Poland mandatory vehicle insurance regulations

In Poland, mandatory third-party liability insurance (OC) is required for all mechanical vehicles, including cars, motorcycles, trucks, and agricultural tractors. The scope of protection is legally standardized, with 2026 coverage limits set at 6,021,600 PLN for property damage and 29,876,400 PLN for personal injury per event. Driving without valid insurance results in penalties from the Insurance Guarantee Fund (UFG), with fines for passenger cars reaching twice the minimum wage and for trucks or buses up to three times the minimum wage.

Legal regulations dictate that mandatory insurance is tied to the specific vehicle rather than the owner; therefore, the policy transfers to a buyer upon the sale of a vehicle. This necessitates that sellers notify both the insurer and the communication department to manage the transfer of responsibility.

Recent legal discussions have also highlighted the distinction between mandatory vehicle insurance and the voluntary liability insurance held by road managers. This distinction was underscored by a case where a driver incurred significant costs after striking a pothole, raising questions regarding municipal liability and whether voluntary insurance sums sufficiently cover such damages.