Photo: Bahnfrend, Wikimedia Commons, CC BY-SA 4.0Motor insurance in Tanzania: what the law requires
The law: Motor Vehicles Insurance Act, Cap. 169
Section 4(1) of the Act makes it unlawful to use a motor vehicle on a road — or to let someone else use it — unless a policy covering third-party risks is in force. Vehicles owned by the Government or public corporations are exempt (section 4(3)).
Section 5 sets what the policy must cover: liability for the death of, or bodily injury to, any person caused by the use of the vehicle on a road. The insurer must be one approved by notice in the Gazette.
What the legal minimum does not cover
Under section 5, the compulsory policy does not have to cover:
- your own employees injured in the course of their work (that is a workers' compensation matter);
- passengers — except in vehicles carrying passengers for hire or reward, or under a contract of employment;
- liability you took on by contract.
Damage to other people's property and damage to your own vehicle are not part of the statutory minimum. They come with broader policies — see third-party vs comprehensive.
The penalty for driving uninsured
Section 4(2) provides a fine (the revised text still expresses it as one hundred pounds or its equivalent in Tanzanian shillings), imprisonment of up to six months, or both. On conviction, the court also suspends the driver's licence for 12 months unless it finds special reasons not to.
How to check a cover note or sticker
TIRA runs TIRAMIS, which lets anyone verify an insurance cover note and check that a company is licensed. You can search by:
- vehicle registration number;
- sticker number;
- cover note reference;
- chassis number.
Other compulsory insurance in Tanzania
Motor is not the only compulsory cover. TIRA's 2024 report lists mandatory insurance for imports, commercial buildings, public markets and marine vessels, and mandatory inbound travel insurance in Zanzibar.
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Frequently asked questions
Does third-party insurance in Tanzania cover damage to the other car?
Not as a legal requirement: section 5 of Cap. 169 requires cover for death or bodily injury to other people. Many policies add third-party property damage — check the schedule of your policy.
Are passengers covered by compulsory motor insurance?
Only in vehicles carrying passengers for hire or reward, or by reason of a contract of employment (section 5 of Cap. 169). For a private car, ask the insurer about passenger cover.
How can I verify a motor insurance sticker in Tanzania?
On TIRAMIS (tiramis.tira.go.tz), with the registration number, sticker number, cover note reference or chassis number.
Are government vehicles insured?
Vehicles owned by the Government or public corporations are exempt from the compulsory insurance requirement (section 4(3) of Cap. 169).