Penalties for the lack of third party liability insurance for drivers driving motor vehicles increase from year to year. The last increase took place on January 1, 2019, as a result of which the lack of liability insurance for the vehicle owner results in a fine of up to 4.5 thousand zlotys!
What is third party liability insurance?
Civil liability insurance, i.e. compulsory third party liability insurance, protects the driver / owner of the vehicle in the event of damage resulting from failure to comply with the law. In practice, this means that if a driver causes a car accident without valid third party liability insurance, he will be charged with all costs of repairing the damage, as well as the costs of treatment / convalescence of any injured persons.
In 2019, there was an increase in fines for driving without valid civil liability insurance, up to the amount of PLN 450!
The amount of the fine by PLN 450 higher applies to trucks, road tractors and buses. In the case of passenger cars, the fine increased by PLN 300.
Why such a high increase in penalties for the lack of third party liability?
The amount of the fine for moving a vehicle without valid civil liability insurance is determined by the level of the minimum remuneration for work. Therefore, since the minimum salary increases, the rates of penalties for the lack of third party liability insurance also increase.
The method, amount and the way of claiming the amounts referred to as financial penalties for vehicle drivers are specified in the Act on Compulsory Insurance, Insurance Guarantee Fund and the Polish Motor Insurers’ Bureau.
The method of calculating the amount of the penalty for the lack of civil liability
Despite the fact that the penalties for the lack of third party liability insurance are high, it is worth knowing that not in every case the driver is subject to the highest financial penalty.
Drivers whose vehicles have never been insured against civil liability are most exposed to the upper range of penalties.
It is worth knowing that driving a vehicle without a valid civil liability insurance, the deadline of which has expired more than 14 days ago, is statutorily subject to a higher penalty. However, these are not the only situations that determine the amount of the penalty for the lack of civil liability. What else affects the amount of the fine? Of course, the type of vehicle:
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owners of the passanger cars are usually fined the minimum gross wage x2,
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owners of trucks, tractors and buses have penalties of up to 3 times the minimum gross wage,
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owners of any other vehicle carries a fine of 1/3 of the minimum gross wage.
The time the car is driven without valid third party liability insurance is also of great importance. Drivers using cars without valid civil liability insurance for up to 3 days without insurance will incur a penalty of 1/5 of the highest fee. In the case of drivers using cars from 4 to 14 days without a valid civil liability insurance - it is ½ of the highest penalty fee.
The inspection of vehicles in terms of having compulsory third party liability insurance and the enforcement of financial penalties for the lack of it is the responsibility of the Insurance Guarantee Fund.
