Your Insurance Rights & The Law Ou Drwa Lasirans ek Lalwa

Every driver and rider in Mauritius must know these 20 key points from the Insurance Act 2005. Tou sofer bizin konn sa 20 pwen inportan la dapre Insurance Act 2005.

🛡️ 1. You must be properly insured before using a vehicle 🛡️ 1. Ou bizin bien asire avan servi enn vehikil

A person cannot carry on insurance business without registration under the Act. This protects drivers from fake insurers. Always verify that your insurer is a registered insurer in Mauritius.

Why it matters:

If your insurer is unregistered, your policy may be invalid, and claims may fail.

Enn dimounn pa kapav vann lasirans si li pa anregistre anba sa Lalwa-la. Sa protez sofer kont bann fos lasirans. Verifie si ou konpagni bien anregistre Moris.

Kifer sa inportan:

Si zot pa anregistre, ou poliss nanyen sa ek zot pa pou peye si ena aksidan.

🚗 2. Motor insurance policies must be in writing 🚗 2. Poliss lasirans bizin an ekri

Every insurance contract must be in writing and clearly state risks, premiums, duration, and obligations of both parties.

Why it matters:

Verbal promises by agents do not override written policy terms.

Tou kontra lasirans bizin an ekri ek bizin montre klerman sak risk, pri (premium), ek drwa sak kote.

Kifer sa inportan:

Promess oral enn azan pa vo nanyen si li pa ekri dan kontra.

📄 3. You have the right to receive policy documents 📄 3. Ou ena drwa gagn ou bann dokiman

Insurers must provide: Policy document, Terms & conditions, and any amendments.

Why it matters:

You can demand your documents at any time if not provided.

Lasirans bizin donn ou: Dokiman poliss, bann kondision (T&C), ek ninport ki sanzman.

Kifer sa inportan:

Ou kapav reklam sa bann dokiman-la ninport ki ler.

⚖️ 4. Unfair / misleading practices are prohibited ⚖️ 4. Interdi servi bann pratik ki tromp dimounn

The Act prohibits misleading statements about coverage, false advertising, or concealing information.

Why it matters:

If an insurer lies or misleads you, they are breaking the law.

Lalwa anpes lasirans koz manti lor seki kouver, fer fos piblisite, ouswa kasyet bann informasion.

Kifer sa inportan:

Si zot anbet ou, zot pe kas lalwa.

🔍 5. Insurers must assess claims fairly and promptly 🔍 5. Lasirans bizin evalie claim vit ek bien

Insurers must handle claims efficiently and not unreasonably delay settlement.

Why it matters:

Deliberate delaying of your accident claim is unlawful.

Zot bizin okip claim-la bien ek pa tarde san rezon pou regle ou peyman.

Kifer sa inportan:

Si zot tarde par expre, sa li kont lalwa.

🕒 6. Time limit for claims (Prescription) 🕒 6. Deler letan pou claim (Preskripsion)

Legal action under an insurance contract must be brought within 10 years.

Why it matters:

If you wait longer than 10 years, courts can reject your claim.

Ou ena enn dele 10 an pou amenn enn ka lalkour kont lasirans.

Kifer sa inportan:

Apre 10 an, lakour kapav rezet ou reket.

💥 7. Compensation Fund for hit-and-run victims 💥 7. Fon Konpansasion pou bann viktim hit-and-run

A Compensation Fund exists for victims of uninsured or untraced (hit-and-run) vehicles.

Why it matters:

Even if the offender flees, victims may still be compensated.

Ena enn fon pou ed viktim aksidan kot sofer-la pena lasirans ouswa li'nn sove.

Kifer sa inportan:

Mem si sofer-la sove, ou kapav gagn enn dedomazman.

🧍 8. You may claim directly against insurer 🧍 8. Ou kapav fer claim direk ar lasirans-la

A third-party victim may claim directly from the insurer of the responsible driver.

Why it matters:

You do not always need to sue the driver first.

Ou kapav reklam ou dedomazman direk ar lasirans sofer ki responsab-la.

Kifer sa inportan:

Ou pa oblize pursuiv sofer-la; ou kapav al direk ar so lasirans.

🔄 9. Vehicle transfer does not mean insurance transfer 🔄 9. Vann masinn pa sanz non lasirans otomatikman

Insurance does not automatically transfer to a new owner unless the insurer agrees.

Why it matters:

Buying a vehicle does NOT mean you are insured.

Lasirans pa sanz non otomatikman kan enn vehikil gagne vann.

Kifer sa inportan:

Si ou aste enn masinn, ou bizin fer ou prop lasirans deswit.

🧾 10. Premium must be paid to keep cover valid 🧾 10. Bizin pey premium pou lasirans res valab

If premium is unpaid, the insurer may cancel the policy or suspend cover.

Why it matters:

Driving with unpaid premium may mean driving uninsured.

Si ou pa pey ou premium, lasirans kapav aret kouver ou.

Kifer sa inportan:

Roule san pey lasirans se koumadir ou pena okenn proteksion.

🛑 11. Insurer must follow rules to cancel a policy 🛑 11. Lasirans bizin swiv lalwa pou anile kontra

Cancellation must respect policy conditions and notice requirements.

Why it matters:

An insurer cannot secretly cancel your policy.

Lasirans bizin donn ou previz ek swiv bann kondision avan anile ou kontra.

Kifer sa inportan:

Zot pa kapav anile ou poliss an kasyet.

👥 12. You must disclose material facts 👥 12. Ou bizin dir tou laverite

You must disclose previous accidents or vehicle modifications. Lying allows insurer to void policy.

Why it matters:

Lying can invalidate your cover after an accident.

Ou bizin dir zot si ou'nn gagne aksidan avan. Si ou manti, lasirans kapav refiz peye.

Kifer sa inportan:

Manti lor asirans pou fer ou perdi ou proteksion.

🧑‍⚖️ 13. Right to complain and escalate disputes 🧑‍⚖️ 13. Drwa pou fer konplainte ek ale pli lao

Complaints can be made to the Insurer, FSC, or Courts.

Why it matters:

You are not powerless against insurers.

Ou kapav konplain ar lasirans-la mem, ar FSC, ouswa al lalkour.

Kifer sa inportan:

Ou ena pouvwar pou defann ou drwa.

🏦 14. Insurers must be financially solvent 🏦 14. Lasirans bizin ena ase kas dan reserv

Insurers must maintain adequate reserves to pay out claims.

Why it matters:

Reduces risk of insurer collapsing and failing to pay.

Zot bizin ena ase reserv kas pou zot kapav pey dimounn.

Kifer sa inportan:

Sa anpes konpagni-la fayi kan bizin peye.

📊 15. Proper record keeping is mandatory 📊 15. Bizin gard bann register bien an-ord

Insurers must maintain proper registers of all policies and claims.

Why it matters:

Your claim history must be traceable.

Konpagni bizin gard tou dokiman ek claim sak dimounn bien an-ord.

Kifer sa inportan:

Ou bann "history" bizin touzour disponib.

🚫 16. False claims are criminal offences 🚫 16. Fos claim se enn krim

Making a fraudulent claim is punishable by law.

Why it matters:

Fake accidents can lead to prosecution and jail.

Fer enn fos claim pou gagn kas, sa li enn lofans kriminel.

Kifer sa inportan:

Fos aksidan kapav fer ou fini dan prizon.

🧾 17. Agents and brokers must be licensed 🧾 17. Azan ek broker bizin ena permi officiel

Only licensed insurance agents/brokers may sell policies.

Why it matters:

Buying from unlicensed persons risks invalid insurance.

Zis bann azan ki ena permi FSC ki ena drwa vann lasirans.

Kifer sa inportan:

Si ou aste ar enn dimounn san permi, ou lasirans pa pou valab.

🧠 18. Insurers must explain policy features 🧠 18. Lasirans bizin eksplik ou bann term-la

Policy terms must not be intentionally obscure or deceptive.

Why it matters:

You can request clarification in writing.

Bann mo dan kontra pa bizin tro konplike pou anbet dimounn.

Kifer sa inportan:

Ou kapav demann eksplikasion an ekri.

⚠️ 19. Policy conditions override verbal promises ⚠️ 19. Seki ekri ki pas divan parol

Only written policy conditions are legally binding.

Why it matters:

“Agent said so” has little legal value.

Zis seki ekri dan kontra ki konte divan lalwa.

Kifer sa inportan:

Seki azan "dir" ar labouss pena valer legal.

📌 20. Court may order insurer to honour claim 📌 20. Lakour kapav fors lasirans pou peye

If an insurer breaches legal obligations, the court may compel payment.

Why it matters:

Legal remedy exists when an insurer acts unfairly.

Si lasirans mank so devwar, lakour kapav fors zot pou pey ou.

Kifer sa inportan:

Ena remed legal si zot azir avek inzistis.

Practical Takeaway Checklist Checklist Pratik pou Sofer

✔ Keep valid written policy ✔ Gard ou kontra an ekri
✔ Pay premium on time ✔ Pey premium a-tan
✔ Disclose everything truthfully ✔ Dir laverite kan fer asirans
✔ Know Compensation Fund exists ✔ Konn drwa lor Fon Konpansasion