Government’s Program Guaranteeing Compensation for Automobile Accidents
Government's Program Guaranteeing
Compensation for Automobile Accidents
Compulsory automobile liability insurance (CALI) and mutual insurance are mandatory for all automobiles. However, if someone driving a car without insurance (an "uninsured vehicle") causes an accident, the accident victim will not be able to make a claim to CALI or mutual insurance. Also, depending on the financial situation of the at-fault party, there may be cases where the victim cannot receive compensation. In addition, if the at-fault party of the accident is a hit-and-run driver and the at-fault party is unknown, the victim will not be able to receive compensation because he or she cannot file a claim with CALI (mutual insurance). The government provides relief for victims of accidents caused by uninsured vehicles, and for victims hit-and-run accidents. Relief is provided through the Government’s Program Guaranteeing Compensation for Automobile Accidents, which is equivalent to CALI (mutual insurance).
Flow from Claims for Compensation for Damages to Payment
Claims are accepted at the offices of non-life insurance companies (mutual insurance associations) in Japan.
Note: The Government’s Program Guaranteeing Compensation for Automobile Accidents outsources the acceptance, assessment and payment of claims to non-life insurance companies (mutual insurance associations). These companies outsource claim assessments to the General Insurance Rating Organization of Japan (GIROJ), and the government examines and decides on the program as a whole.
Claims Reception Desk
Note: Please contact your non-life insurance company (mutual aid insurance association) directly.
(As of April 1, 2020)
- Aioi Nissay Dowa Insurance Co., Ltd.
- AIG General Insurance Co., Ltd.
- Kyoei Fire & Marine Insurance Company, Limited
- Secom General Insurance Co., Ltd.
- SOMPO Direct Insurance
- JA Kyosai (National Mutual Insurance Federation of Agricultural Cooperatives)
- Zenkyoren (National Federation of Motor Insurance Cooperatives)
- Zenkoku Truck Kyosai (National Federation of Truck Transport Mutual Aid Co-operatives)
- Zenrosai (National Federation of Workers and Consumers Kyosai Cooperatives)
- Sompo Japan Insurance Inc.
- Daido Fire & Marine Insurance Co. Ltd.
- Chubb Insurance Japan
- Tokio Marine & Nichido Fire Insurance Co., Ltd.
- Nisshin Fire & Marine Insurance Co.,Ltd.
- Mitsui Sumitomo Insurance Co., Limited
- Meiji Yasuda General Insurance Co., Ltd.
- Rakuten General Insurance Co., Ltd.
(in Japanese alphabetical order)
Number of Claims Handled by the Government’s Program Guaranteeing Compensation for Automobile Accidents and Total Payouts
The following table gives the number of claims handled by the Government’s Program Guaranteeing Compensation for Automobile Accidents over recent years, and total payouts.
| Classification | Number of claims | Number of payments | Amount of insurance | |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Fiscal 2021 |
Hit-and-run accidents | 338 | 342 | 169 |
| Uninsured | 157 | 157 | 647 | |
| Total | 495 | 499 | 815 | |
| Fiscal 2022 |
Hit-and-run accidents | 252 | 206 | 116 |
| Uninsured | 123 | 69 | 182 | |
| Total | 375 | 275 | 299 | |
| Fiscal 2023 |
Hit-and-run accidents | 244 | 235 | 126 |
| Uninsured | 122 | 98 | 356 | |
| Total | 366 | 333 | 482 |
(Units: number of cases; million yen)
- *Payments for each fiscal year vary depending on the number of fatal accidents and residual disability cases.
- Note: The number of claims received does not equal the number of claims paid because some cases are paid in the fiscal year following the year of receipt of claim.
Funding for the Government’s Program Guaranteeing Compensation for Automobile Accidents
The Government’s Program Guaranteeing Compensation for Automobile Accidents is funded by a contribution* from CALI (mutual insurance) policyholders (insured parties). In the fiscal 2022 budget, government revenue from contribution was 1.4 billion yen. This works out to approximately 16 yen per car per year (on a one-year contract for a private passenger car).
Since fiscal 2023, the cost per one-year contract for a private passenger car has been approximately 4 yen/year per car.
*Contribution: Money to be paid for the purpose of conducting a certain project
Reimbursement from the Government (Ministry of Land, Infrastructure, Transport and Tourism) Etc. in the Event of an Accident
In cases where the at-fault party does not have CALI (mutual insurance), MLIT compensates the victim for damages on behalf of the party responsible for damages (such as the at-fault party or the owner of the vehicle). In these cases, MLIT takes over the victim's right to claim damages against the party originally responsible for the damages, and will make a claim for compensation against this party.
In addition, if the victim uses various types of social insurance such as National Health Insurance or Workers' Accident Compensation Insurance, government agencies other than MLIT will claim such expenses from the at-fault party.
If the party responsible for damages does not reimburse the government, the government will file a lawsuit for damages against that party.
Thereafter, in accordance with the court judgment, the vehicles, lands or buildings, salary, etc. in the possession of the party responsible for damages will be seized and collected at the time of trial.
Please use this information to ease your
concerns and for support.
If You Are Involved in a Traffic Accident
The Ministry of Land, Infrastructure, Transport and Tourism (MLIT) has prepared a pamphlet titled "If You Are Involved in a Traffic Accident." This pamphlet informs and guides people who have been involved in a traffic accident about various systems and procedures. The challenges you face due to a sudden traffic accident will change over time. Please use the information in this pamphlet according to your situation at the time.
Traffic Accident Victim's Notebook
MLIT has created the “Traffic Accident Victim's Notebook” with the hope of providing support to automobile accident victims. The notebook allows victims and their families to record accident details and provides information about support systems available through police, local governments, and private victim support organizations. We also hope that it will provide support to all accident victims, and help to ease their concerns.