Poland introduces new fines for not having car insurance: what you need to know

Poland is tightening control over compulsory motor insurance, and for many drivers this could result in unexpected expenses. Even a short break in your motor insurance policy could lead to a large fine, especially given the planned changes to the law. In this article, we look at who will be affected by the new rules, how much you will have to pay, and how to avoid unnecessary risks on the road. Find out what fines will apply in Poland for not having car insurance and what is important to check now

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From the beginning of 2026, penalties for not having compulsory civil liability insurance will be increased in Poland. Drivers with expired or missing policies will have to pay more — the changes are directly related to the increase in the minimum wage. This was reported by InPoland.net.pl.

Third-party liability insurance is mandatory for all vehicle owners in Poland. The policy covers compensation for damage caused as a result of a traffic accident, including bodily injury, property damage and medical expenses for victims. The insurance is issued for a specific vehicle and must be valid continuously.

How to check if your OC policy is valid

You can check the validity and current status of your insurance policy online on the website of the Insurance Guarantee Fund (Fundusz Gwarancyjny). To do this, go to the Baza OC i AC section, select Sprawdzenie ubezpieczenia OC and then Identyfikacja umowy OC na dzień.

In the system, you need to enter the vehicle registration number or VIN code, the date of verification and the country where the vehicle is located at that moment. If the policy is valid, information about the make and model of the car, the OC contract number and the insurance company will appear on the screen.

Penalties for not having a policy in 2025

In 2025, the following penalties apply in Poland for a break in civil liability insurance for passenger cars:

▪️ delay of 1 to 3 days — PLN 1,870;

▪️ 4 to 14 days — PLN 4,670;

▪️ more than 14 days — PLN 9,330.

After receiving an official demand for payment of the fine, the driver is obliged to pay the debt within 30 days. If necessary, the amount can be divided into interest-free instalments for up to 24 months.

In which cases the policy is not automatically renewed

Although a standard civil liability insurance policy is usually renewed automatically, there are situations when this does not happen. This applies to the purchase of a new car, receiving a vehicle as an inheritance or a gift, taking out short-term insurance, as well as cases where the insurance premium is divided into instalments and one of them has not been paid on time. In such situations, the driver risks being left without a valid policy without even suspecting it.

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New fines from 1 January 2026

From 1 January 2026, fines for not having compulsory motor insurance in Poland will increase. For passenger cars, the maximum fine will be PLN 9,610. The increase in penalties is related to the increase in the minimum wage to PLN 4,806 gross, from which the amount of fines is directly calculated.

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