European Accident Report (EAR) is a special form of notification of a road traffic accident, which is filled in by the drivers involved in a road traffic accident (RTA) at the scene of the accident and then provided to the insurer as documentary evidence of the fact of such an accident.
EAR can be filled out both in paper form, on a special form, and in electronic form, using the Electronic EAR system.
EAR form is issued to the car owner free of charge when concluding a contract of compulsory motor third party liability insurance. In case of loss or use of the EAR form, a new form shall be issued by the insurer free of charge on the basis of a written application.
Today, in most EU countries, drivers involved in an accident need only fill in the EAR form to register the incident. The front side of the EAR form is identical in terms of the structure of the chapters in all countries where it has been introduced, the only difference is the language in which the form is printed. This is to ensure that drivers from different countries can quickly find their way around if they are involved in an accident in another country.
EAR can be used when:
- there is a contact (actual collision) road traffic accident involving only two secured vehicles,
- damage to property is caused solely in the form of damage (destruction) of the vehicle,
- no injured (dead) people,
- the drivers involved in the accident have valid MTPL contracts (insurance certificate "Green Card")
- there is consent of the drivers of the vehicles involved in the accident regarding its circumstances,
- the drivers have no signs of alcohol, drug or other intoxication or being under the influence of medications.
!!! If at least one of the above conditions is not met, it is mandatory to call the relevant unit of the National Police to register the accident!
Additional conditions for the use of the Electronic EAR:
- Vehicles involved in the accident must have valid domestic insurance policies. If any vehicle is covered by a foreign insurer's policy, it is necessary to use a paper EAR form or call the police.
- Drivers must have working mobile phones. At least one of the participants in the accident must have a device (smartphone, tablet, laptop) with a camera and Internet access.
- Identification data on the policyholder (RNOKPP or EDRPOU) and the secured vehicle (number plate, make and model) must be specified in the policy and correctly entered into the MTIBU's single centralised database. Otherwise, the System will not be able to correctly identify the parties to the accident.
If the drivers have used EAR (regardless of its form), they:
- have the right to leave the scene of an accident,
- are exempted from the obligation to inform the relevant unit of the National Police of Ukraine about the occurrence of an accident,
- are exempt from administrative liability for causing an accident,
- must, no later than three business days from the date of the accident, send a copy of the completed EAR to the insurer with whom they concluded the MTPL insurance contract. If the Electronic EAR system is used, notifications are sent automatically to the insurers of the parties to the accident.
Starting from 1 January 2025, the Law of Ukraine ‘On Compulsory Motor Third Party Liability Insurance’ No. 3720-IX cancels the limit of insurance indemnity for an event registered under the EAR.
The Electronic EAR information system has been implemented in MTIBU since 01.10.2017. EAR issued using the said system is a complete analogue of EAR sent or submitted to the insurer in paper form.