What Should I Do If I Get Into a Car Accident in Ecuador?
- Carlos Ramirez
- Oct 15, 2022
- 8 min read
Updated: Jun 26
By Carlos Ramirez
In Ecuador only 23% of Ecuadrians who own a vehicle are privately insured. Due to this, the SPATT (Transit Accident Payment Services) was created in order to provide protection for people in accidents who do not have the economic resources available to cover related health costs.
"The creation of SPPAT corresponds to a policy designed to guarantee public health and above all dignify citizens, especially the most vulnerable who do not have any type of protection against unforeseen accidents throughout the national territory" (Romel Castro, Executive Director SPATT).
The SPATT is required insurance at a reduced cost that is paid together with the vehicle registration cost. The cost is subject to variations depending on the model and year of your vehicle and is only paid once a year. This insurance covers emergencies up to $3,000, ambulance expenses up to $200, funeral expenses up to $400, and in the event of death a family member of the victim can obtain economic relief at a maximum of $5,000. Once SPATT is applied, your private vehicle insurance may cover some additional health expenses, although it is important to remember that not all private vehicle policies have civil liability insurance. This is something to verify when buying a policy for your vehicle. In Ecuador, the policies cover not only the contracting party but also civil liability of any kind, as long as you have contracted this service within your policy. If you opt for a very low cost policy you could only obtain coverage in cases of total loss which could give you larger legal and economic problems than expected. You would be required to cover the expenses of the affected party in its entirety on your own.
