Core Points - The article highlights the issue of "traffic safety mutual aid," which is not classified as insurance and is not protected under the Insurance Law, leading to potential difficulties in claims processing [4][11] - The rapid growth of "traffic safety mutual aid" is attributed to the challenges in obtaining insurance for commercial vehicles, prompting many drivers and transport companies to seek alternative solutions [5][12] Group 1: Definition and Misleading Practices - "Traffic safety mutual aid" is defined as a non-profit mutual assistance behavior initiated by transportation enterprises aimed at enhancing their risk resistance capabilities, and it is not an insurance product [3][11] - Many companies mislead vehicle owners into believing that they are purchasing insurance, with some even impersonating insurance companies to attract customers with lower premiums [6][11] Group 2: Market Dynamics and Growth - The emergence of "traffic safety mutual aid" began around 2010, driven by increasing compensation standards and high accident rates among commercial vehicles, leading to insurance companies either limiting coverage or refusing to insure certain vehicles [5][12] - As of the end of 2024, there are nearly 2,000 companies in China selling so-called "mutual aid insurance" [5] Group 3: Claim Challenges - Many vehicle owners discover that their "mutual aid insurance" does not function as actual insurance when they attempt to file claims after accidents [8][10] - Courts have ruled that these mutual aid agreements do not qualify as insurance contracts under the Insurance Law, leaving vehicle owners liable for compensation despite having paid for mutual aid [9][10] Group 4: Regulatory Response - In response to the growing market chaos, government departments have begun to crack down on illegal practices, emphasizing that mutual aid should only be conducted among transportation enterprises for their own vehicles and not for profit [11] - The number of companies involved in "safety mutual aid" has decreased from over 2,000 to around 800 due to increased regulatory scrutiny and enforcement actions [11]