In January 2003 the EU Fourth Motor Insurance Directive was implemented, laying down "special provisions applicable to injured parties entitled to compensation in respect of any loss or injury resulting from accidents occurring in a Member State other than the Member State of residence of the injured party which are caused by the use of vehicles insured and normally based in a Member State."

The Fourth Directive and other Motor Insurance Directives now form part of the Codified Directive 2009/103/EC.

The Fourth Directive required the setting up of an Information Centre (in the UK this is the UK Information Centre at MIB) and a Compensation Body (also MIB).

The Information Centre is responsible for keeping a register of motor vehicles normally based in the country. In the UK, the register used is the MID - allowing the Information Centre to quickly identify the insurer of a UK vehicle by its registration number.

The Information Centre is responsible for maintaining a list of all Claims Representatives in each EU country for each UK Insurer. The Information Centre facilitates cross-border claims by taking enquiries from UK victims about EU vehicles, and enquiries from EU victims about UK vehicles, communicating with all the corresponding Information Centres in the EU/EEA.

To find the Claims Representative (under the EU Fourth Motor Insurance Directive) in any EEA country for any UK Insurer, please visit www.midis.org.uk and use the second option on the menu.

What do the EU Fourth and Fifth Motor Insurance Directives mean for me?