FAQ
Questions and answers.
FAQ
Polish Motor Insurers' Bureau
1. What is PBUK?
Polskie Biuro Ubezpieczycieli Komunikacyjnych jest organizacją skupiającą zakłady ubezpieczeń, które na terytorium Polski oferują obowiązkowe ubezpieczenia komunikacyjne OC. Biuro ma zadanie zabezpieczenie praw ubezpieczonych i poszkodowanych w wypadkach.
Wszelka pomoc i informacje są udzielane przez Biuro nieodpłatnie.
More about the Bureau's activities.
2. What are the tasks of the PBUK?
PBUK has several functions:
National Bureau,
Information Centre,
Compensation Authority.
3. Is the PBUK a state institution?
No. The PBUK is an organisation established by law but independent of the state. The PBUK's task is to safeguard the needs of motor vehicle insurers as well as victims of road traffic accidents.
All assistance and information is provided by the Office free of charge.
4. Who are the members of the PBUK?
These are insurance companies that offer compulsory motor third party liability insurance on the territory of Poland.
There are currently 36 of them.
Motor third party liability insurance
5. What is motor vehicle liability insurance?
This is the compulsory insurance that owners of motor vehicles (car, motorbike, tractor, etc.) must take out. This insurance is compulsory under the Act on Compulsory Insurance, UFG and PBUK.
6. Why is third party motor insurance compulsory?
Motor third party liability insurance is compulsory in all European countries. The essence of Motor Third Party Liability insurance is to safeguard the interests of the insured and to enable the claims of those injured in road traffic accidents to be met. It makes it possible to cover damage caused to the property, health and life of other road traffic participants and releases the perpetrator of the accident from financial liability towards the injured.
7. What is border insurance?
Border insurance is a type of third-party motor insurance. Such a policy is taken out at the border of a country outside the Multilateral Agreement if one does not have a valid Green Card. The period of validity of border insurance taken out in countries belonging to the Green Card Scheme is not less than 15 days.
Find out more >
8. Who are the insurer, the insured, the policyholder?
The insurer is the insurance company (insurance company).
The insured is the person for whom the insurance contract is concluded and who will benefit from the benefits of the contract.
The policyholder is the person who takes out the insurance contract and pays the premiums.
9. What is damage?
Damage is a detriment to property, goods or legally protected interests suffered by the injured party against his or her will.
He or she is entitled to compensation or damages for the damage suffered.
10. What is compensation?
Compensation is a form of compensation for damage suffered as a result of a fortuitous event.
Its amount must be adequate to the extent of the damage caused. The compensation should cover both the actual damage and the lost benefits, i.e. all that the injured party could have achieved if the incident had not occurred.
11. What is redress?
Compensation is a monetary form of compensation for, for example, lost health, the possibility to realise a normal life or the loss of relationship with the injured person who died as a result of the accident.
12. What is a Green Card?
The Green Card is an International Certificate of Insurance and it proves that its holder is covered by motor third party liability insurance in accordance with the laws of any country visited which belongs to the
13. What is the Green Card System?
The Green Card scheme is a type of international agreement that guarantees that victims of traffic accidents will be compensated by perpetrators driving vehicles registered abroad.
The system also allows motorists to travel on the roads of other countries without having to purchase third-party motor insurance at the border of each country visited.
14. Who are the members of the Green Card Scheme?
The members of the Green Card Scheme are the National Bureaux, representing the individual insurance markets. The Bureaux are organisations of insurers carrying out compulsory motor third party liability insurance in a given country. In accordance with the requirements of the Geneva Recommendation, the Bureau is recognised by the government of the country concerned and signs the relevant agreements with other National Bureaux belonging to the Green Card System. The System currently brings together 46 National Bureaux from 47 countries. The System also includes Multilateral Agreement.
15. What is the Multilateral Agreement?
Multilateral Agreement is an international agreement that operates within the framework of the Green Card System. It allows drivers of vehicles registered in the countries whose National Bureaux are signatories to it to drive on the roads of all these countries without the need for a Green Card. In their case, a valid third-party motor insurance policy taken out in the country where the vehicle is registered is sufficient.
The Multilateral Agreement includes 36 of the 47 members of the Green Card Scheme, including the Polish Motor Insurers' Bureau.
Road traffic incidents in Poland
16. I am injured in an accident in Poland, the perpetrator was the driver of a vehicle registered in an EEA country, Andorra, Bosnia and Herzegovina, Montenegro, Serbia, Switzerland and the UK, I do not know the name of the third-party insurer of this vehicle, how can I find out where it was insured and where should I report the damage?
If the registration number and state of registration of the perpetrator's vehicle is known, it is sufficient to contact PZU SA or TUiR WARTA SA and report the claim to one of these insurers, providing the available data.
PZU SA or TUiR WARTA SA will carry out an examination and valuation of the damage to the vehicle. PBUK, on the other hand, will determine where the vehicle was insured and will forward the case to the correspondent (representative of the foreign insurer) for handling. Once the insurer has been identified, the documentation gathered from either PZU SA or TUiR WARTA SA will be forwarded to the Polish correspondent (representative) of the foreign insurer.
17. I am injured in an accident in Poland, the perpetrator was the driver of a vehicle registered in an EEA country, Andorra, Bosnia and Herzegovina, Montenegro, Serbia, Switzerland and the UK, I know the name of the third party insurer of this vehicle - where should I report the loss?
If the name of the perpetrator's insurer is known, it is sufficient to list of correspondents check whether this company has a Polish representative (correspondent) and which Polish insurer performs this function.
If the perpetrator's insurance company has a correspondent in our country, the claim should be reported to him.
If the perpetrator's insurance company has no correspondent in Poland, the loss should be reported to PZU SA or TUiR WARTA SA.
18. I am injured in an accident in Poland, the perpetrator was the driver of a vehicle with a foreign registration from outside the EEA, Andorra, Bosnia and Herzegovina, Montenegro, Serbia, Switzerland or the UK (Albania, Azerbaijan, Belarus, Iran, Macedonia, Morocco, Moldova, Russia, Tunisia, Turkey, Ukraine) - where should I report a claim?
Drivers of vehicles registered outside the EEA, Andorra, Bosnia and Herzegovina, Montenegro, Serbia, Switzerland or the United Kingdom are required to carry an international certificate of liability insurance - the Green Card or proof of border insurance. In the event of a collision with such a vehicle, the registration number and make must be written down, as well as necessarily the number of the Green Card with its period of validity and the name of the insurer that issued it. If police intervention was not required, a statement of the circumstances of the incident should be drawn up with the perpetrator.
A photo of the offender's vehicle with the licence plate and insurance documents visible will also be useful. Then on list of correspondents you should check whether the perpetrator's insurer has a Polish representative (correspondent) and which Polish insurer performs this function. If the perpetrator's insurance company has a correspondent in our country, the loss should be reported directly to him. If the perpetrator's insurance company does not have a correspondent in Poland, the loss should be reported to PZU SA or TUiR WARTA SA. If, on the other hand, the name of the perpetrator's insurer is unknown, contact PBUK.
As of 1 June 2023, the bilateral agreements with Belarus and Russia on mutual recognition of Green Cards concluded by all National Bureaux from the European Economic Area (EEA) and the Swiss Bureau, including the Polish Motor Insurers' Bureau (PBUK), have been terminated. Drivers of vehicles registered in Belarus and Russia, when entering or staying within the EEA or Switzerland, are therefore obliged to take out border insurance in order to comply with the obligation to take out third party insurance for motor vehicle holders.
It is a good idea to carry a ready-made joint loss report form in your car. You can download it below.
Download a printable joint loss report >
19. I am injured in an accident in Poland, the perpetrator was the driver of a vehicle with a foreign registration from outside the EEA, Andorra, Bosnia and Herzegovina, Montenegro, Serbia, Switzerland or the UK, with a border insurance policy (PL-UG) - where should I report a claim?
Damage caused by vehicles with foreign registrations carrying border insurance (PL-UG) issued by an insurance company operating in Poland must be reported directly to that insurance company.
The name of the insurance company can be found on the first page of the UG document, below the vehicle details.
If, on the other hand, the border insurance proves to be invalid (e.g. its term has expired), the loss must be reported to the Insurance Guarantee Fund via any motor third-party insurance company.
20. I am injured in an accident in Poland, the perpetrator was the driver of a vehicle with a foreign military registration, where should I report the damage?
In the event of a collision with a military vehicle, the damage must be reported to the following institution:
Office of the Director General of the Ministry of Defence
Commission to deal with claims for damage caused by foreign troops
218 Niepodległości Avenue
00-911 Warsaw
The damage can be reported in person or by proxy.
21. I am injured in an accident in Poland, the perpetrator was the driver of a vehicle with a foreign registration. Do I have to call the police?
It is not necessary to call the police if there has been a simple collision in which no one was injured. It is sufficient to fill in printout of the joint injury report The police may also use this form, which allows both parties to give their own version of events, or to draw up a statement describing in detail the circumstances of the incident: date, time, place, how the accident happened, what was damaged inside and outside the vehicle (road signs, etc.). As much of the perpetrator's details as possible should be recorded: vehicle registration number and make, third party insurance details (name of insurance company), policy or green card number, personal details of the perpetrator (name, address, passport or identity card number, peselas). It will also be very helpful to take photographs of the vehicle, with legible number plates, insurance documents, etc.
It should be borne in mind that an admission of liability by the perpetrator has no legal effect vis-à-vis his insurer.
22. How long does it take to identify the foreign insurer of the vehicle?
It can take up to 90 days to determine the foreign vehicle liability insurer. In practice, the deadline depends on the speed of the foreign National Office's response and can be much shorter.
23. From when can I establish the insurer of a vehicle with an EU registration in the PBUK having only the details of the registration number? What is the starting date?
The initial date from which such data can be consulted at the PBUK is when Poland joined the European Union, i.e. from 1 May 2004. In accordance with Directive 103/2009/EC, the minimum period for keeping such data by the information centres in the EU Member States is 7 years. If the accident occurred more than 7 years ago, it will not always be possible to determine the insurer on the basis of the registration number of the foreign vehicle.
24. What is a correspondent of a foreign insurer in Poland?
A correspondent is a direct representative in Poland of a foreign insurer to whom you can report damage caused by the driver of a vehicle registered abroad and insured for motor third-party liability with that particular insurance company.
25. What is a condition for the payment of compensation by the correspondent?
The correspondent's indemnity payment is conditional on establishing the civil liability of the named perpetrator and confirming insurance guarantees with the foreign insurance company.
26. What if the foreign insurance company does not confirm the insurance guarantees?
If the foreign insurer does not confirm the guarantee, the loss should be reported to PBUK or PZU SA or TUiR WARTA SA. Once the validity of the foreign registration plates has been established, PBUK or PZU SA or TUiR WARTA SA will liquidate the loss.
If 90 days have elapsed since the claim was reported and neither the insurer nor the country of registration of the vehicle can be established by then, the claim can be forwarded to the UFG, provided that the victim does not have AC insurance for the vehicle involved in the damage.
27. What if the foreign national office does not confirm that the vehicle is registered, the plates are no longer valid or are false?
In such a situation, it is possible to pursue a claim against the AC insurer on the basis of a voluntary insurance agreement, if concluded, or, if the case qualifies, (pursuant to Article 108(1) of the Act of 22 May 2003 on compulsory insurance, the Insurance Guarantee Fund and the Polish Motor Insurers' Bureau) it is possible to report the loss to the Insurance Guarantee Fund through any insurance company pursuing insurance activity.
At the same time, we would like to point out that the UFG is not liable for damage caused to property if the injured party has satisfied the claim under the voluntary (AC) insurance contract. In such a situation, the UFG compensates the injured party only for the part of the damage not satisfied by the voluntary insurance (e.g. lost insurance premium discounts).
28. What if the foreign insurance company does not confirm the validity of the Green Card?
If the police have noted down the details of the Green Card (full number, expiry date, name of the insurance company/national bureau) or the victim or the police have a copy of the Green Card, the claim should be forwarded to PBUK or PZU SA or TUiR WARTA SA.
If 90 days have elapsed since the damage was reported and the validity of the Green Card has not been confirmed by then, the damage can be reported to the UFG, provided the victim does not have an AC policy.
29. What legal provisions apply to the settlement of damage caused in Poland by vehicles with foreign registration?
As a general rule, the law of the country of the place of the event applies to the settlement of damages, irrespective of the country of origin of the perpetrator. In the case of damage occurring on the territory of Poland, the law of Poland applies.
However, there are exceptions to this rule as set out in the Convention on the Law Applicable to Traffic Accidents on 4 May 1971 in The Hague.
30. If I am not satisfied with the correspondent's position, who should I sue?
You can approach PBUK directly to intervene in the case. It is also possible to seek compensation through the courts. The action in such cases should be directed only against the Polish Motor Insurers' Bureau. It is not possible to sue the correspondent.
31. Does it cost anything to find a foreign insurer and settle the claim in Poland?
No, it is completely free of charge.
Other insurance situations in Poland
32. Can I find out from PBUK where a vehicle registered in Poland was insured for third party liability?
No. The collection and sharing of such data is handled by the Insurance Guarantee Fund.
33. I have bought a vehicle abroad and have received from the owner a printout of insurance valid until X. Can I use this insurance until the end of its validity period?
There is no guarantee that such a policy will be valid after a change of ownership. It depends on the rules of the vehicle's country of origin and the steps taken or not taken by the former owner.
If you have imported a vehicle into Poland with the intention of registering it, you should do so as soon as possible and insure it against third party liability in Poland. Even if an existing third party liability insurance policy for the vehicle, issued by a foreign insurer, was handed in when the vehicle was purchased, it may not be valid even if it has a long expiry date. This is because the vehicle may have been deregistered in the country of sale or the insurance contract may have been terminated.
34. I live permanently in an EU country, i have purchased and registered a vehicle there but it is used by my family in Poland. Can I take out third party liability insurance in Poland?
No. The owner of a vehicle registered abroad is obliged to buy compulsory motor third-party liability insurance in the country in which the vehicle is registered, from an insurance company that is a member of the national bureau there.
Traffic incidents abroad
35. How to behave in the event of an accident abroad, call the police or is a joint statement of damage sufficient?
This depends on the law in the country where the accident took place. In most EU countries, there is no obligation to call the police in the event of a simple collision (without fatalities or injuries). It is sufficient if the parties involved in the incident write down joint loss notification.
However, if a participant is injured in the incident, there is serious damage to property, or there is a clear difference of opinion in the interpretation of the incident, the police should be called.
On the other hand, when travelling to countries across the eastern border (Russia, Belarus, Ukraine), it should be remembered that the presence of the police is required in the event of any incident, even if it is a simple collision.
36. I am injured in an accident abroad in a country outside the European Economic Area and Switzerland. The perpetrator was the driver of a vehicle registered in the country of the accident. How do I proceed to obtain compensation from the perpetrator's third party insurance?
The damage is reported directly to the perpetrator's third-party insurer in that country. If the accident took place in Belarus, Bosnia and Herzegovina, Morocco, Russia, Turkey or Ukraine, you can ask the PBUK for assistance in determining the insurer of the perpetrator's vehicle.
37. I am injured in an accident in a Green Card country in a country outside the EEA and Switzerland (e.g. Russia, Moldova, Ukraine, Belarus etc.) The perpetrator was the driver of a vehicle registered outside the country of the incident. How should I proceed?
If the perpetrator's vehicle was registered outside the European Economic Area and Switzerland, you must report the damage to the National Bureau of the country of the incident or report the damage directly to the perpetrator's third-party liability insurer. However, the latter will have the right to refer the case to the National Bureau of the country of the incident. Another option is to report the damage under the victim's own AC policy, if the victim has one and wishes to use it.
If the perpetrator's vehicle was registered in the European Economic Area or in Switzerland, it will be best to report the loss to a claims representative in Poland, appointed by the perpetrator's third party liability insurer. Another solution is to report the damage from the victim's own AC policy, if the victim has one and wishes to use it.
38. I am injured in an accident abroad in the EEA, Andorra, Bosnia and Herzegovina, Montenegro, Serbia, Switzerland or the UK by a perpetrator outside these areas. What should I do?
It is necessary to take care of the document stating the liability of the perpetrator (statement, police report) and to write down the details of his Green Card (series and no., name of the company, period of insurance). It is a good idea to take a photograph of the documents presented by the case and the licence plate of the perpetrator's vehicle, and then report the damage to the National Bureau of the country of the incident. Another solution is to report the damage from the offender's own AC policy, if the victim has one and wishes to use it. If the perpetrator has a border insurance policy issued by the insurance company of the country of the incident, the loss should be reported directly to this insurance company.
39. I am injured in an accident abroad. The perpetrator of the damage was the driver of a vehicle registered in one of the EEA countries or Switzerland. What should I do?
It is possible to report the damage directly to the perpetrator's third-party insurer or to report it in your country to a claims representative appointed by PBUK. It is also possible to report a claim under the AC policy, if the injured party has one and wishes to use it.
40. Can I report damage caused to me abroad in Poland, does this cost anything?
Yes, it can be reported in Poland if the perpetrator's vehicle is registered in the European Economic Area or Switzerland and the accident took place in one of the Green Card System countries. The notification and settlement of such damage is completely free of charge.
In the event of an accident abroad, the procedures for claiming compensation depend on the country in which the incident occurred and the countries in which the vehicles of the accident participants were registered.
It is very important to write down the registration number and make of the perpetrator's vehicle and to obtain his/her third party insurance details immediately after the accident. In some cases, it is difficult or impossible to establish the perpetrator's insurer once you have returned home, even if you have the exact details of the driver and the perpetrator's vehicle.
41. In what case can the PBUK Information Centre be used and what assistance does it offer?
The PBUK Information Centre can be used in the event of motor vehicle damage occurring outside Poland in one of the countries of the Green Card System, where the perpetrator of the damage was the driver of a vehicle registered in one of the countries of the European Economic Area or in Switzerland, and the injured party is resident in Poland.
As part of its assistance, the Information Centre can provide information on the insurance company with which the perpetrator's vehicle was insured for third party liability at the date of the damage and can indicate a claims representative in Poland.
42. Who is a claims representative?
A claims representative is a representative of a foreign insurance company in the territory of Poland. His/her task is to act as an intermediary in the settlement of claims between the injured party and the perpetrator's third party liability insurer. The claims representative may be either a company (e.g. a Polish insurer) or an individual.
The representative may not demand any fees or costs from the injured party for the conduct of the winding-up procedure (such as, for example, costs for the translation of documents).
43. How should an application be submitted to the Information Centre, can this be done by telephone?
The Information Centre only makes determinations upon written request. The request may be submitted via web form, by fax or by letter.
44. Is there a fee for the assistance offered through the activities of the Information Centre?
No.
The assistance, determination and provision of information are completely free of charge.
45. Is it possible to report damage to the Information Centre?
You cannot. However, the Information Centre will indicate to the injured party the entity to which he/she can report the damage. The PBUK will establish and make available the details of the perpetrator's liability insurance company and its claims representative in Poland. It is up to the injured person to decide whether he/she will report the claim to the claims representative in Poland or to the foreign insurance company.
46. How much time does the Information Centre have to respond to a request?
The regulations do not specify within what timeframe the PBUK should respond. The Bureau transmits information to the injured party as soon as it is obtained from the foreign Information Centre. The maximum time for PBUK's determination is 60 days, but in the overwhelming majority of cases, data is provided by PBUK in a much shorter time.
In the absence of information on the third-party liability insurer of the perpetrator of the damage within 60 days, the damage can be reported to the Compensation Authority.
47. Do insurance companies from all member states of the Green Card Scheme have claims representatives in Poland?
No. Only insurance companies from countries in the European Economic Area, and Switzerland, have claims representatives in Poland.
48. What is the procedure for reporting damage caused abroad by a vehicle registered in one of the EEA countries or Switzerland?
Such a claim can be reported directly to the foreign insurer or to its claims representative in Poland. Reporting to the representative can be done in Polish.
On your return to Poland, you should contact the PBUK, which, on the basis of the perpetrator's vehicle details (vehicle registration number, country of vehicle registration) will provide information on which company he/she was insured with and who his/her claims representative is in Poland. It is enough to fill in form.
If the insurer of the foreign vehicle is known, the claim should be reported directly to the representative without the PBUK having to additionally determine the insurer.
49. When can I report a loss directly to the Compensation Body?
The function of the Compensation Authority in Poland is performed by PBUK.
A claim can be made directly to the compensation body when:
- the foreign insurer with whom the perpetrator of the incident was insured has not appointed its claims representative in Poland,
- the insurer of the perpetrator of the damage has not been identified (in this case, a claim can also be made directly to the guarantee fund in the country of the accident).
50. Within what time limit should the insurer/representative respond to the claim? What if it fails to meet this deadline?
The claims representative is obliged to give the injured party a reply within 90 days of the date on which the claim was lodged. If the aggrieved person does not receive a reasoned reply from the claims representative within this period, he may submit his claim to the compensation body, the function of which is performed by the Polish Motor Insurers' Bureau.
51. Does the submission of a claim for indemnity to the Indemnity Body when the 90-day period for the representative/insurer to respond expires mean that the Body automatically takes over the case?
No. In this case, the insurer/claims representative still has 60 days to respond to the claimant.
The PBUK shall, upon receipt of a claim for compensation, notify all entities relevant to the case: the foreign compensation body, the foreign insurer of the perpetrator's vehicle, the claims representative, the perpetrator, possibly the foreign national office of the country of the accident if the injury occurred in a third country. The PBUK may take further action on the case if the foreign insurer or its claims representative does not respond to the request made to the PBUK within an additional period of 60 days.
52. What is the injured party to do if he/she disagrees with the position presented by the insurer/representative?
If the injured party does not accept the position presented by the claims representative, he or she may pursue a claim against the foreign insurer in court. An action against the foreign insurer can be brought before:
- court of the injured party's place of residence
- the competent court for the seat of the insurance undertaking,
- court having jurisdiction at the place of the accident .
The compensation authority is not established to settle disputes between the claimant and the insurance company. The settlement of these disputes is reserved to the competence of the judicial authorities.
53. Under what legal provisions is a claim arising abroad liquidated?
The generally accepted rule is that the law of the country of the place of the incident applies to the settlement of claims, regardless of the country of origin of the perpetrator.
However, there are exceptions to this rule. The law of a country other than the one in which the accident occurred can be applied, for example, when all participants in the accident live abroad but within the same country.
There is no uniform law in the EU governing the scope and amount of compensation to which one is entitled. Each country has its own internal separate regulations, which may differ significantly from Polish law, e.g. specifying different limitation periods or the amount and type of compensation benefits.
54. Is the insurer entitled to refuse part of the claim, thereby requiring the injured party to take steps to limit the extent of the damage? Is the injured party entitled to reimbursement of all costs he has incurred in connection with the accident?
The determination of compensation for damages arising from accidents occurring abroad is governed by the law of the country in which the accident took place. Both the type and amount of compensation, as well as the obligation of the injured party to minimise the damage, are regulated by the laws of the individual countries. They are also subject to the case law of the courts, which has an impact on the conduct of insurers.
The possibility should always be taken into account that certain types of compensation will not be granted or will be granted to a different extent - more or less - than if the accident had taken place in Poland and Polish law had been applied in the settlement of the claim.
55. What law applies to claims? Does the insurer have the right to delay issuing a decision, citing the ongoing (sometimes months or even longer) investigation into the circumstances of the accident?
The procedure for settling claims arising from accidents occurring abroad is rooted in the law applicable in the country of the accident. Legislation in some countries does not allow the insurer access to the police and/or prosecution file for the duration of the proceedings. The findings of the police / public prosecutor's office and the investigation file are only made available to the insurer after the proceedings have become final.
Hence, in the absence of other sources of information about the circumstances of the incident, the investigation may significantly delay the payment of the claim and the period of waiting for the police records to become available will not be treated as a delay by the insurer.
56. I have caused damage abroad in the Republic of Poland, in one of the EEA countries, Andorra, Bosnia and Herzegovina, Montenegro, Serbia, Switzerland or the United Kingdom. How should I behave towards the injured party?
Participants in the incident should jointly complete and sign a statement of the road traffic incident. Details of the third party liability policy valid at the date of the incident (name of insurance company, policy series and number, period of validity) should be given to the injured party.
Download a printable joint loss report >
If there are injuries following an accident, the police should be called to the scene.
57. I have caused damage abroad, in a MCC Scheme country but outside the EEA, Andorra, Bosnia and Herzegovina, Montenegro, Serbia, Switzerland or the UK. How should I proceed?
Participants in the incident should jointly complete and sign a joint loss report and provide the injured party with details of the Green Card valid on the date of the incident (name of insurance company, Green Card number, period of validity).
Guarantor Bureau PBUK
58. I am the owner of a vehicle registered in Poland and I have received a letter from the PBUK asking for my vehicle's third party insurance details in relation to a loss abroad. What should I do?
It is most likely that the PBUK has received notification of a motor vehicle damage involving your vehicle, occurring outside the borders of the Republic of Poland, and is seeking to refer the case to the competent insurer who was providing third party motor vehicle liability cover on the date of damage. In response, please send (by post, fax or e-mail) the information requested by the Bureau in the letter received.
59. As the driver of a vehicle, I have been involved in an accident abroad and have received a letter from the PBUK asking for the vehicle's third party insurance details. What should I do?
It is most likely that the PBUK has received notification of a motor vehicle damage involving your vehicle occurring outside the Republic of Poland and is seeking to refer the case to the competent insurer who was providing third party motor vehicle liability cover on the date of damage. In response, please send (by post, fax or e-mail) the information that is mentioned in the letter received.
60. I have received a letter from the PBUK requesting information on the third party liability policy valid on the date of damage, but I sold the vehicle involved in the damage in question before the date of the incident. What should I do?
You should inform PBUK that you were no longer the owner of the vehicle on the date of the damage. It is best to send PBUK a copy of a document confirming the transfer of ownership (copy of a purchase and sale agreement, copy of a VAT invoice, copy of a donation agreement) indicating the current owner of the vehicle in question. With the details of the new owner of the vehicle, the PBUK will be able to contact them regarding this loss.
61. I have received a letter from PBUK requesting details of my vehicle's third party liability policy, but my vehicle has not caused any damage. What should I do?
In insurance terminology, damage does not always mean a collision with another vehicle or hitting another road user (pedestrian, cyclist, etc.). The motorist's liability policy also covers other costs, e.g. the cost of a team to clean up the residue left after an oil spill, a tyre blowout or the repair of damaged road infrastructure. In order to clarify the matter and rule out a mistake, please contact PBUK referring to the case number indicated in the letter.
62. Should original documents (policy confirmation, scene report, registration certificate, etc.) be sent in response to the PBUK letter?
You should always keep the original documents for yourself. A photocopy or electronic scan of the document can be sent to PBUK.
63. I am the victim of an accident abroad. The perpetrator of the damage was the driver of a vehicle registered in Poland. How can I ascertain the third party insurance details of his vehicle? Where can I report a claim?
It is possible to submit an enquiry to the database of the UFG Information Centre, through the publicly available "Check OC for a vehicle" mechanism, available on the UFG portal www.ufg.pl, which makes it possible to check which insurance company provided third-party liability cover for motor vehicle owners on the date of damage to the perpetrator's vehicle. Once you have received an answer, you should contact the insurance company indicated.
64. I am travelling abroad and would like to insure my vehicle against third party motor vehicle liability / green card. Can I buy insurance from PBUK?
PBUK does not sell insurance policies. Motor insurance can be purchased from one of the insurance companies offering motor vehicle liability insurance. A list of insurance companies where you can purchase a third party liability policy and/or a green card can be found on the PBUK website at http://pbuk.pl/pl/o-nas/czlonkowie-biura
65. I have caused damage outside of Poland. The damage was caused by a semi-trailer/trailer and is being liquidated under the tractor's policy, why?
In most cases, the law of the country of the incident is the law applicable to the settlement of the claim. In most of the countries belonging to the Green Card System, the law stipulates that if the damage is caused by the movement of a combination of vehicles (tractor-trailer combination), the damage is dealt with at the expense of the insurer of the towing vehicle. Nevertheless, the keeper is obliged to take out third-party liability insurance for his trailer, as this follows directly from the law.
