Motor third-party liability — Czech Republic

What is MTPL (Povinné ručení) in Czechia and who is required to have it?

Motor Third-Party Liability (MTPL) insurance, known in Czech as Povinné ručení (formally Pojištění odpovědnosti z provozu vozidla), is mandatory under Act No. 30/2024 Coll. on Motor Third-Party Liability Insurance, which took effect on 1 April 2024 and replaced the long-standing Act No. 168/1999 Coll. A material change introduced by the new law is that the duty to insure is now placed on the vehicle operator (provozovatel) — typically the registered keeper — rather than on the legal owner, which is significant for leased or company vehicles. The policy covers damages caused to third parties — not your own vehicle or your own injuries as the at-fault driver. Driving without valid MTPL on public roads is an administrative offence under the Act and may also trigger a contribution liability to the Czech Insurers' Bureau (ČKP) guarantee fund.

What are the mandatory minimum coverage limits for MTPL in Czechia?

Under Section 6 of Act No. 30/2024 Coll., the statutory minimum cover is CZK 50,000,000 per claim for bodily injury or death and CZK 50,000,000 per claim for property damage. These limits were raised from CZK 35 million effective 1 April 2024 to implement EU Directive 2021/2118. In practice, the Czech market sets its entry tier at the statutory minimum (e.g. ČPP, ČSOB Pojišťovna, Generali Česká, Kooperativa and UNIQA all offer CZK 50/50 million as the basic option) and most insurers also sell higher tiers — CZK 70, 100, 150, 200 or even 300 million per claim — for a modest premium increase. The same limit applies regardless of the number of injured persons in a single accident.

What does Czech MTPL insurance actually cover?

Czech MTPL covers damages caused to third parties by the operation of the insured vehicle. This includes: bodily injury, disability or death of pedestrians, occupants of other vehicles, cyclists or other road users; property damage to other vehicles, buildings or any third-party property; loss of profit (ušlý zisk) and consequential financial loss flowing from a covered event; reasonable costs of legal representation of the injured party; and costs incurred by health insurance funds and the social security system for medical treatment of accident victims (regress claims by VZP and other health insurers). It does not cover damage to your own vehicle, your own injuries as the at-fault driver, or losses caused intentionally, while driving under the influence, without a licence, or during a motorsport event.

Are the at-fault driver's own damages covered?

No. Under Act No. 30/2024 Coll. and standard policy conditions, damages suffered by the at-fault driver are excluded from MTPL coverage. If you cause an accident, you are not entitled to compensation for your own injuries or for damage to your own vehicle out of your own MTPL policy. For own vehicle damage you need a separate Havarijní pojištění (own-damage / Kasko) policy, and for your own injuries you can buy úrazové pojištění řidiče / posádky (driver and passenger accident insurance). Many Czech insurers package an own-driver accident rider — often marketed as «pojištění úrazu řidiče» or under brand names such as Allianz «MojeAuto» add-ons or Direct «GAP» — as an optional add-on to MTPL at a low extra premium.

Are passengers in the at-fault vehicle covered?

Yes. Under Section 7 of Act No. 30/2024 Coll., passengers — including family members of the at-fault driver — are treated as third parties for the purpose of MTPL and their bodily injury claims are covered up to the policy limit. The only person excluded from MTPL passenger cover is the at-fault driver themself (see previous question). Property damage to passengers' belongings (e.g. luggage, electronics, clothing) is also covered as third-party property damage. For broader, no-fault personal accident protection, most Czech insurers offer an optional Úrazové pojištění posádky (passenger accident cover) which pays a fixed sum on injury or death regardless of who caused the accident.

Is legal defence included in Czech MTPL policies?

Defence against third-party claims (uplatnění a šetření nároku) is included as a core part of every Czech MTPL policy at the insurer's expense — under Section 9 of Act No. 30/2024 Coll. the insurer is entitled and obliged to investigate, negotiate or contest claims raised against the insured, and to pay the reasonable costs of legal representation of the injured party. This is distinct from a standalone Pojištění právní ochrany (legal expenses insurance) which actively pursues the policyholder's own claims (e.g. own injuries, damages from an uninsured third party, traffic offence proceedings, licence withdrawal). Major Czech insurers (Kooperativa, Allianz, Generali Česká, Direct) sell legal expenses cover either as a standalone product (e.g. D.A.S., now part of Generali) or as a low-cost MTPL add-on, typically with limits of CZK 100,000 to 500,000 per case.

Is a Green Card still required with Czech MTPL?

Not for domestic driving. Since 1 October 2024, under Act No. 30/2024 Coll., the obligation to carry a paper Green Card (Zelená karta) when driving on Czech territory has been abolished. Insurance status is verified electronically in real time between insurers, the Czech Insurers' Bureau (ČKP) and the Ministry of Transport via the central register, so the police and registration authorities check cover by registration plate alone. The Green Card remains required as proof of insurance when driving outside the European Economic Area in countries that still operate the Green Card system — such as Albania, Azerbaijan, Bosnia and Herzegovina, Moldova, Montenegro, North Macedonia, Serbia, Turkey, Ukraine, Iran, Israel, Morocco and Tunisia. Czech insurers issue the Green Card free of charge, on paper or as a digital PDF accepted in most member states.

Which countries does Czech MTPL insurance cover?

Czech MTPL cover extends automatically to: the Czech Republic; all EU Member States; EEA countries (Norway, Iceland, Liechtenstein); and Andorra, Monaco, the Vatican, San Marino, Switzerland, Serbia and the other Green Card system members. Within the EEA the contractually agreed Czech cover sums apply; outside the EEA the insurer's liability may be reduced to the legally required minimum cover applicable in the country of visit unless the Green Card has been issued and produced. Cover for trips outside the Czech Republic is typically granted for journeys of less than 12 months. Travel to Belarus, Russia and currently Ukraine is excluded by every major Czech insurer due to international sanctions and active conflict.

What must I do immediately after a road accident in the Czech Republic?

After an accident in the Czech Republic you must: stop immediately and secure the scene (warning triangle at the prescribed distance, hazard lights, high-visibility vest under Section 5 of Act No. 361/2000 Coll.); render first aid and call emergency services (155 záchranná služba, 150 hasiči, or 112 European emergency number) where there are injuries; call the police (158) where required — bodily injury, fatal accident, suspected drunk or drug driving, damage exceeding CZK 100,000, damage to road property or third-party property where details cannot be exchanged; not leave the scene before identifying yourself and exchanging insurance and contact details with the other party; complete a European Accident Statement (Záznam o dopravní nehodě / Evropský záznam o dopravní nehodě) signed by both parties; photograph the scene and damage; and report the claim to the insurer of the at-fault vehicle without undue delay. Under Section 11 of Act No. 30/2024 Coll. the insurer must investigate and decide on compensation within 15 days of receiving all necessary documents (or 3 months if criminal proceedings or expert assessment are required).

Can I buy Czech MTPL online and pay in installments?

Yes. All major Czech MTPL insurers — Generali Česká pojišťovna (the largest), Kooperativa, Allianz, ČSOB Pojišťovna, ČPP (Česká podnikatelská pojišťovna), UNIQA, Direct pojišťovna, Slavia and Pillow — offer fully online conclusion through their own portals, mobile apps, and through comparison sites and brokers (srovnejto.cz, klik.cz, ePojisteni.cz, mojepojistovna.cz). On payment of the first premium the insurer issues immediately a digital insurance certificate and Green Card by e-mail; from 1 October 2024 the Czech police verify cover electronically by registration plate, so no paper document is needed for domestic driving. Payment is offered annually, half-yearly, quarterly or monthly; sub-annual instalments may carry a small surcharge of 2–5%. The Czech market operates a bonus-malus system based on claim-free months (rozhodná doba) under Decree No. 295/2017 Coll. and the insurer's tariff: typically each claim-free year reduces the premium (bonus of up to 60% after 10+ years) and each at-fault claim adds malus stages of 24 to 36 months at higher premium rates.