Compulsory insurance of personal accidents 
LAW
N° 18.490, ON OBLIGATORY INSURANCE FOR PERSONAL ACCIDENTS (SOAP)*
* Includes modifications incorporated
by Law 20.277 published in the Official Gazette on 11.05.2007.
Download SOAP Brochure 
SOAP prices informed by Insuance Companies - Weekly, updated on 02/05/2012
1. WHAT IS THE OBLIGATORY INSURANCE FOR PERSONAL ACCIDENTS?
The Obligatory Insurance for Personal Accidents (SOAP) is insurance required by Law, which must be contracted by all owners of motorized vehicles, trailers, mobile homes or other similar vehicles, at the time of acquiring Vehicle Registration.
2. WHAT DOES THE SOAP COVER?
The SOAP provides coverage in the event of death or bodily injury as direct
consequence of accidents in which the insured vehicle participates.
It also covers medical expenses related to pre-hospital attention and
ambulance service, hospitalization, medical attention, surgery, dental
care, prosthesis, implants, pharmaceutical and rehabilitation costs
of the victims.
3. WHEN DO I NEED TO CONTRACT SOAP?
The SOAP must be purchased once a year, and must be presented to the
respective City Government when paying for the corresponding Vehicle
Registration.
When purchased, a Certificate is given by the insurance company to the
vehicle owner, which contains, among others, vehicle and owner information.
.
4. DOES THE SOAP COVER DAMAGE TO THE VEHICLE CAUSED BY AN ACCIDENT?
No. This insurance does not cover damage to the vehicle.
The SOAP only covers the risks of death and injury to people as a consequence
of accidents and the reimbursement of consequential medical and hospital
costs.
5.HOW DO I KNOW IF A VEHICLE HAS THE SOAP?
This information can be obtained by requesting the vehicle’s Certificate of Entries from the National Registry of Motorized Vehicles, managed by the Civil Registry and Identification Service of Chile or the Local Department of Transit that issued the Vehicle Registration for that particular car.
6. WHAT HAPPENS IF I DO NOT PURCHASE THE SOAP?
Not having purchased the SOAP constitutes an infraction of the Law of Transit,
and is subject to a fine. Also, the vehicle may have its registration
revoked by the Chilean Police Force and sent before the corresponding
Local Police Court.
Additionally, in the event of a fatal accident, neither the owner nor
his or her beneficiaries will be covered by this insurance.
7. WHEN DOES THE SOAP NOT APPLY?
The SOAP does not provide coverage for deaths occurring in the following
cases:
Accidents caused in car races and other motorized vehicle competitions;
Accidents that occur outside of the national territory;
Accidents that occur as a consequence of war, earthquakes and other
chance cases that are extremely alien to vehicle circulation; and
Suicide and all types of self-inflicted injuries.
8.HOW DOES THE SOAP WORK IF I HAVE OTHER INSURANCE BENEFITS?
The expenses covered by the SOAP will first be charged against this insurance and then, the part that is left uncovered and up the total amount of these costs may be paid by social security, health, and work-related accident plans, etc., that favor the victim, the policyholder or his or her beneficiaries.
Questions about the SOAP
BENEFITS OF THE SOAP
1. COVERAGE IN THE EVENT OF DEATH
2. COVERAGE IN THE EVENT OF DISABILITY
3. COVERAGE FOR MEDICAL AND HOSPITAL COSTS
CLAIMING SOAP BENEFITS
HOW SHOULD I CLAIM SOAP BENEFITS?
Compensation will be paid to the respective beneficiary, without prior investigation of fault to show participation of the insured vehicle in the accident, within the 10 days following presentation of the claim to the insurance company, with the following information:
- Certificate by the respective Court or Public Ministry; See
Doc.
- In the event of death, the victim’s death certificate and,
in the same event, the family booklet, marriage certificate, birth
certificate and other documents that legally accredit that the victim
is an insurance beneficiary;
- In the event of bodily injury, the original proofs of payment as
well as receipts, bills, etc., for medical attention, pharmaceutical
and other costs incurred by the victims as a consequence of the injuries
suffered, as well as medical exam and medicine prescriptions issued
by the attending physician;
- In the event of disability, a certificate accrediting the nature
and degree of disability, issued by the attending physician; and
- Compensation of hospitalization, medical attention, surgery or pharmaceutical costs, must be paid by the insurance company directly to the Department of Health or the health or hospital entity that accredits having issued the corresponding services to the victim.
9.HOW DO I KNOW WHICH COMPANY A VEHICLE’S SOAP WAS CONTRACTED FROM?
This information can be obtained by requesting the vehicle’s Certificate of Entries from the National Registry of Motorized Vehicles, managed by the Civil Registry and Identification Service of Chile or the Local Department of Transit that issued the Vehicle Registration for that particular car.
10. IS IT NECESSARY TO ACQUIRE HELP FROM A THIRD PARTY IN ORDER TO OBTAIN THE SOAP BENEFITS?
The benefits provided by the law have no cost for the beneficiary and do
not require the intervention of intermediaries or third parties. It
is recommended that the beneficiaries go directly to the insurance company
presenting the information required for purchase.
11. HOW LONG DO I HAVE TO CLAIM SOAP BENEFITS?
In general, the period allowed for filing claims for compensation is one
year following the accident or death of the victim, as is the case.
Regarding compensation for Permanent Disability, the period established
shall begin on the date the medical certificate is issued by the attending
physician, which must be presented within two years from the date of
the accident.
Nevertheless, the insurance company’s receipt of the information
to justify payment of any compensation covered by this insurance will
produce the natural interruption of this period.
12.WHERE CAN I GO IF I HAVE QUESTIONS OR CONCERNS ABOUT THE SOAP?
If you have any other questions about the SOAP, you may go the SVS, Division of Customer Service and Policyholder Education, whose offices are located at Av. Libertador Bernardo O'Higgins 1449, 1st floor, Santiago, telephone 600 6178000, P.O. Box 2167, Post Office 21. You can also find more information on our website, www.svs.cl Contact us Soap.
13.FILING COMPLAINTS
If you have any complaints regarding the actions of the claims adjusters,
please present your complaint in writing to the corresponding claim
adjuster’s office.
Claims adjusters are required to process and issue a written response
to all complaints received, replying to the requests made in a clear,
complete and precise manner, as soon as possible, not to exceed 20 days
following receipt of the complaint.
