The Verkehrsopferhilfe e.V was founded in 1963 by all motor liability insurers that belonged to the former HUK association: With effect from 1 January 1966, it was assigned the position of statutory compensation fund for claims arising from motor vehicle accidents and, since 1 January 2003, the position of compensation body, in each case with its consent. With effect from 10 July 2024, the association also performs the activities of the national insolvency fund.
The tasks and responsibilities of the Insolvency Fund are set out in Sections 17 ff PflVG. Claimants can turn to the Insolvency Fund if they have suffered damage in Germany or abroad belonging to the Green Card system through the use of a motor vehicle registered in the EEA against whose insurance insolvency proceedings have been initiated. The decisive point in time is not the accident, but the imposition of the relevant measures by the competent supervisory authority.
The Insolvency Fund only becomes active at the request of the injured party. There is no automatic mechanism. The Insolvency Fund has a subsidiary obligation to intervene, § 18 Para. 1 PflVG. Its scope of benefits varies in favour of the injured party within the framework of § 18 Para. 3 PflVG.
The insolvency fund is financed by all motor vehicle insurers that have their first registration in the Federal Republic of Germany.
Claims for compensation can be registered with Verkehrsopferhilfe e.V.. As soon as the Insolvency Fund becomes aware of the insolvency of a domestic or foreign insurer, claims can also be filed using a claims notification form published on the homepage.