Romania (RO)
Romania is the largest country in Southeastern Europe — a full Schengen EU member state blessed with the dramatic Carpathian mountains, medieval Saxon towns like Sibiu and Brasov, the legendary Transylvania region, a booming technology sector, and one of the lowest costs of living in the European Union.
Insurance Guide
Which insurances you actually need in Romania, prioritised.
Romanians buy two insurance products by law — RCA for any vehicle and PAD for any home — and treat almost everything else as optional. The private market is dominated by a handful of large groups (Allianz-Țiriac, Groupama, Omniasig, Generali) after two high-profile insolvencies (City Insurance 2022, Euroins 2023) tightened the sector. Always verify an insurer's status with ASF (Autoritatea de Supraveghere Financiară) before buying, and prefer multi-year renewal flexibility over headline-cheap premiums.
Legally Mandatory
- - RCA (Răspundere Civilă Auto) — third-party liability auto insurance, mandatory for any vehicle registered in Romania
- - PAD (Poliță de Asigurare Obligatorie a Locuinței) — mandatory home natural-disaster insurance against earthquake, flood and landslide
- - Dangerous-dog liability — mandatory under Legea 205/2004 for restricted breeds (Pit Bull, Rottweiler, Dogo Argentino and others)
Auto Third-Party Liability (RCA)
Legally required liability cover for any vehicle registered in Romania. Pays damages you cause to other people or their vehicles.
Who needs it: Every vehicle owner — driving without RCA is a serious offence and leads to plate seizure.
Annual cost: 600–2,500 RON per year depending on car, driver age and location; Bucharest and Cluj premiums sit at the top of the range
Premiums are capped by ASF using a reference tariff recalculated twice a year. Compare quotes via compara-asigurari.ro or rcaon.ro — prices can differ by 30–40% for the same risk profile. RCA is tied to the vehicle, not the driver.
Mandatory Home Natural-Disaster (PAD)
Legally required minimum cover against earthquake, flood and landslide. Issued only by PAID Romania on behalf of the state insurance pool.
Who needs it: Every homeowner in Romania — the policy is attached to the property, not the person.
Annual cost: €10 per year for homes up to 20,000 EUR (type B); €20 per year for homes above that threshold (type A, brick/concrete construction up to 100,000 EUR coverage)
Around 80% of Romanian homes are still uninsured despite the legal obligation — enforcement is weak but fines of up to 500 RON exist. Romania is highly seismic, so PAD is genuinely valuable, not just a formality. PAD does NOT cover fire, theft or water pipe damage — add a voluntary contents policy for that.
Dangerous-Dog Liability
Legally required liability cover for owners of restricted breeds under Legea 205/2004.
Who needs it: Owners of Pit Bull Terrier, American Staffordshire Terrier, Dogo Argentino, Rottweiler, Mastino and their crosses.
Annual cost: 200–600 RON per year
Must be combined with a clean criminal record (cazier judiciar) and a permit from the local police station. Without both, the dog cannot legally be registered.
Comprehensive Auto (CASCO)
Covers damage to your own vehicle from accidents, theft, vandalism, fire and natural hazards — going beyond the mandatory RCA (third-party liability) to protect your own car.
Who needs it: Owners of vehicles worth over 30,000 RON, drivers with a financed car (often mandated by the bank), anyone commuting daily in dense urban traffic.
Annual cost: 2,000–8,000 RON per year, typically 3–6% of the vehicle's insured value
Choose a realistic deductible (franșiză) — zero-deductible plans cost significantly more. Check whether "all risks" wording includes rodent damage (common in rural Romania) and vandalism while parked.
Voluntary Home Contents & Buildings
Covers fire, burst pipes, theft, vandalism and accidental damage — everything PAD excludes. Can cover both the building and its contents.
Who needs it: Homeowners, renters with valuable possessions, anyone mortgaging a property (lenders usually require it).
Annual cost: 400–1,500 RON per year depending on coverage and city
Always add third-party liability towards neighbours (e.g. if your washing machine floods the flat below) — typically included as a rider at minimal extra cost. Check that PAD is already held or buy a bundled product.
Private Health Subscription
Monthly subscription to a private clinic network granting unlimited GP visits, subsidised specialist consultations, and fast access to imaging. Complements, does not replace, mandatory CASS.
Who needs it: Urban professionals, families with young children, expats who want English-speaking doctors and short waiting times.
Annual cost: 250–1,500 RON/month individual (3,000–18,000 RON/year); family plans from 500 RON/month
Employer-funded subscriptions are a very common non-salary benefit — ask during contract negotiation. The top tiers include full dental, imaging and international second opinions.
Life Insurance (Term)
Pays an agreed sum to your beneficiaries if you die during the policy term. Important for families with mortgages or dependents.
Who needs it: Primary earners in families with children, mortgage holders, and anyone financially supporting others.
Annual cost: 500–2,500 RON per year for 100,000 RON coverage for a healthy 30–45-year-old
Avoid "unit-linked" products unless you understand their fees — traditional term life cover is cheaper and transparent. Answer all medical questions truthfully or the policy can be voided at claim time.
Travel Insurance
Emergency medical costs, medical repatriation, cancellation, lost baggage and liability while abroad.
Who needs it: Anyone travelling outside Romania, especially to non-EU destinations where the EHIC does not apply.
Annual cost: 50–200 RON per trip; annual multi-trip policies from 300–600 RON
EU residents get free emergency cover in the EU via EHIC — travel insurance still adds value for repatriation and cancellation. For the US and UK always include a high medical limit (at least 100,000 EUR).
Professional Liability (Freelancers, Doctors, Lawyers)
Covers damages caused by errors in your professional activity. Mandatory for doctors, architects, lawyers, accountants.
Who needs it: All regulated professions; freelancers consulting on high-value projects; IT contractors on fixed-price SLAs.
Annual cost: 500–3,000 RON per year depending on profession and coverage limits
Some professional bodies (Colegiul Medicilor, UNBR, CECCAR) require proof of this insurance for annual re-registration. Check whether your client contracts require a specific minimum limit of indemnity.
Personal Accident
Lump-sum payment for permanent disability or accidental death. Cheaper and simpler than full life cover but narrower.
Who needs it: Active sports enthusiasts, people without access to occupational disability cover, parents for children.
Annual cost: 200–600 RON per year for 100,000 RON disability coverage
Sports-specific riders (climbing, skiing, motorcycling) may be excluded unless you declare them at the outset.
Comparison sites
Always verify an insurer's solvency and licence on the ASF website (asf.ro) before buying — the 2022 City Insurance and 2023 Euroins collapses left hundreds of thousands of RCA policyholders scrambling. PAD is legally mandatory for every home and many expat homeowners do not know this — take out the €10–20 policy on move-in day. For RCA, use at least two comparison sites and also request a direct quote from your existing broker; premiums differ by 30–40% for identical profiles. Read the exclusions section carefully: natural hazards, rodent damage and "acts of God" have tripped up many claims, and Romanian insurers apply wordings strictly.
Insurance
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