Auto Liability Insurance for Veterans: New Insurance Rules Require Veterans to Obtain Coverage

Combat veterans and individuals with war-related disabilities are no longer exempt from the requirement to purchase automobile liability insurance. Current regulations provide these categories of citizens with a discounted premium and the opportunity to receive government compensation.

These changes are related to an update to the regulatory framework. 

The previous Law No. 1961-IV has been definitively repealed, and insurance regulations are now governed by Law of Ukraine No. 3720-IX “On Mandatory Civil Liability Insurance for Owners of Land Vehicles.”

Previously, veterans and individuals with war-related disabilities could operate a vehicle without purchasing an insurance policy, presenting only the relevant certificate during an inspection.

Now, the status of a combat veteran or a person with a war-related disability does not exempt them from the obligation to have a valid auto liability insurance policy. The benefit applies specifically to the cost of insurance.

“At the same time, insurance companies independently determine the base rate of the insurance premium, so the cost of the policy before the discount is applied may vary among different insurers. The current list of insurance companies that are members of the Motor Transport Insurance Bureau of Ukraine (MTIBU) is available on the MTIBU website,” the agency noted.

Under current regulations, the cost of a policy for combatants and individuals with war-related disabilities is reduced by 50% if the conditions established by law are met.

Thus, the state has replaced the previous full exemption from insurance with a mechanism of discounted payment and subsequent compensation.

At the same time, during the period of martial law and for one year after its termination or revocation, the government will reimburse the remaining portion of the policy cost for combatants and individuals with war-related disabilities.

To take advantage of the discounted rate when purchasing auto liability insurance and retain the right to compensation, a veteran must provide the insurer with documents confirming their status.

After purchasing the policy, an application for compensation can be submitted online via the “Dія” app through the “Veteran PRO” section.

To do this, you must:

• select the auto liability insurance compensation service;
• pass the automatic verification of the applicant’s information, the vehicle details, and the preferential contract;
• select or create a “Diya Card” to which the compensation will be credited.

The system verifies the necessary information through the relevant government registries and databases.

If, within one year of receiving compensation, a veteran is involved in a traffic accident, they will not be eligible to receive such compensation the following year.

Therefore, in 2026, war veterans and individuals with war-related disabilities must have valid auto liability insurance, but they may purchase it at a discounted rate. Half of the policy’s cost will be covered by a discount from the insurer, and the other half may be reimbursed by the state under specified conditions.

These changes are outlined in Law of Ukraine No. 3720-IX “On Compulsory Civil Liability Insurance for Owners of Land Vehicles.”

As a reminder, financial assistance for veterans and combatants is provided by various organizations. Here’s a look at one of the new programs, scheduled to launch on September 1, 2025. You can receive up to 400,000 UAH in the form of a grant.

The Ministry of Defense of Ukraine has decided to significantly simplify the procedure for reissuing combatant certificates in cases of loss or theft, as well as for military personnel returning from captivity.