Car Insurance costs in Poland.

Can someone give me some advice on this? I just bought my first car in Poland. Its a 2.3 SUV. I have a clean Irish driving licence. I've never claimed insurance before. I'm in my early thirties and have had a licence since I was 17.

What price should comprehesive insurance be?

None of those facts matter at all: the insurance company won't take them into consideration when calculating your premium, the only thing that matters is the value of the car. I once had a student who was 26, had lost his licence twice (once for drink driving and once for totting up points for speeding offenses), had an extensive record of crashing and drove a Subaru WRX: he was paying exactly the same percentage of the value of his car as I was paying despite me having never had any points on the licence I'd had for nearly 20 years and having made precisely one insurance claim in that time (which was made three days after I passed my test).

From memory the premium for fully comp is something like 4.9% of the value.

Wow. While that seems like a strange way of doing things, it would be great news for me. Thanks

Are you sure you got that right Harry? i mean you didnt even know BHP (brake horse power) not so long ago, you thought 280 BHP was slow.

Harry talks some absolute nonsense a lot of the time. Yes, the insurance companies will ask you what claims you have had in the past few years, and yes, they will give you credit for that.

do you think a letter from my insurance company in ireland will make a difference?

I drive an SUV in Warsaw and get a discount with Allianz for having 6 years of no claims (and they counted my UK no claims in that), i also get a further 20% discount for having an anti theft tracker device installed in the car, and then 15% more discount as i have my flat contents insurance with them too.

No it isn't great news for you: it basically means that you (as a sensible driver) will be subsidising the insurance of prats who can't drive or who drive like nutters or who drinking and drive.


Talking of people who drive like nutters and drink and drive....

I am perfectly aware of what BHP is, I just find it impossible to believe that a man such as yourself limits yourself to such a low amount of power, especially given the weight of the car you drive.


I'm also with Allianz and got no discount apart from the model specific discount. There is now a discount but that's for staying with them: not for having no claims. And yes I have checked other companies: Allianz is the cheapest.


No Dave, they do not give you credit for that.
But what would I know? I live in Poland and insure a car here: you don't live in Poland and have never insured a car here.

it maybe depends on what agent you use within Allianz, I'd been paying contents insurance with them for a few years and just switched my car insurance to them too as what they were offering was cheapest especially with the combined flat/car insurance discount. I had to provide a certificate from Admiral in the UK to prove my UK no claims. The lady I deal with at Allianz even sends me a christmas card each year :)

How much did that cost? And does it work?

How much are those anti theft tracker devices? Never heard of them. Are they effective?

If using one of the insurers like the Prudential or Commercial Union,

Should be honored, being all one European union.

Hi, guys

Could you, please, briefly tell me how does car insuarance system work?

Will my British car insuarance be valid when I cross the border with Poland? How long do I have to switch it to Polish?

What about Road Tax?

I understood that I can present no claim letters from British insuarance companies, but does it need to be translated in Polish (officialy translated)?

Thanks for help
Anna

As long as the car is on British plates, you have to keep it on UK insurance and meet all the requirements such as road tax, MOT, etc. Yes, it's valid - EU insurance is automatically valid in other EU countries, though the level of cover may differ.

Once you change it to Polish plates, then the system works on the basis of the car, not the driver being insured.

OK, thanks a lot !!!

You need to check whether your insurance company will extend European cover to include Poland. A lot of European extensions exlude some countries or charge you a hefty premium for it. Also if your are going for a longer time check the total days out of the UK they will allow.

Nowadays, one EU insurance policy is automatically valid in other EU countries. But outside the EU is another question - I know some refuse cover in places such as Croatia, which you'd expect to be included.

Only if the policy cover you buy allows it - unless it has changed in the last six months. My European extension policy still exludes most of Central Europe. Legally they have to provide such cover under EU law but they can still price it differently to cover their perceived risks.

So what can I do if my insuarance policy doesn't cover Poland? Can I apply for it in Poland (with british plate numbers) or I have to switch the cover here in UK.

P.S. Planning to go to Poland for 5-6 month.

regards
Anna

That's interesting, because I was under the impression that it wasn't a case of being "allowed" - it was simply a fact that an EU policy is automatically valid elsewhere in the EU.

Look here - ec.europa.eu/youreurope/nav/en/citizens/living/car/insurance/index_en.html

Of course - if you want more than the basic bog standard third-party only, then of course the insurer will charge you to extend it to certain countries.

You'll have a job finding a Polish insurer who will cover you on British plates - it's easiest to get cover in the UK. Most of the ones I tried will only allow travel for up to 90 days, but Stuart Collins (a broker) do a long stay European insurance through AXA.

Yes sorry - you are of course correct in that basic (read third part fire and theft) cover is automatic in the EU. For fully comprehensive cover your are the mercy of the insurer for the cost although they cannot legally exclude cover for an EU country.


Thta's what I found. Typically you get six months cover but no one trip longer than 90 days.

I've been covered with UK car insurance for nearly 3 years, just keep it MOT'd and taxed. I'm with CIS insurance and they provide the same level of cover outside the UK for up to 365 days per year for an additional £30 a year and theyre prices are reasonable too. We pay £320 per year fully comp on a bmw 318is including breakdown cover. I'm 25 with 7 years no claims and 3 points.

We're both right then ;)

I think even fire and theft is often excluded by cheaper insurers. Certainly, if you want anything more than 3rd party only, it makes sense to move onto Polish plates.

Or insure with CIS who don't have a time limit on how long you can be abroad for.

UK insurers have to by law provide the minimum required level of cover in all countries within the EU. Generally they only provide the same level of cover for a limited period 90 or 180 days depending on who you are covered by.

I would Highly recommend keeping your car on UK plates and insuring it with a UK based insurer who offers a yearly continental cover.

Stuart colins insurance to this, Norwich Union, Saga and Coop (CIS) are the only one i've found.

Whatever you do don't register your car in Poland as it will be more hassle than its really worth.