In short
Written notice must reach the insurer within 6 months of the accident, and the insurer pays within 5 working days once the claim is agreed. Both deadlines are in the Insurance Code, Secs. 397 and 398 (official source).
The overall CTPL limit is ₱200,000.
- No-fault payment
- ₱30,000 per person (IC Memorandum Circular 2024-01, since 2024)
- Overall limit
- ₱200,000, death indemnity included (IC Memorandum Circular 2024-01, since 2024)
- Notice deadline
- 6 months from the accident (Insurance Code Sec. 397, as amended by RA 10607)
- Payment
- Within 5 working days after agreement (Sec. 398)
- If denied
- Sue before the Insurance Commission or a court within 1 year of the denial (Sec. 397)
- Claim against
- One vehicle only (Sec. 391)
Which insurer pays a CTPL claim
CTPL pays people hurt by a vehicle, never the vehicle itself. The Insurance Code, Sec. 391(c) (official source) picks one insurer per victim, so there is no choosing between two policies.
A passenger claims from the insurer of the vehicle they were riding, boarding or leaving. Anyone else, such as a pedestrian, claims from the insurer of the vehicle that hit them.
In a two-car crash, each occupant claims from the car they were in.
The insurer that pays keeps the right to recover from the owner who was actually at fault. That is a matter between insurers and owners.
It does not delay the victim's no-fault payment.
| Person hurt | Claims from |
|---|---|
| Passenger riding, boarding or leaving a vehicle | That vehicle's CTPL insurer |
| Pedestrian | The insurer of the vehicle that hit them |
| Occupant of the other car in a collision | The CTPL insurer of the car they were in |
| Owner's household member or relative up to the second degree | Not a third party under Sec. 386 |
How to claim CTPL insurance: the steps
These steps follow the statute. The insurer cannot ask for court-level proof: the documents below, submitted under oath, are enough for the no-fault payment.
- Report to the police
The police report is the first proof the law names. Insurers also accept a notarized affidavit of the accident.
- Police report or notarized affidavit
- Get the medical papers
A physician's certificate of the injuries goes with the notice. Keep every hospital and pharmacy receipt.
- Medical certificate
- Hospital statement of account
- Pharmacy receipts
- Send written notice within 6 months
A claim not noticed within 6 months of the accident is waived. Count from the accident date, not the discharge date. Keep proof of the date the insurer received the notice.
- Submit the proofs under oath
For a death claim, add the death certificate and proof of who is entitled to the payment.
- Death certificate
- Proof of legal beneficiaries
- Funeral receipts
- Collect within 5 working days
Payment is due 5 working days after the claim is agreed. Without agreement, the insurer still pays the no-fault amount and cannot demand a quitclaim. The claim is done when the payment reaches the claimant.
- Escalate a denial within 1 year
Disputes on CTPL go to the Insurance Commission, which has original and exclusive jurisdiction over them. Missing the 1-year window ends the right to sue.
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What CTPL pays for injuries and death
The schedule of indemnities in IC Memorandum Circular 2024-01 (official source) fixes the amounts per item, for claims since 2024. Hospital and medicine costs are paid at actual cost up to each cap, and the total never goes above the ₱200,000 limit.
| Item | Amount |
|---|---|
| Death indemnity, burial and funeral included | ₱200,000 |
| Hospital room | ₱500 a day, up to 45 days per accident |
| Drugs and medicines | Actual cost, up to ₱20,000 |
| Ambulance | Up to ₱1,500 |
| Surgical fee, major operation | ₱7,500 |
| Permanent total disablement, listed items | ₱50,000 |
| Other incidental expenses | Up to ₱10,000 |
CTPL claim requirements: the document list
Malayan (official source)'s bodily injury and death list is the fullest an insurer gives, and it matches the proofs in the statute. Bring originals of anything issued by a hospital, the police or the civil registry.
Bethel and Prudential Guarantee add the policy and its official receipt.
AXA (official source) states that minor CTPL claims with complete documents can be approved in as little as 1 day, as of October 2026. No other insurer gives a CTPL turnaround.
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Some insurer claim pages still print a ₱15,000 no-fault amount. IC Memorandum Circular 2024-01 raised it to ₱30,000 and applied the increase to every existing CTPL contract automatically.
If the insurer denies or delays a CTPL claim
Start with the Insurance Commission (official source) Public Assistance and Mediation Division. It takes walk-in, mail and email complaints free of charge, with the policy, the denial letter and your documents.
Reach it at publicassistance@insurance.gov.ph or (02) 8523-8461 local 103 or 127. Its mobile lines are 0917 116 0007 (Globe) and 0999 993 0637 (Smart).
A formal case goes to the Commission's Claims Adjudication Division. Under the IC Citizens Charter 2026 (official source), a claim of ₱1,000,000 or less is filed as a statement of claims.
Filing with the Commission rules out a separate court case on the same claim, per the IC FAQ on Sec. 439 (official source). Choose mediation first if you want a free settlement attempt; file a formal case if mediation fails.
For the full CTPL price list by vehicle, see the CTPL guide.
CTPL does not pay to repair your car
A CTPL claim covers people, not vehicles. Damage to your own car is claimed under the own damage section of a comprehensive policy, with a deductible.
Damage you cause to another car is claimed under property damage cover. Both are explained in how to file a car insurance claim.
If the other driver fled, the steps are in how to file a hit-and-run claim.