Correspondents

The entities appointed by insurers to represent them in each country of the system

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What are Correspondents and what do they do?

Under the Green Card system, the appointment of correspondents in foreign countries is an option, rather than an obligation, available to the Insurers.

If the Insurers do not appoint correspondents, the claim will be handled by the Bureau in the country where the accident occurred. For example, if a Belgian insurer fails to appoint a correspondent in Portugal, the claim (a road accident occurred in Portugal involving a vehicle insured by that Belgian company) will be handled by the GPCV.

The correspondent handles all claims occurring in the country where it operates and involving a vehicle insured with the Insurer it represents:

  • In accordance with the legal and regulatory provisions applicable in the country of the accident, regarding liability, compensation and motor vehicle insurance
  • In the name of the authorising Bureau
  • And on behalf of the Insurer that requested that authorisation

When an Bureau authorises a correspondent, it is thereby recognising it as exclusively competent to handle and settle claims in the name of the national service and on behalf of the insurer that requested that authorisation.

Are you looking for correspondents?

Do you want to find the Portuguese correspondent of a foreign insurer to report and handle a traffic accident in Portugal?

  • The search result shows the current correspondent of the selected insurer. If your search returns Portuguese Green Card Bureau (GPCV), this means that the foreign insurer does not have an correspondent in Portugal, in which case the GPCV or a GPCV appointed entity will handle your claim.
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FAQs

Do you have a question?

We can help.

    How to appoint a correspondent in a foreign country?
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    If a Portuguese insurer wishes to appoint a correspondent in a foreign country – for example in Spain – it has to ask GPCV to request its foreign counterpart – in this case Ofesauto – for approval to appoint a correspondent operating in Spain. This request must be submitted together with a letter of acceptance signed by the correspondent. Approval is always granted if the correspondent is a branch authorised to operate in that country or if it has already been designated as a claims representative under the 4th Directive. Approval is assumed to have been given if no reply is received within 3 months.
    I had an accident in Portugal involving a foreign vehicle. What should I do? If the foreign third party does not have insurance, who pays for my losses?
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    Let’s take it step by step:
    • If you know the name of the Insurer of the vehicle responsible for the accident and the name of its correspondent in Portugal, make a claim for damages to the latter.
    • If you do not know either of them, contact the GPCV. Contacts.
    • If there is an appointed correspondent, submit your claim for damages to it; if there is no appointed correspondent, the claim must be submitted to the GPCV, which will follow-up on the process.
    • If the foreign third party does not have insurance but is usually based on a country signatory to the Multilateral Agreement (Section III of the Internal Regulations), the GPCV will respond to your claim.
    I am a resident of Portugal and I had an accident abroad (in an EEA country). What do I do? If I did not even manage to identify the vehicle responsible, what should I do?
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    Let’s take it step by step:
    • If it is not possible to identify the vehicle that caused the accident, or if, within 2 months of its occurrence, it is not possible to identify the Insurer, submit a claim for compensation to the FGA (Motor Guarantee Fund).
    • If you know the name of the Insurer of the vehicle responsible and its claims representative in Portugal, submit your claim to the latter.
    • If you know the name of the Insurer of the vehicle responsible, but it has no designated claims representative in Portugal, submit your claim to the FGA (Motor Guarantee Fund).
    What is the difference between a correspondent and a claims representative?
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    Although their roles are similar, correspondents work within the Green Card System while claims representatives work within the Protection of Visitors System. While it is not mandatory to appoint correspondents (it is optional for insurers), it is mandatory to designate a claims representative. Their scope is also different. The Green Card System covers insurers in 50 countries and the Protection of Visitors System covers insurers in only 30 countries (member countries of the European Economic Area).
    How can I check if a certain foreign insurer has designated a claims representative in Portugal?
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    Search claims representatives of foreign insurers here.
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