The Ministry of Finance (MoF) has taken into account the ombudsman’s opinion on deficiencies in the car inheritance procedure in situations where a minor child becomes the sole owner of the vehicle, and will move to amend the law on the compulsory civil liability insurance of land vehicle owners, Laila Grävere, head of the Children’s Rights Department of the ombudsman’s office, told LETA.
In January, the Office of the Ombudsman issued a statement that it had found deficiencies in the car inheritance procedure in situations where a minor child becomes the sole owner of the vehicle.
As the office explains, it is not allowed to register a vehicle in the name of a child in Latvia until the age of 16. Even if a child from the age of 14 is allowed to drive a certain category of vehicle (moped), this alone does not give him the right to become the owner of such a vehicle. However, the procedure is different if a minor child inherits the vehicle. In such cases, it is allowed to be registered in the name of the minor and the details of his guardian are indicated in the registration certificate. In the opinion of the Ombudsman, in this way, these children have the same responsibility as adult vehicle owners, and this is disproportionate.
Grävere said that the FM has taken into account the Ombudsman’s opinion and has developed a proposal for amendments to the Law on Mandatory Civil Liability Insurance of Land Vehicle Owners. The amendments envisage supplementing the law by determining that when concluding an insurance contract, for the purpose of determining the amount of the insurance premium in the event that a minor has become the owner of the vehicle, the owner of the vehicle indicated in the vehicle registration certificate is equated to the owner of the vehicle.
The FM has discussed this issue with the Legal Office of the Saeima and will refer it to the Saeima for consideration, said Grävere.
