In Poland, mandatory third-party liability insurance must remain continuous. Even a one-day gap can result in a financial penalty issued by the Ubezpieczeniowy Fundusz Gwarancyjny (UFG). In 2026, penalties are higher because the maximum amounts are linked to the minimum wage, which increased from 1 January 2026.
Below you’ll find the 2026 penalty amounts, why they increased, and practical steps to avoid a gap in coverage.
How much is the penalty for no valid insurance in 2026?
The amount depends on three factors:
- the length of the gap in coverage
- the type of vehicle
- the minimum wage (used as the base for calculations)
For passenger cars:
- gap up to 3 days: 1,920 PLN
- gap 4–14 days: 4,810 PLN
- gap over 14 days: 9,610 PLN
For trucks, truck tractors and buses:
- gap up to 3 days: 2,880 PLN
- gap 4–14 days: 7,210 PLN
- gap over 14 days: 14,420 PLN
For other vehicles (e.g., motorcycles):
- gap up to 3 days: 320 PLN
- gap 4–14 days: 800 PLN
- gap over 14 days: 1,600 PLN
This is why it’s important to track the policy end date carefully—short gaps still trigger penalties.
Why penalties increased in 2026
Penalties rise because the maximum rates are calculated based on the minimum wage. Since the minimum wage increased in 2026, the “full” penalty amounts also increased.
The general calculation rule is:
- passenger cars: full penalty equals 2 × the minimum wage
- trucks/tractors/buses: full penalty equals 3 × the minimum wage
- other vehicles: full penalty equals 1/3 of the minimum wage
Then the final amount is determined by the length of the gap:
- up to 3 days: 20% of the full penalty
- 4–14 days: 50% of the full penalty
- over 14 days: 100% of the full penalty
How to avoid the penalty and keep your policy continuous
When your insurance may renew automatically
Your insurance may renew automatically if all of the following apply:
- you insured the vehicle for a full year
- you paid the premium in full
- the vehicle is still yours for the next policy period
- you did not submit a cancellation notice
If any condition is not met, the policy may not renew and a gap can happen.
Switching insurers: cancel the old policy on time
If you want to change insurance companies, you usually need to cancel the current policy properly—no later than one day before it expires. This helps you avoid “double insurance”, where two policies overlap and you may have to pay for both.
Buying a car: don’t assume the transferred policy will renew
If you recently bought a vehicle, you may have received an existing policy with the car. In many cases this policy is valid only until its end date and does not renew automatically for the next period. Always check the expiry date and arrange a new policy so coverage continues without any gap.
If you discover a gap in coverage: what to do
If you notice your policy has expired, arrange a new policy immediately. This is the only way to stop the gap from getting longer—and to reduce the risk of moving into a higher penalty bracket.
If you already received a penalty notice, paying it does not remove the obligation to have valid insurance. You still need to buy a policy.
Accident without valid insurance: the biggest risk isn’t the penalty
A penalty is only one consequence. If you cause an accident without valid insurance, you may be responsible for all costs yourself, or you may have to reimburse compensation paid to the injured party via UFG mechanisms. In serious cases, these amounts can be extremely high, so keeping continuous coverage is a real financial safeguard.
