YEREVAN, December 16, /ARKA/. Chief of Armenian police, Alik Sarkisian, said today a government-proposed change to the law on mandatory insurance of motor vehicles will allow part of Armenian motorists to insure their vehicles not for a full year but for a period of time when they use their cars.

An Armenian Central Bank-designed bill on mandatory insurance of motor vehicles was approved by parliament on May 18. The law that comes into force from January 1, 2011, provides protection against losses incurred as a result of traffic accidents and against liability that could be incurred in an accident.

The police chief said the change was proposed because some motorists, mainly in rural communities, use their vehicles only for several months a year and the change will apply to them. He said to do so the motorists will have to hand their number plates for the period of time when they will not use their vehicles and get them back when they decide to use them again. Alik Sarkisian said the change will apply also to urban motorists and motorists who leave the country for some time. This change, he said, will allow residents of rural communities to pay 60% less for insurance policies – some 8,500 Drams instead of 30,000 Drams.

Prime minister Tigran Sarkiisan said the government acted on complaints from rural residents to propose the change.

According to government data, there are 430,000 motor vehicles in Armenia.  -0-