When the time comes to renew your RCA insurance, few things seem as complicated as determining a fair, up-to-date, transparent cost based on clear rules. However, it is exactly this clarity that the Financial Supervisory Authority (ASF) tries to bring by publishing reference rates every new semester. For 2025, the new figures outline the direction in which market prices are heading, regardless of where you live — whether in the heart of Bucharest, in a provincial city or in the countryside.
How does the RCA reference rate work?
The RCA reference rate represents an average calculated from historical claims data, specific to different types of risk (age, engine power, geographic area, etc.). It is not a fixed price for each driver, but it provides a fair picture of what can be considered “normal” for your profile.
ASF, as the national authority, publishes every six months a table with RCA reference rates for mandatory motor third-party liability insurance policies, using data collected from across the market and analyses prepared by independent consultants. The periodic update faithfully follows market dynamics, inflation, rising repair costs and trends in claim frequency and severity.
Who decides the RCA reference rates and how often are they revised?
The decision and publication of RCA reference rates rest exclusively with ASF, which collaborates with international consulting firms (KPMG, EY in previous years) based on aggregated national statistical data. Each semester brings an updated version adjusted to the latest data and market trends. This constant review makes it a tool adapted to economic realities, not merely a formality.
This semi-annual approach allows quick reactions to inflation, rising repair costs or sudden legislative changes. Exceptions occur only when the Government intervenes, imposing temporary caps on rates to protect consumers, as happened in 2023, 2024 and 2025.
RCA price table: how the updated reference rates look by category
Category analysis confirms significant differences between Bucharest/Ilfov and the rest of the country, as well as differences between young and experienced drivers, or between small and large engine displacements.
Drivers under 30: the highest auto insurance price in 2025
The RCA tariff table for 2025 reflects a clear segmentation by age and engine power, with notable differences between Bucharest/Ilfov and the rest of the country. For drivers under 30, costs are the highest on the market: for example, for a car with an engine under 50 KW, a young driver in Bucharest or Ilfov will pay 3.571 lei, while in other counties the rate falls to 2.055 lei. As engine power increases, price rises quickly — at 151–200 KW the same driver will pay 5.007 lei in the capital versus 3.933 lei elsewhere, and for engines over 300 KW the rate reaches 5.240 lei in Bucharest/Ilfov and 3.726 lei in other regions.
Drivers aged 31–40: a more affordable RCA reference rate
Moving into the 31–40 age bracket, you benefit from milder RCA reference rates. A driver in this category with a car under 50 KW will pay 1.860 lei in Bucharest/Ilfov and only 1.125 lei in other counties. For engines between 76–100 KW, the cost reaches 2.286 lei in the capital and 1.343 lei in the rest of the country, and for those who choose engines over 300 KW, the rate drops to 3.499 lei in Bucharest/Ilfov and 2.025 lei in other regions.
Drivers aged 41–50: benefits of experience
Drivers aged 41–50 enjoy even more advantageous rates. For a car with an engine under 50 KW, the insurance premium is 1.905 lei in Bucharest/Ilfov and 1.130 lei in the rest of the country. If the engine is between 101–125 KW, the rate rises to 2.466 lei in the capital and 1.454 lei in other counties, while for 151–200 KW the cost is 3.697 lei in Bucharest/Ilfov and 2.217 lei in the rest of the country.
Drivers aged 51–60: the lowest RCA reference rate
In the 51–60 age segment, insurance becomes even more affordable. For engines under 50 KW, the rate is 1.844 lei in Bucharest/Ilfov and 1.064 lei in other counties, and for engines between 76–100 KW the cost reaches 2.183 lei in the capital and 1.266 lei in the rest of the country. Even for large engines between 201–300 KW, the tariff remains below 3.700 lei in Bucharest/Ilfov and just above 2.000 lei in other regions.
Legal entities: rates adapted for each vehicle type
For legal entities, RCA rates are set according to the vehicle type and registration area. For example, for company cars the reference rate is 2.025 lei in Bucharest/Ilfov and 1.312 lei in the rest of the country. Light commercial vehicles have a rate of 2.763 lei in Bucharest/Ilfov and 1.750 lei in other counties. Minibuses and buses reach 7.563 lei in Bucharest/Ilfov and 4.755 lei in the rest of the country, while motorcycles remain the most affordable at 329 lei in Bucharest/Ilfov and 219 lei in other regions.
These differences show that, as with individuals, registration area and vehicle type significantly influence the cost of RCA policies for companies.
Goods transport: rates differentiated by vehicle weight
For vehicles intended for goods transport, reference rates are established according to the maximum authorised weight. Vehicles under 3.500 kg have a rate of 1.421 lei in Bucharest/Ilfov and 1.758 lei in other counties. For the 3.501–7.500 kg category the rate rises to 2.103 lei in Bucharest/Ilfov and 3.050 lei in the rest of the country. Vehicles with a mass between 7.501–16.000 kg reach 7.582 lei in Bucharest/Ilfov and 9.118 lei in other counties, while for those over 16.000 kg the rate is 3.740 lei in Bucharest/Ilfov and 3.650 lei in other regions.
Thus, besides registration area, vehicle weight becomes an essential criterion for determining RCA costs for transporters, and the tariff structure allows clear and predictable financial planning for any company in the field.
Which factors influence these auto insurance price differences?
The main criteria in this RCA price table that determine positioning within the auto insurance price segments are:
- Driver’s age: statistically, young drivers cause more accidents with larger damages, so the risk is higher.
- Engine power: the more powerful the car, the higher the potential accident costs.
- Geographical area: urban areas bring heavy traffic and higher accident frequencies, reflected in price.
- Bonus-malus history: drivers without incidents benefit from important discounts.
Why does the reference rate in the RCA price table 2025 matter?
A price table published by ASF is not only a statistical benchmark, but also a tool for transparency and consumer protection. If you have at least three commercial offers above this rate for your risk profile, you have the right to request an offer at the reference level through BAAR (Romanian Motor Insurers’ Bureau). This prevents abuse or overpricing of categories considered “problematic” by certain insurance companies.
Moreover, the existence of this reference reduces negotiation pressure and eliminates unpleasant surprises. All market players (customers, brokers, insurers) are required to operate within a predictable and fair framework. If you want to learn exactly how to apply to BAAR for an RCA offer in a high-risk situation, read the full guide here: How you can apply to BAAR for an RCA offer.
How to extract the correct value for yourself
Finding the correct price can be done quickly using online calculators that access the updated ASF tariff in real time. Without needing to enter personal identification data, you can obtain an accurate estimate of the reference rate for your combination of age, geographic area and the car’s technical characteristics.
The essential step is to know your KW and your RCA bonus-malus class (if you already have a history). In a few seconds the system returns both the market average and the relevant benchmarks from the ASF table.
Main advantages of consulting the online reference table:
- An informed decision before purchasing a policy from a broker or insurer.
- Protection against overpriced offers, ensuring the best price.
- Guaranteed access to insurance even in cases considered “high risk”.
Simplicity and speed: it does not require filling in sensitive personal data.
How is an RCA reference rate calculated?
How is the premium for high risk and the recommended premium actually calculated?
On troco.ro, the process of obtaining RCA offers is fully transparent and automated. After entering your data and generating offers, the platform automatically checks whether you fall into the high-risk insured category. If all three offers received within a 12-month period, from different insurers, exceed the legal threshold (reference rate × factor N × bonus-malus coefficient), you will instantly receive a message informing you that you can apply for the allocation of an RCA insurer through BAAR. Thus you no longer need to manually check conditions or calculate eligibility yourself — troco.ro displays instantly what your RCA reference rate is. To be classified as a high-risk insured, you must simultaneously meet the following conditions:
- You have received at least 3 valid RCA insurance offers from different insurers, covering a 12-month period.
- The offers include only the net insurance premium, distribution expenses and distribution costs associated with the sales channel, without coverage for the direct settlement service and without other additional clauses.
- All three total premiums are, at the date of offering, greater than: the reference rate for the vehicle × factor N × the coefficient for the bonus-malus class.
Example of calculation:
- Vehicle: passenger car, 74 KW
- Holder: natural person, 45 years old, residence in Bucharest
- Bonus-malus class: B4 (adjustment coefficient 80%)
- Offers received: 2.280 lei, 2.350 lei, 2.400 lei
- ASF reference rate: 2.022 lei
- Factor N: 1,36
Calculation of the high-risk premium:
2.022 lei × 1,36 × 80% = 2.200 lei
If all the offers received are above this value, you are classified as high risk and can request the allocation of an RCA insurer through BAAR, directly from the platform.
IMPORTANT:
You can request the allocation of an RCA insurer from BAAR only if all three offers received for 12 months are at least 36% higher than the reference rate corresponding to your risk segment. This increase is reported relative to the reference rate published by ASF, not to the previously paid premium.
Calculation of the recommended premium (for requests registered after 01.07.2025):
Pr = {TR × N + [(PO1 + PO2 + PO3) : 3] × 64%} : 2
where:
- Pr = recommended premium
- TR = reference rate, adjusted with the bonus-malus coefficient
- N = factor N
- PO1, PO2, PO3 = the three smallest net premiums (excluding distribution expenses) among the offers received
For requests registered up to 30.06.2025 for goods transport vehicles with a maximum authorised mass over 16 tonnes:
Pr = (TR × N + Pmo × 39%) : 2
where:
- Pr = recommended premium
- TR = reference rate for legal entities, adjusted with the bonus-malus coefficient
- N = factor N
- Pmo = 18.548 lei (the average of net RCA premiums for high-risk cases handled by BAAR in December 2023, adjusted with the increase in reference rates)
Observations:
- The calculation of the recommended premium is done strictly for 12-month policies.
- BAAR does not set other contractual elements (periods under 12 months, payment in instalments, additional coverages, etc.).
- Allocation of the RCA insurer is carried out within a maximum of 20 days from submission of the complete request.
BAAR does not issue insurance policies and is not an intermediary. Its role is exclusively to allocate an RCA insurer for high-risk insureds. For other requests (periods under 12 months, payment in instalments, additional coverages), you must address insurers or RCA intermediaries directly.
Factors updating RCA tariffs
Semi-annual changes are driven by:
- General inflation and inflation in the auto repair sector
- New costs for spare parts or labour
- Increase or decrease in the number of accidents
- Introduction or expansion of categories (e.g. ridesharing drivers)
- The appearance of new regulations, such as temporary caps on tariffs
- Imbalances caused by the collapse of important insurers
These factors act simultaneously: although inflation surges can push the reference rate up, a year with few accidents can keep prices under control. On the other hand, urban overcrowding and the large number of powerful cars drive increases for certain categories.
Key trends for 2025–2026
- The reference level increased by 5–30% depending on the group, compared with last year
- Young drivers and owners of high-powered cars are strongly affected
- The Bucharest-Ilfov region again has the highest reference premiums in the country
How does the reference rate affect actual offers in the market?
Most insurance companies align with this benchmark when constructing their commercial offers. Usually, the reference rate acts as an upper limit — insurers will not go significantly above this cap, and competition can even bring prices below the reference, especially for low-risk drivers.
At the same time, the reference rate protects customers from unjustified jumps in offers and facilitates fair competition based on actuarial calculations, not only on marketing or temporary promotional discounts.
How can a driver benefit from this system?
- Always compare at least three offers, using the RCA calculator on troco.ro
- Check whether the offer you received is below or above the reference level calculated for your profile. On troco.ro the system analyses offers automatically and notifies you instantly if you fall into the high-risk insured category, so you immediately know if you can apply to BAAR for allocation of an RCA insurer.
- If you cannot find any offer below the reference level, address BAAR directly to request a more advantageous offer. The complete guide on how to do this is available here: How you can apply to BAAR for an RCA offer.
Transparency and the periodic update of reference tariffs have created an increasingly fair market for drivers, not just for insurance companies.
What to expect from RCA rates?
Although RCA prices may continue to rise or fall, clearer rules and close supervision by ASF help drivers manage their insurance costs more easily. Quick access to reference price tables, the ability to verify whether you are correctly classified and the option to request a better offer from BAAR make the market fairer and more stable for everyone.
Although some categories, such as young drivers or owners of powerful cars, pay more, transparency and periodic updates of the tariffs give drivers the confidence that they will always be able to find a fair offer adapted to their profile.
