Balcia Insurance SE European Company Branch in Poland
Balcia
Balcia is a motor casco insurance for the Poland market with online purchase and limited assistance availability.
Direct payment
Compensation is paid in PLN within 30 days of receiving notification of the loss. If investigation of circumstances necessary to determine liability exceeds 30 days, payment must be made within 14 days of when those circumstances could have been clarified with due diligence. The uncontested portion is always paid within 30 days.
Geographic scope
Poland and Europe (excluding Belarus, Moldova, Ukraine, and the European part of Russia, unless otherwise agreed)
Coverage applies to Poland and Europe, excluding Belarus, Moldova, Ukraine and the European part of Russia, unless otherwise agreed upon conclusion of the contract.
Unique selling points
- All-risk formula covering every peril not explicitly excluded, with a market-leading short list of exclusions marketed as only 21 in total.
- No no-claims bonus reduction in the following year for key no-fault events including theft, hail, pothole damage, and loss of keys.
- Brand-new vehicle theft compensation up to 120% of the insured sum in the first year, covering the cost of a new equivalent vehicle at an authorised dealer.
- AI-powered online premium calculation completed within 60 seconds, with instant policy issuance and the ability to cancel at any time online.
- Child safety seat (up to 2,000 PLN) and dashcam (up to 600 PLN) included as standard within the vehicle scope at no extra cost.
Coverage limits
Own Damage
Covered
All-risk coverage for any sudden, unforeseen external event causing damage or destruction of the insured vehicle or its additional equipment. The insured sum (equal to market value at policy inception) constitutes the upper limit of Balcia's liability. Compensation for partial loss is calculated per the chosen variant (Serwis or Kosztorys). Coverage includes mechanical damage, impact of natural forces, and all events not explicitly listed as exclusions in the OWU.
Total Loss
Covered
Total loss (szkoda całkowita) is triggered when the cost of repairs exceeds 70% of the vehicle's market value at the date of loss. Compensation equals the market value of the undamaged vehicle on the date of loss minus the salvage value, as determined by expert systems. Where the Guaranteed Sum Insured option has been purchased, the sum insured from policy inception is used instead of the diminished market value. For a brand-new vehicle stolen in its first year, compensation may reach up to 120% of the insured sum to cover the cost of a new equivalent vehicle at an authorised dealer.
Partial Loss
Covered
Partial loss (szkoda częściowa) applies when repair costs do not exceed 70% of the vehicle's market value. Two compensation variants are available: (1) Serwis – compensation based on repair invoices using original parts prices, manufacturer time norms, and ASO labour rates; available for vehicles up to 3 years old or older with the depreciation waiver extension; (2) Kosztorys – compensation based on Balcia's estimate using non-original parts, a fixed 70 PLN/h net labour rate, and a depreciation reduction of 25–65% depending on vehicle age. Additional equipment up to 10,000 PLN (max 30% of vehicle value) may also be covered.
Theft and Robbery
Covered
Covers theft (art. 278 KK), burglary (art. 279 KK), robbery (art. 280 KK) and temporary unauthorized use (art. 289 KK) of the vehicle, its parts or equipment, provided the vehicle was secured in the manner prescribed by its construction and per OWU requirements. Theft of vehicle registration plates, keys and remotes is also covered. Appropriation (art. 284 KK) is expressly excluded. Compensation for loss of a brand-new vehicle in its first year may reach up to 120% of the insured sum. The vehicle must have the required, operational and activated anti-theft devices at the time of theft for theft loss to be covered.
Glass Damage
Covered
Glass damage is covered under the all-risk own damage scope of the Auto Casco OWU PL-9AC, as it is not listed among the policy exclusions. Damage to the vehicle's glazing is treated as partial loss and compensated accordingly. Note: Balcia also offers a separate Auto Szyby (Auto Glass) insurance product; limits from that product do not apply here.
Natural Perils
Covered
Covered under the all-risk formula. Damage caused by natural forces (storms, hail, flooding, falling trees, etc.) is covered since such events are not listed as exclusions. Balcia explicitly states no discount loss in subsequent years for claims caused by acts of nature.
Vandalism
Covered
Covered under the all-risk formula. Intentional damage to the insured vehicle by a third party is not listed among the OWU exclusions and is therefore covered, provided the damage was not caused by the insured, the policyholder or the driver. The exclusion of wilful acts applies only to the insured, policyholder or authorised driver acting wilfully.
Roadside Assistance
Not offered
Roadside assistance is not part of the Auto Casco OWU PL-9AC scope. Balcia offers it as a separate Assistance insurance product with its own terms and conditions.
Replacement Vehicle
Not offered
Replacement vehicle coverage is not part of the Auto Casco OWU PL-9AC scope. It may be available as part of a separately purchased Assistance product.
Driver Accident Insurance (NNW)
Not offered
Driver accident insurance (NNW) is not part of the Auto Casco OWU PL-9AC scope. Balcia offers it as a separate NNW product (Ubezpieczenie NNW Kierowcy i Pasażerów) with its own terms and conditions.
Key conditions
Driver age and experience limit
No minimum driver age or minimum driving experience requirement is stated in the Auto Casco OWU PL-9AC. Premium may however be influenced by the age of the insured and any co-owner, and by their period of holding a driving licence of the relevant category, as these are risk-assessment factors used to calculate the premium.
Repair network requirements
In the Serwis variant, repair must be agreed with Balcia before commencement, and compensation is based on submitted invoices using original parts prices and ASO labour rates for ASO repairs or average local rates for non-ASO repairs. In the Kosztorys variant, compensation is based on Balcia's own estimate using expert systems (Eurotax, Info-Ekspert, Emprekis, Audatex, DAT) and non-original parts prices with a fixed 70 PLN/h net labour rate. Repairs abroad should be done in Poland; provisional foreign repairs are reimbursed up to 1,500 EUR. The vehicle must not be repaired before Balcia's inspection.
Territorial scope
Coverage applies to Poland and Europe, excluding Belarus, Moldova, Ukraine and the European part of Russia, unless otherwise agreed. The policyholder may choose a territorial scope of Poland only, or Poland and Europe (with the listed exclusions). For abroad damage, notification must be given within 5 business days of re-entering Poland and no later than 10 days from the date of the event.
Anti-theft requirements
The vehicle must be equipped with the required anti-theft devices (Urządzenia przeciwkradzieżowe) as agreed at policy inception. Anti-theft devices include: car alarm, electronic engine immobiliser, mechanical gearbox lock, GPS positioning system with active subscriber agreement. Professional installation must be confirmed in writing by the installer. If at the time of theft the vehicle lacked required, operational and activated anti-theft devices, or they were incorrectly installed, the theft loss will not be covered. If keys or remote controls are lost during the policy period and locks/ignition are not recoded, any resulting theft may not be covered.
Claim notification deadline
For vehicle damage in Poland: notify Balcia within 5 business days of the event. For vehicle damage abroad: notify within 5 business days of re-entering Poland and no later than 10 days from the event date. For theft or suspected criminal event: notify Police immediately, no later than 12 hours from learning of the event; notify Balcia no later than the next business day. For lost keys/documents: notify Balcia within 12 hours.
Deductible rules
If a deductible (udział własny) has been introduced in the policy, the assessed compensation will be reduced by the deductible amount. The deductible amount and/or percentage are selected by the policyholder during policy configuration. No discount (no-claims bonus) is lost in the following year for: theft of the vehicle or its parts, damage caused by driving into a road pothole, damage caused by acts of nature, theft of registration plates, loss/destruction/misplacement of keys or remote controls.
Policy specifics
Video Recorder Protection
Additional protection for video recorders (dashcams) included in standard coverage
Child Seat Protection
Additional protection for child safety seats included in standard coverage
No Discount Loss for Damage Through No Fault of Your Own
Policyholder retains discounts even when damage occurs through no fault of their own (e.g., hailstorm, pothole, theft)
Additional Equipment Sub-limit
Additional equipment (permanently mounted non-factory items such as audio/visual equipment, external roof rack, tachometers, spoilers, alloy wheels, tow bar, wraps and advertising stickers) may be insured up to 10,000 PLN, provided it does not exceed 30% of the vehicle's value.
Guaranteed Sum Insured Option
For an additional premium, the policyholder may extend coverage with the Guaranteed Sum Insured option. This guarantees that the sum insured remains equal to the vehicle's value at policy inception throughout the insurance period, regardless of value changes, in case of theft loss or total loss. Available only for vehicles not older than 5 years. When selected, any reduction in the sum insured upon claim payment is also waived.
New Vehicle First-Year Theft Uplift
In case of theft of a brand-new vehicle in its first year of use, the compensation may exceed the insured sum but shall not exceed 120% of the insured sum, and will equal the cost of purchasing a new vehicle of the same type from an authorised dealer.
Foreign Provisional Repair Reimbursement Limit
If a vehicle damaged abroad requires provisional repair to enable safe continuation of the journey, the policyholder may carry out such repair abroad up to 1,500 EUR (or equivalent in foreign currency at the NBP exchange rate on the date of loss). Reimbursement is made in Poland on the basis of named original receipts.
Theft Risk Security Requirements
Vehicle must meet security requirements including at least two anti-theft protections to include theft risk coverage
Territorial Scope Selection
Policyholder can choose coverage territory: Poland only or Europe with listed exclusions
Deductible Structure
Deductible is the part of loss (amount or percentage) covered by policyholder; insurer covers remaining amount
All-Risk Formula with Limited Exclusions
Product constructed on All-Risks formula providing vehicle protection for all damage not explicitly excluded in Terms and Conditions
Service vs Cost Estimate Variants
Auto Casco can be concluded in Service (SERWIS) or Cost Estimate (KOSZTORYS) variant, differing in how partial damage compensation is calculated
Vehicle Age Eligibility
Balcia insures motor vehicles not older than 20 years, registered or admitted to traffic in Poland. Older vehicles may be insured if the policyholder continues claim-free insurance with Balcia.