Italian car insurance merit class and bonus malus
Updated 2026-09-16
The universal merit class runs from 1, the best, to 18. A first-time policyholder starts in class 14, IVASS explains. Each year without at-fault claims moves you down one class; a claim with principal responsibility moves you up two classes. The family bonus lets you use the best class in your household.
Data updated 16/09/2026. Source: IVASS, guide to motor liability insurance.
How does bonus malus work?
RCA (third-party motor liability) is compulsory for every vehicle on the road and covers damage caused to others. Under the bonus malus formula, the most common one, the premium changes at each renewal according to the claims recorded in the observation period: in the first year from the start date to 60 days before expiry, in later years from two months before the start to two months before expiry.
| What happened in the observation period | Effect on the class |
|---|---|
| No at-fault claims | Down 1 class, to a minimum of class 1 |
| One claim with principal responsibility (over 50%) | Up 2 classes |
| Claim with equal shared fault | Noted on the certificate; several claims within five years can add up and trigger the malus |
| Claim with no fault | No malus |
Keep the two classes apart. The universal class (CU) is the same for every insurer, refers to the vehicle owner and is kept when changing company. The internal class belongs to each insurer and only feeds its own pricing. The price also depends on province of residence, age and years of driving.
Which class will I be in at the next renewal?
IVASS rules: a year with no at-fault claims = one class down; a claim with principal responsibility = two classes up. With several claims in the same period the insurer's table applies. The family bonus requires five years without claims with exclusive, principal or equal responsibility.
How does the family bonus (formerly Bersani law) work?
The family bonus began with the 2007 Bersani law and was extended by decree-law 124/2019. Today article 134, paragraph 4-bis, of the Private Insurance Code bars insurers from assigning a class worse than the one already earned on an insured vehicle owned by the same person or by a family member living permanently in the same household.
- It applies to new contracts and renewals, not only when buying a car.
- It works across vehicle types: a car's class can pass to a motorcycle and the other way round.
- It requires cohabitation in the same household, as shown on the family status record.
- It requires a clean certificate: no claims with exclusive, principal or equal responsibility in the last five years shown on the certificate.
The rule includes a safeguard for insurers: if someone using the bonus causes, with exclusive or principal responsibility, a claim paid above 5,000 euro, at expiry the vehicle of a different type can be placed up to five classes higher than the IVASS criteria.
How do I change insurer without losing my class?
- Download the risk certificate from the insurer's customer area: it must be available at least 30 days before expiry.
- Compare quotes using the CU class, not the internal one. The public quote comparison tool run by IVASS and the Ministry of Enterprises allows a comparison across insurers.
- Sign the new contract by expiry or within the 15 day grace period. The old policy does not renew itself and needs no cancellation.
- Check the class assigned on the new contract: the CU must match the certificate.
What is the risk of driving without RCA?
| Situation | Fine | Other consequences |
|---|---|---|
| Driving without cover | 866 to 3,464 € | Vehicle seized |
| Two offences within two years | Amount doubled | Licence suspended 1 to 2 months; 45 day impoundment under the conditions of paragraph 2-bis |
| Cover made effective within 15 days of the end of the grace period, or car scrapped within 30 days | Fine reduced by 50% | Under the conditions of paragraph 3 |
What happens in common real cases?
If a newly licensed driver in Verona buys her first car and lives with her father, insured in class 1 with no at-fault claims in the last five years, her policy can start in class 1 instead of 14 under article 134, paragraph 4-bis, of the Codice delle Assicurazioni Private.
If a sales agent in Ancona, in class 5, rear-ends a car in a queue and is 100% at fault, he moves to class 7 at renewal under the bonus malus rules in the IVASS motor liability guide; if he repays the insurer personally for the claim, the same IVASS guide lets him avoid the malus and move to class 4.
If a nurse in Catania lets his policy expire on 1 March and is stopped on 20 March with no new cover, past the 15-day grace period, he risks 866 to 3,464 euro and seizure of the car, with the fine halved if he insures it within 15 days of the end of the grace period (article 193, paragraphs 2 and 3, of the Codice della Strada).
Which mistakes should I avoid?
- Comparing quotes on the internal class: across insurers the CU class is what counts.
- Taking the family bonus for granted after a recent claim in the household: the five year rule can exclude it.
- Relying on the grace period beyond 15 days: from the sixteenth day the car is uninsured.
- Staying uninsured too long: the risk certificate is valid for up to 5 years.
What are the most common questions on RCA and merit class?
What is the universal merit class (CU)?
The bonus malus class defined by IVASS and valid across all insurers. There are 18 classes: 1 is the best, 18 the worst. When you change insurer you keep the CU class, while the internal class is specific to each insurer.
Which class does a first-time policyholder start in?
Class 14, according to IVASS. Someone living with a family member whose vehicle is insured in a better class can use the family bonus and start from that class, if the conditions are met.
How many classes does a claim cost?
A claim with principal responsibility (over 50%) moves you up 2 classes at renewal. Each year without at-fault claims moves you down one class. With shared fault the claim is noted on the risk certificate and, if shares add up over five years, the malus can still apply.
How does the family bonus (RC familiare) work?
Article 134, paragraph 4-bis, of the Private Insurance Code allows a vehicle, even of a different type, to be insured with the best class in the cohabiting household, for new contracts and renewals. There must be no claims with exclusive, principal or equal responsibility in the last five years.
Do I need to cancel the policy when it expires?
No. An RCA contract ends automatically at expiry, with no cancellation notice. Cover stays active for the following 15 days (grace period); after that a new contract is needed, with the same or another insurer.
Where do I find the risk certificate?
It has been electronic since 2015. The insurer must make it available in the customer area of its website at least 30 days before expiry. It shows the universal and internal class and claims paid in the last 5 years, and is valid for up to 5 years.
What is the penalty for driving uninsured?
A fine of 866 to 3,464 euro and seizure of the vehicle (article 193 of the Highway Code). A repeat within two years doubles the fine and adds a licence suspension of 1 to 2 months. The fine is halved if cover becomes effective within 15 days of the end of the grace period.
Can I avoid the malus after a minor accident?
Yes. According to IVASS the person at fault can avoid the class increase by personally repaying what was paid to the injured party. Ask the insurer for the amount and instructions before renewal.
General information, not insurance advice: legal notes.
Sources: IVASS, insurance guides in plain words, volume 3: motor liability; IVASS; Legislative Decree 209/2005; Highway Code, article 193.