Car insurance claims in Argentina
Fault rules, deadlines, insurer response times, minimum coverage and the regulator for car insurance claims in Argentina, with every rule cited to its source.
Verified as of September 10, 2026
| Fault system | At-fault (tort) |
|---|---|
| Shared-fault rule | Pure comparative negligence Liability for damage caused by the circulation of vehicles is objective (strict) — Código Civil y Comercial arts. 1757 and 1769 — and «puede ser excluida o limitada por la incidencia del hecho del damnificado en la producción del daño» (art. 1729): the victim’s own act reduces, or in an extreme case excludes, the award. |
| Deadline to sue for vehicle damage | 3 years from the accident [1] «El reclamo de la indemnización de daños derivados de la responsabilidad civil prescribe a los tres años» (Código Civil y Comercial art. 2561); the code’s general rules govern when the period starts to run. |
| Deadline to sue for injury | 3 years from the accident [1] |
| Deadline to sue your own insurer | 1 years from the claim [2] Actions founded on the insurance contract prescribe in one year from when the obligation became enforceable (Ley 17.418 art. 58); the steps of the loss-adjustment procedure interrupt it. |
| Insurer response deadlines — Accept or deny | 30 days from the claim [2] The insurer must rule on the insured’s right within 30 days of receiving the supplementary information it requested; silence counts as acceptance (Ley 17.418 art. 56). The insured must notify the loss within three days of knowing of it (art. 46). |
| Insurer response deadlines — Pay | 15 days from the claim [2] In property insurance, payment within 15 days of the amount being fixed or the offered indemnity accepted, once the art. 56 period has run (art. 49). |
| Minimum liability coverage | Compulsory scheme: Seguro obligatorio de responsabilidad civil hacia terceros (Ley 24.449 art. 68), en las condiciones que fije la Superintendencia de Seguros de la Nación [3] Every motor vehicle, trailer and motorcycle must carry annual insurance «que cubra eventuales daños causados a terceros, transportados o no», under the conditions fixed by the insurance authority (art. 68). The minimum sums are set by SSN resolutions and change; they are not stated here until read from the resolution in force. |
| Diminished value recoverable | Not yet verified |
| Uninsured / underinsured motorist cover | Not yet verified |
| Regulator | Superintendencia de Seguros de la Nación (SSN) |
- Código Civil y Comercial de la Nación (Ley 26.994), arts. 1729, 1757, 1769, 2561, arts. 1729, 1757, 1769, 2561 — verified as of 2026-09-11
- Ley 17.418 de Seguros, arts. 46, 49, 56, 58 (texto actualizado), arts. 46, 49, 56, 58 — verified as of 2026-09-11
- Ley 24.449 de Tránsito, art. 68 — Seguro obligatorio (texto actualizado), art. 68 — verified as of 2026-09-11
In Argentina the owner and the driver answer for the damage a moving vehicle causes without the victim having to prove negligence: the Civil and Commercial Code treats vehicles as risky things, so «la responsabilidad es objetiva» (art. 1757), and the rules on damage caused by things apply expressly to traffic accidents (art. 1769). The defendant escapes only by proving an outside cause — and the victim’s own act can reduce or, in an extreme case, exclude the award (art. 1729).
Every motor vehicle, trailer and motorcycle must carry an annual policy covering damage to third parties, transported or not, under the conditions the insurance authority fixes (Ley 24.449 art. 68). The minimum sums insured are set by resolutions of the Superintendencia de Seguros de la Nación and are revised over time, which is why no figure is printed here.
The clocks run on two tracks. A claim for damages arising from civil liability prescribes in three years (Código Civil y Comercial art. 2561). Actions founded on the insurance contract itself prescribe in one year from when the obligation became enforceable, and the steps of the loss-adjustment procedure interrupt that year (Ley 17.418 art. 58).
The insured must report the loss to their insurer within three days of learning of it (art. 46). The insurer then has 30 days from receiving the supplementary information it asked for to accept or reject the insured’s right, and silence counts as acceptance (art. 56); once the amount is fixed or the offer accepted, it must pay within 15 days (art. 49). Insurers are supervised by the Superintendencia de Seguros de la Nación. Rules on uninsured drivers and diminished value have not yet been verified against a primary text and are not stated here.
Frequently asked questions
How long do I have to sue for injuries after a car accident in Argentina?
3 years from the accident (Código Civil y Comercial de la Nación (Ley 26.994), arts. 1729, 1757, 1769, 2561).
Is Argentina an at-fault or no-fault jurisdiction?
At-fault (tort). Shared-fault rule: Pure comparative negligence.
Who do I complain to about an insurer in Argentina?
Superintendencia de Seguros de la Nación (SSN) (https://www.argentina.gob.ar/superintendencia-de-seguros).
This guide explains how car insurance claims generally work. It is not legal advice, does not create a lawyer–client relationship, and is not a statement of any insurer's or regulator's position. Rules change and differ by jurisdiction; check the cited instrument and, where money or injury is at stake, consult a licensed professional in your jurisdiction.