who want to reduce financial risks in case of a road accident, even if they themselves turn out to be responsible for the accident.

Through Superpolis.md, you can submit a request for CASCO selection in Moldova, compare offers from insurance companies and choose suitable terms in terms of coverage, deductible, cost and service format.

What risks CASCO covers

The exact list of covered risks depends on the contract. Therefore, before arranging the policy, it is important not to rely only on the name “CASCO”, but to carefully check the terms of the specific programme.

Usually, CASCO may cover:

• damage to the car in a road accident;
• damage to the car caused by the driver themselves;
• theft or stealing of the car;
• fire;
• explosion;
• natural events;
• falling trees, branches, ice or other objects;
• damage in a parking lot;
• illegal actions of third parties;
• vandalism;
• damage to windows, headlights, bodywork and other car elements;
• towing or additional services, if provided for in the contract.

At the same time, CASCO does not mean that the insurance company pays for absolutely all damage under any circumstances. Every contract has exclusions. For example, there may be limitations related to driving under the influence, absence of documents, failure to comply with operating rules, participation in competitions, handing over the vehicle to a person not authorised to drive, or driving outside the territory covered by the policy.

Before buying CASCO, you need to clarify which risks are included in the basic coverage, which risks can be added separately, what deductible applies and how the repair will be carried out: at a service station indicated by the insurer, at an official dealer or according to another scheme.

Main differences between RCA and CASCO

RCA and CASCO are often compared, but they are not interchangeable policies. They differ by purpose, mandatory status, coverage, cost and payout procedure.

In very simple terms, RCA is needed to protect other people from damage you may cause on the road. CASCO is needed to protect your own car from damage that may occur in different situations.

Can you buy CASCO without RCA

CASCO and RCA are different types of insurance. In theory, CASCO protects the car itself, while RCA protects civil liability towards third parties. But for a car to participate in road traffic, RCA remains a mandatory policy.

Therefore, CASCO does not replace RCA. Even if the driver has voluntary insurance for the car, this does not exempt them from the need to have a valid RCA. If the car is used on public roads, mandatory car insurance must be arranged.

At the same time, CASCO can be considered additional protection to RCA. First, the driver ensures mandatory liability coverage, and then, if necessary, adds protection for their own car.

In practice, many owners of new, expensive or credit cars arrange both policies: RCA because it is mandatory insurance, and CASCO because it helps protect the value of the car itself.

When only RCA may be enough for a driver

In some cases, the driver may limit themselves to RCA only. For example, if the car is inexpensive, used rarely, is not bought on credit or in leasing, and the owner is ready to pay for possible repairs to their own car themselves. RCA alone may also be a practical option for older cars, especially if the car is more than 10–12 years old: for such cars, CASCO may be more difficult to arrange because insurance companies do not always accept older vehicles for insurance.

Only RCA may be enough if:

• the car has a low market value;
• repairing possible damage would not become a serious financial problem;
• the driver uses the car rarely;
• the car is not new and not bought on credit;
• the owner is ready to accept the risk of damage to their own car;
• there is no need to protect the car against theft, fire, natural events and other risks.

But even in this case, it is important to monitor the validity period of the RCA, enter data correctly when arranging the policy and check the policy after purchase. Expired or incorrectly issued mandatory insurance can create problems during a check or in case of a road accident.

If you need to quickly arrange mandatory car insurance, you can use the RCA page on Superpolis.md.

When it is worth additionally arranging CASCO

CASCO is worth considering if the car has significant value for the owner and its repair or loss may seriously affect the budget. This is especially relevant for new cars, expensive models, credit and leasing vehicles, as well as cars used daily in the city or on highways.

It is worth additionally arranging CASCO if:

• the car is new or expensive;
• the car was bought on credit or in leasing;
• car repair may be costly;
• the driver often drives in the city or over long distances;
• the car is kept in an open parking area;
• there is a risk of damage caused by third parties, weather or natural events;
• the owner wants protection against theft;
• the car is used for work or business;
• the driver wants to reduce financial risks in case of an accident caused by them.

CASCO may also be useful for less experienced drivers. If a person has only recently started driving actively, the likelihood of mistakes on the road may be higher. In such a situation, voluntary insurance provides additional peace of mind.

It is important not to choose CASCO based only on price. You need to compare the insured amount, deductible, covered risks, exclusions, repair terms and claims settlement procedure. Superpolis, as an insurance broker, helps compare offers from several insurers and choose an option for a specific car and budget.

→ Submit a request for CASCO selection

How the cost of insurance changes depending on the car

The cost of RCA and CASCO is calculated according to different principles. RCA is a mandatory type of insurance, so its price is determined according to established rules and depends on the data of the car, owner and other factors provided for by the calculation system.

When arranging RCA, the owner’s data, type of vehicle, car characteristics, registration territory, insurance period, bonus-malus and other parameters used to calculate the mandatory insurance premium are usually taken into account. For correct calculation, it is important to enter the data strictly according to the documents.

The cost of CASCO is formed differently because it is voluntary insurance. Here, the insurance company evaluates the car itself, its value, year of manufacture, make, model, operating conditions, selected coverage, deductible, territory of validity and other parameters.

With CASCO, the price may depend on:

• the value of the car;
• year of manufacture;
• make and model;
• cost of repairs and spare parts;
• storage conditions;
• selected insured amount;
• list of risks;
• size of the deductible;
• repair terms;
• territory of validity;
• age and driving experience of the drivers admitted to drive;
• claims history, if it is taken into account by the insurer.

For example, CASCO for a new car with a high value and repairs at an official dealer will cost more than a policy for a simpler car with a lower insured amount and deductible. But the level of protection may also be different.

When comparing options, it is important to look not only at the final price. Two CASCO policies may cost differently because one includes more risks, a lower deductible and more convenient repair terms, while the other offers more limited coverage.

Common misconceptions about RCA and CASCO

Misconception 1. If I have RCA, my car is also insured

This is one of the most common mistakes. RCA covers liability towards third parties, not your own car. If you are at fault in an accident, the injured party may receive compensation under your RCA, but you repair your own car yourself if you do not have CASCO.

Misconception 2. CASCO replaces RCA

CASCO does not replace mandatory insurance. Even if the car is insured under CASCO, RCA is still required for participation in road traffic. These are different products with different purposes.

Misconception 3. CASCO covers everything without exclusions

CASCO provides broad protection, but every contract has terms and exclusions. Before arranging the policy, you need to check which risks are included, what deductible applies, who may drive the car, where the policy is valid and in what cases the insurance company may refuse payment.

Misconception 4. The cheapest policy is always more beneficial

A low price may be attractive, but it is important to understand why it is lower. If the insured amount is lower, the deductible is higher and the coverage is narrower, such an option may turn out to be less beneficial in case of an insured event.

Misconception 5. If I drive carefully, I do not need CASCO

Careful driving reduces the risk of an accident, but it does not protect against all situations. The car may be damaged in a parking lot, because of weather, falling objects, fire, theft or actions of third parties. Therefore, the decision about CASCO depends not only on driving style, but also on the value of the car, storage conditions and the owner’s willingness to pay for repairs themselves.

Misconception 6. RCA and CASCO are always arranged in the same way

RCA can be arranged online fairly quickly because it is a mandatory product with a standard calculation logic. CASCO more often requires individual selection, consultation, photo inspection of the car and agreement of the contract terms.

What to do in case of an insured event

The procedure depends on which policy is used: RCA or CASCO, who is at fault in the accident and what the circumstances were.

If a road accident has occurred, it is important not to rush and to properly document the circumstances. In some situations, calling the police may be required. In other cases, it may be possible to use the Constatare amiabilă procedure, if the conditions for it are met. The insurance company or broker must also be notified within the deadlines provided for in the contract.

For RCA, it is usually important to establish the at-fault party and the injured party, document the accident and provide the documents required for reviewing the case. For CASCO, you need to act according to the contract terms: notify the insurer, provide photos, documents, the car for inspection and other confirmations.

How to choose between RCA and CASCO

In fact, choosing between RCA and CASCO is not entirely correct because RCA is mandatory and CASCO is additional voluntary insurance. The real question is rather whether you need only the mandatory minimum or whether it is worth adding protection for your own car.

To make a decision, ask yourself several questions:

• how much your car is worth;
• how expensive it would be to repair;
• where it is kept;
• how often you drive;
• whether there is credit or leasing;
• whether you are ready to pay for repairs after an accident yourself;
• how important protection against theft, fire, hail, falling objects and actions of third parties is;
• whether you need help selecting terms and comparing offers.

If the car is inexpensive and possible repairs would not be a problem, RCA may be enough. If the car is new, expensive, bought on credit, used daily or its loss would become a serious financial risk, CASCO is worth considering.

How to arrange RCA and CASCO through Superpolis.md

Superpolis.md helps arrange mandatory and voluntary car insurance in Moldova. Through the website, you can choose the type of policy you need, receive consultation and compare offers from insurance companies.

For RCA, the process is usually quick: the driver enters the data, checks the calculation, pays for the policy and receives the insurance document. For CASCO, more details may be required: car data, desired coverage, deductible, photo inspection and agreement of terms.

Superpolis helps you:

• arrange RCA online;
• submit a request for CASCO;
• compare offers from several insurers;
• understand the difference between mandatory and voluntary car insurance;
• choose coverage for your car and budget;
• understand the contract terms;
• receive support in case of an insured event.

→ Buy RCA online
→ Choose CASCO in Moldova
→ View all Superpolis insurance services

Frequently asked questions about RCA and CASCO

How does RCA differ from CASCO?
RCA covers the driver’s liability towards third parties, while CASCO protects the owner’s own car against damage, theft and other risks, if they are included in the contract.

Does RCA cover the repair of my car?
No. If you are at fault in an accident, your car is not repaired under your RCA policy. RCA is intended to compensate the injured party. To protect your own car, you need a CASCO policy.

Can I drive only with CASCO, without RCA?
No. CASCO does not replace mandatory RCA. If the car participates in road traffic, a valid RCA policy is required.

Do I need CASCO if the car is old?
It depends on the value of the car and the owner’s willingness to pay for repairs themselves. RCA may be enough for an inexpensive car, but the decision depends on the specific situation.

When is CASCO especially useful?
CASCO is worth considering for new, expensive, credit and leasing cars, as well as if the car is used frequently, kept in an open parking area or its repair may be costly.

Why is CASCO more expensive than RCA?
Because CASCO protects the owner’s own car and may cover a wide range of risks: accidents, theft, fire, natural events, parking damage and other events. RCA covers liability towards third parties.

Can RCA be bought online in Moldova?
Yes. Through Superpolis.md, you can buy RCA online, pay for the policy and receive the insurance document without visiting an office.

Can CASCO be arranged online?
Through Superpolis.md, you can submit an online request for CASCO selection. To arrange the policy, consultation, agreement of terms and photo inspection of the car may be required.

Choose car insurance through Superpolis.md

RCA and CASCO perform different tasks. RCA is mandatory and protects your liability towards other road users. CASCO is voluntary and helps protect your own car against damage, theft and other risks provided for in the contract.

If you want to buy mandatory car insurance or choose additional protection for your car, Superpolis.md will help you compare offers from insurance companies and choose a suitable option.

→ Buy RCA online on Superpolis.md
→ Submit a request for CASCO selection
→ Get help in case of an insured event