Before 2006 some companies gave up to 60% discount which meant some companies offer cheaper premiums than others. After 2006 all companies have rates that vary by a couple of dollars.

What can make a difference on premium prices? The limits you obtain for your car insurance policy. Limits are the maximum amount that you are protected if you cause damage to foreign property or with medical assistance to persons in your car and others.

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The minimum limits I recommend are:

Personal Injuries (to thirds) is $10,000 per person and $20,000 per accident.

Property Damage $15,000 per accident

Medical Expense (you and others in your car) is $5,000 per person and $25,000 per accident.

At a person’s request you can lower or increment these limits, but you should be aware that if you cause an accident you are legally responsible to pay for the damages and courts in Panama can take years to solve cases and you could end up without a license and with a big lawyer’s expense if you are not properly protected.

Damage to thirds policies start from $130 a year – but offer low limits and do not protect for medical expenses for the people in your car. For $160-175+ you can get higher limits, medical protection for yourself and others in your car and roadside/legal assistance.

Companies differentiate themselves by offering a great number of benefits such as legal service, discounts, extraterritorial coverage, or towing services – which you should be aware and take advantage of.

To get more information on car insurance or to get a quote, contact our customer service department at forlacol@gmail.com or by phone (507) 6676 5151.

Cars made in the year 2000 or newer can be insured for Full Coverage - civil responsibility (personal injuries and damage to foreign property), medical assistance, and coverage for the insured vehicle (collision and comprehensive).

Cars from 1999 or older are insured for Civil Responsibility (damage to thirds) under Panamanian law. This coverage includes foreign property and personal injuries for third parties. Your policy can also include medical assistance for the driver/passengers in your car.

The older the car the higher the premium for full coverage - this has to do with the risk of a car accident and older parts are harder to get and more expensive.

Depreciation is done 20% first year (some companies do 15%) and then 15% the rest of the years.

If you bring your car to Panama include the entry taxes as part of the value of the car.

For you to be covered your license needs to be valid. You can use any license from any country or an international license; just make sure it’s not expired!

No-fault coverage does not exist in Panama.

If you are financing a car, banks will require you to have a full coverage policy. It is much better to use a broker who can assess your needs, compare different premiums, and assist you in a claim. The Law 59, of July 29, 1996 (which regulates insurance in Panama) in Article 36 states that a consumer has the right to chose who will sell him/her insurance. So don’t pay higher premiums at the bank!

AAA does not exist in Panama, but your insurance policy has roadside assistance included! This covers jump-starts, towing, a tire change, or gas delivery (gasoline costs are not included).

Benefits for full coverage:

Reimbursement for a rental in case of complete theft of the auto ($20.00 daily with a max. of $600.00)

Civil responsibility for replacement car

Accidental death coverage: $5,000.00 per person, $25,000 per accident

Additional Benefits:

Roadside Assistance - 205-0224

Legal assistance in traffic accidents.

Towing service: caused by mechanical damage or a traffic accident. Up to $150.00 per event, three (3) events per year, maximum annual benefit $150.00.

Medical emergency service: ambulance service and medical attention in case of an automobile accident, 24

hours a day and 365 days of the year.

Basic roadside assistance includes a jump-start, a tire change, or gas delivery (gasoline costs not included): Up to $150.00 per event, three (3) events a year. Maximum annual benefit of $450.00.

Locksmith for loss or misplacement of keys: Up to $150.00 per event, three (3) events a year. Maximum annual benefit of $450.00.

Transportation to your home because of immobilization of the vehicle (starting from kilometer 25): Up to $100.00 per event, three (3) events per year.

Hotel expenses caused by an accident or breakdown of the vehicle (starting from kilometer 25): Up to $100.00 per event, maximum 5 days per event, three (3) events per year.

Auto rental in case of car theft (starting from kilometer 25): Up to $200.00 per event.

Medical assistance outside of the country: Reimbursement of medical expenses and hospitalization due to auto accident (including the insured person, the spouse, and children under eighteen (18) years of age) during their stay abroad. Up to $5,000.00 yearly.

We Arrive First

We arrive within 30 minutes or less at the scene of the accident or the insured person is 100% exonerated of the payment of the deductible. (*)

Delivery of the repair order at the auto repair shop of your preference, in case of an accident

A lawyer will represent the insured person in front of court in case of a traffic citation.

(*) Applies:

From the Church of Don Bosco in Calidonia (by Vi­a Espana) until the intersection with Vi­a cincuentenario and Ri­o Abajo.

From the Church of Don Bosco in Calidonia (by Vi­a Transistmica) until the bridge of San Miguelito and the South part of the City until Avenida Balboa.

Reimbursement of Gasoline for Unemployment

Gasoline costs will be reimbursed up to a maximum of three (3) months, in case of an involuntary unemployment for more than 30 consecutive days; depending on the amount of cylinders the car has, using the following parameters:

For cars with four (4) cylinders: $25.00 max monthly, up to $75.00 annually.

For cars with six (6) cylinders: $35.00 max monthly, up to $105.00 annually.

For cars with eight (8) cylinders: $50.00 max monthly, up to $150.00 annually.

Restrictions Apply.

To get more information on car insurance or to get a quote, contact our customer service department at forlacol@gmail.com or by phone (507) 6676 5151.

Payment Options:

Cash

Credit card or bank discount

Conditions:

Applies only to personal autos with up to 15 years of use.

Applies to clients with a good transit record.

Autos with 11 years or more of usage will need to be previously inspected.

Additional Benefits:

Roadside Assistance - 205-0224

Legal assistance in traffic accidents.

Towing service: caused by mechanical damage. Maximum annual benefit $150.00.

Medical emergency service: ambulance service and medical attention in case of an automobile accident, 24 hours a day and 365 days of the year.

Basic roadside assistance includes a jump-start, a tire change, or gas delivery (gasoline costs not included): Up to $150.00 per event, three (3) events a year. Maximum annual benefit of $450.00.

Locksmith for loss or misplacement of keys: Up to $150.00 per event, three (3) events a year. Maximum annual benefit of $450.00.

Transportation to your home because of immobilization of the vehicle (starting from kilometer 25): Up to $100.00 per event, three (3) events per year.

Hotel expenses caused by an accident or breakdown of the vehicle (starting from kilometer 25): Up to $100.00 per event, maximum 5 days per event, three (3) events per year.

Also:

~ Civil responsibility for replacement car

~ Accidental death coverage: $5,000.00 per person, $25,000 per accident

~ Extraterritorial coverage in Costa Rica (up to 7 days)

~ Alarm discounts

Plan 175: *NEW*

Payment Options:

Cash

Credit card or bank discount

Conditions:

Applies only to personal autos with up to 15 years of use.

Applies to clients with a good transit record.

Autos with 11 years or more of usage will need to be previously inspected.

Additional Benefits:

Roadside Assistance - 205-0224

Legal assistance in traffic accidents.

Towing service: caused by mechanical damage. Maximum annual benefit $150.00.

Medical emergency service: ambulance service and medical attention in case of an automobile accident, 24 hours a day and 365 days of the year.

Basic roadside assistance includes a jump-start, a tire change, or gas delivery (gasoline costs not included): Up to $150.00 per event, three (3) events a year. Maximum annual benefit of $450.00.

Locksmith for loss or misplacement of keys: Up to $150.00 per event, three (3) events a year. Maximum annual benefit of $450.00.

Transportation to your home because of immobilization of the vehicle (starting from kilometer 25): Up to $100.00 per event, three (3) events per year.

Hotel expenses caused by an accident or breakdown of the vehicle (starting from kilometer 25): Up to $100.00 per event, maximum 5 days per event, three (3) events per year.

Also:

~ Civil responsibility for replacement car

~ Accidental death coverage: $5,000.00 per person, $25,000 per accident

~ Extraterritorial coverage in Costa Rica (up to 7 days)

~ Alarm discounts

To get more information on car insurance or to get a quote, contact our customer service department at forlacol@gmail.com or by phone (507) 6676 5151.

DO NOT MOVE YOUR CAR FROM THE LOCATION OF THE ACCIDENT Yes, I know this blocks traffic and it makes no sense whatsoever, but if you move your car you are automatically guilty even if you are not at fault.

DO NOT ACCEPT RESPONSIBILITY FOR THE ACCIDENT

DO NOT MAKE ANY TYPE OF FINANCIAL ARRANGEMENT

It is very common in Panama to hear this “in Panama we each pay for what happen to our own cars.” Or other people will try to ask you for money instead. Unless you are mechanic or work in the auto industry you do not know how much pieces are worth and that settlement you make will not be covered by the insurance company.

DO NOT FORGET TO GET THE OTHER PARTY’S INFO

Write down the name(s), telephone, cedula/passport number, the license plate number, and the car brand. If you carry a camera or a phone camera it’s always a good idea to take pictures. If there are any witnesses talk to them, they will usually be very cooperative.

DO NOT FORGET TO CALL/CONTACT YOUR INSURANCE BROKER

Keep the company or my cel phone (6676-5151) in your cel phone. If it’s after labor hours call the number of your insurance company’s roadside assistance (you should also keep this number in your cel or place the sticker the company gives you in your car). If it is an emergency feel free to contact us.

WHAT TO DO?

If there is no policeman nearby then you have to call the Police for them to send over a policeman who will inspect the scene.

Panama City ~ 232-5614 or 232-6845

Colon ~ 441-4197

David, Chiriqui ~ 776 -8125

Each insurance company has motorized drives which come to the scene of an accident and assist you as well as record and take pictures of what occurred.

~ AssaMovil 205-0220

~ Mundial Assist 390-9090

~ HSBC Seguros 265-8255

~ Generali 205-0224

~ Internacional de Seguros 265-2881

~ InterOceanica 265-8255

If the other party leaves the scene of the accident, call a policeman and report that a “colision y fuga” happened to you. The policeman will write a report which you should keep for the insurance company as well as for your personal records to relieve you from any future legal liability.

IN CASE OF INJURIES, WHAT TO DO?

In case the accident gets messy and there are injuries or if you run over a pedestrian, you have the responsibility to help them. Call your insurance company and let them know what happened. Depending on where you are call an ambulance or take them to the hospital. Your insurance company should send you an ambulance or call directly (all companies use one of the two bellow):

Ambulance:

SEMM 264-4122

ALERTA 269-1111, 800-0911

Depending on where you are it’s better to drive the person. Anywhere outside of the main cities, it is better to drive the person to the nearest hospital because ambulances can take a while to arrive.

If it’s your fault and you need to pay for the initial ingression or such, pay for it but first let the insurance company know and keep the receipts. Do not pay for any treatments or surgery. And make sure to take the police report as well.

GOING TO COURT

Thank God your policy covers for legal fees, which means you do not have to go to court! You need to ask for this benefit and there are no costs for it. Contact me (6676-5151) and the insurance company and you will need to take the citation to the insurance company and sign a release of power over to the company’s attorney.

I strongly suggest taking this benefit because courts anywhere are awful, and Panama is no exception to that rule. If you do not go to court and the lawyer doesn’t go for you, you automatically are found guilty and have to pay a fine besides the costs of the other party’s damage.

***Print this article and keep it in your car.

Requirements

~ Passport

~ Authorization from the Direction of Migration and Naturalization

~ Blood type

~ Present a written test about the driving manual and traffic rules

~ Listen to a speech

~ The cost of this permit depends on the validity of the document, if it is for less than 3 months it is $5.50 and for more than 3 months it is $20.00

From Monday to Friday from 8:00 a.m. a 9:30 a.m.

OBSERVATION: If the person has a valid driver’s license from their own country they can present it to the “Autoridad del Transito” and they will obtain an equivalent Panamanian drivers license without the need to present any written or practical tests. To do so you must have some type of visa (work, pensionado, reforestation, etc.)

Since January of 2007

Article 236: The owners of vehicles are obligated to maintain a effective civil responsibility insurance policy, which includes as a minimum:

• Responsibility for damage to foreign property for the minimum amount of $5,000.00
• Responsibility for personal injuries of $5,000.00 per person and $10,000.00 per accident.

The owners of vehicles registered in other countries are forced to comply with the dispositions of this article in order to be able to drive in the Republic of Panama.

Source: Gaceta Oficial, Friday 29 of December of 2006 (nº 25,701)

Driving in Panama is like driving nowhere else in the world. Between our famous “Diablo Rojos” (our buses), the patched up taxis (that still cost $1.25 in most places in the city), and the rush hour traffic, this place is ridiculous. Foreigners always ask me how I can drive in Panama, and I tell them that I learned to drive thinking I was in a video game, you know like “Grand Theft Auto” or something, and a friend once told me but you die on those games, and my response was have you seen that jungle out there!

We do have cops in Panama, but since they get paid minimum wage which is very low, that means we have corrupt cops. Getting back to the no-nos, cops here only seem to care about two things. #1 and most important do not under any circumstance talk on your cell phone while driving and # 2 your seatbelt. Things like passing red lights, speeding, or DUIs are minor in this country. Actually, sometimes when a politician wants to do some PR they do a version of DUI checkpoints. These points are done in Calle Uruguay (where everybody is drinking and driving) and they take the “guarometro” or in English “boozemeter” (yeah the cops call it that as well!) and stop random people and give them $150 fines – which happens maybe 3 nights out of the year.

Mandatory insurance policies for automobiles (which only cover damage to thirds) where placed as a law this year (yeah in 2007!). The limits for those are $5,000 for foreign property and $5,000 per person and $10,000 per accident for personal injury. When they passed this law I was seriously proud of this country. But already the other day my vet’s assistant told me when “I went to get my yearly revision and tag renewal they didn’t ask me for my insurance papers.” When I asked why? He said that when they were asking for the insurance policy nobody was paying to get their new tags so the government was losing money, because the policy was so expensive (it’s around $140-175 a year which would make that half of one month’s salary for the average Panamanian.) For taxis and buses it’s even worse the premium is $450-1,000 a year and no company wants to insure them because it’s too high of a risk.

Do not to take any chances with yourself or your car in Panama. Get full coverage insurance (collision, comprehensive, theft, and fire) with limits that are specific for your needs. Call +507 6676-5151 or write to forlacol@gmail.com  to get a quote today!

If you need assistance in purchasing new or used cars please let us know and we will be happy to help.

We can refer you to capable people working in dealerships.