Powszechny Zakład Ubezpieczeń Spółka Akcyjna
PZU
PZU is a motor casco insurance for the Poland market with online purchase and 24/7 assistance.
Direct payment
PZU settles claims directly in its own repair network (Siec Naprawcza PZU); reimbursement also available on invoice from any workshop; partner variant requires repairs at designated partner workshop; costs based on Polish price lists
Geographic scope
Poland and Europe
Poland, all European countries (including territories outside Europe), Algeria, Morocco, Israel, Tunisia; theft in Russia, Belarus, Ukraine and Moldova excluded by default (coverable for extra premium)
Unique selling points
- Three repair settlement variants (Service with original parts, Optimal with alternative parts, Partner workshop) allow the customer to tailor claim settlement quality and premium to their needs.
- Auto Non Stop extension provides end-to-end claim service: PZU collects the damaged vehicle, organises repair at its network workshop, and delivers a replacement car door-to-door – without the customer needing to arrange anything themselves.
- Auto Wartość 100% option freezes the vehicle’s insured value at contract inception, protecting against market depreciation when calculating theft or total-loss compensation.
- Auto Ochrona Sumy Ubezpieczenia (non-reducing insured sum) prevents the coverage limit from decreasing after each claim payout, maintaining full protection for subsequent losses throughout the policy year.
- PZU is Poland’s largest insurer with a nationwide network of over 400 branches, 5,500 agents and a 24/7 helpline (801 102 102), enabling instant claims reporting and in-person service across the country.
Coverage limits
Own damage (partial loss and total loss)
unlimited
Only in wariant serwisowy, wariant optymalny, wariant partnerski, AC pełne, AC Mini
AC covers damage, destruction or loss of the vehicle, its parts or equipment resulting from any sudden event independent of the insured's will. Compensation capped at the insured sum. Total loss threshold: repair costs exceeding 70% of vehicle value; compensation = vehicle value minus salvage value. Three settlement variants available: service (original parts), optimal (alternative parts or reduced originals), partner (partner workshop original parts). Franchise integral: PLN 300 minimum claim (exception: interior damage caused by persons whose transport was medically required).
Total loss
unlimited
Only in wariant serwisowy, wariant optymalny, wariant partnerski
If repair costs (calculated per OWU rules) exceed 70% of the vehicle's value on the day of loss assessment, the claim is settled as total loss. Compensation = market value of vehicle minus market value of salvage. Vehicle value assessed via Eurotax or Info-Ekspert expert systems (or individual valuation if no listings). With Auto Wartość 100% option, value is frozen at contract date.
Partial loss (szkoda częściowa)
unlimited
Only in wariant serwisowy, wariant optymalny, wariant partnerski, AC Mini
Partial loss settlement based on variant: service variant uses original parts at workshop labour rates; optimal variant uses alternative parts (or reduced-price originals if alternatives unavailable: -30% up to 3 yrs, -45% 3-5 yrs, -55% 5-8 yrs, -60% over 8 yrs); partner variant uses original parts at partner workshop rates. Labour rates based on average rates in the voivodeship of the repairing workshop. Without invoices, PZU pays a preliminary estimate at PLN 92/h labour rate (OWU UZ/5/2026).
Theft, robbery and related damage
unlimited
Only in AC pełne, wariant serwisowy, wariant optymalny, wariant partnerski
Covered as standard: theft of vehicle, parts or equipment; burglary into vehicle; damage caused by attempted theft, joyriding or break-in. Compensation equals vehicle value on day of theft (or contract date if Auto Wartość 100% applies). Theft in Russia, Belarus, Ukraine, Moldova excluded by default (BRUM extension available for extra premium). Keys left in vehicle or vehicle left unsecured are standard exclusion grounds (unless no causal link proven or violence used).
Glass damage (PZU Auto Szyba - separate product)
Optional
Only in PZU Auto Szyba (PAS)
Glass damage is not included in the standard AC policy. It is covered under the separate PZU Auto Szyba (PAS) add-on product, which covers repair or replacement of front, side or rear glass. First damage covered in full; 30% co-payment applies from the second incident in the same policy period. Repair/replacement organised by PZU only in Poland; costs reimbursed for abroad.
Natural perils (storms, hail, flooding, fire, etc.)
unlimited
Only in AC pełne, wariant serwisowy, wariant optymalny, wariant partnerski
AC covers all sudden events independent of the insured's will, which includes natural perils such as storms, hail, flooding, falling objects, fire, etc. These are covered as part of the base AC scope under the general insured-event definition. No separate sub-limit; compensation subject to the overall insured sum.
Vandalism and malicious damage by third parties
unlimited
Only in AC pełne, wariant serwisowy, wariant optymalny, wariant partnerski
Damage caused by unknown or third-party perpetrators (e.g. keying, deliberate damage) is covered as part of the general AC scope, since the insured event definition covers damage independent of the insured's will. Deliberate damage caused by the insured themselves or persons in the same household is excluded.
Roadside assistance (towing and parking - base AC; full assistance via PWD add-on)
10% of insured sum
Only in AC pełne - koszty dodatkowe do 10% SU, Auto Non Stop (opcja), PZU Pomoc w Drodze (PWD - oddzielny produkt)
Base AC includes reimbursement of towing from scene and parking costs up to 10% of insured sum (capped at average local market rates; up to 3 days parking after inspection/estimate). Full roadside assistance (repair on site, replacement vehicle, hotel, transport home, etc.) requires purchase of PZU Pomoc w Drodze (PWD) as a separate or bundled product. Auto Non Stop optional extension organises towing, repair at ANS workshop and replacement vehicle entirely within Poland.
Replacement vehicle (Auto Non Stop or Auto Zastępcze extension)
Optional
Only in Auto Non Stop, Auto Zastępcze
Not included in base AC. Two optional routes: (1) Auto Non Stop extension: PZU organises and covers cost of replacement vehicle (segment same as insured vehicle, max segment E for cars up to 7 years old, max D for 8-12 yrs, max C for over 12 yrs per OWU UZ/5/2026) for the duration of repair at ANS workshop; if repair is abandoned or total loss declared, covered for up to 3 days after inspection/estimate; available only in Poland, for passenger cars and light commercial vehicles. (2) Auto Zastępcze extension: reimburses documented rental costs up to a contractually defined additional limit (limit reduces with each reimbursement); covers period from event date to repair completion (not longer than technologically justified repair time in Poland); also up to 3 days if not repaired.
Driver accident cover (PZU Auto NNW - separate product)
Optional
Only in PZU Auto NNW
Personal accident coverage for driver and passengers is not included in the base AC product. It is available as a separate optional product PZU Auto NNW, covering bodily injury, health impairment or death from accidents related to vehicle use. Insured sum min PLN 5,000, max PLN 100,000 per insured per accident. Benefits: permanent health impairment (% of SI), death (100% SI), incapacity allowance, medical cost reimbursement up to 10% SI (max PLN 5,000), orthopaedic aids up to 10% SI (max PLN 10,000).
Key conditions
Driver age and experience limit
A mandatory co-payment (udział własny) of 25% of compensation applies when the insured or vehicle user is a natural person under 26 years of age on the first day of the insurance period (and is a natural person, including entrepreneur, with no more than 5 vehicles). This co-payment can be waived for an additional premium.
Repair network requirements
Three settlement variants: (1) Service variant – original parts, labour at workshop rates; repair may be done at any workshop but PZU verifies invoices against average rates for comparable workshops in the voivodeship. (2) Optimal variant – alternative parts (or discounted originals if unavailable); same invoice verification. (3) Partner variant – original parts at partner workshop rates; invoices must be issued by a partner workshop; if repaired elsewhere, PZU pays only estimated value. AC Mini is only available in the optimal variant and claims settled exclusively on PZU estimate basis.
Territorial scope
Coverage applies in Poland, all European countries (including territories of those countries located outside Europe), Algeria, Morocco, Israel and Tunisia. By default, theft losses occurring in Russia, Belarus, Ukraine and Moldova are excluded; they may be included for an additional premium (BRUM extension). Damage abroad up to EUR 2,500 may be repaired without PZU consent; above that amount PZU consent required. Towing to Poland requires PZU consent.
Anti-theft requirements
No mandatory anti-theft device requirement as a condition of coverage. However, theft cover is excluded if: the driver left the vehicle with keys inside without securing against unauthorized use; keys or anti-theft device controllers were not secured outside the vehicle after leaving it unattended; the vehicle was not secured in its construction-prescribed manner or all anti-theft devices were not activated. Exception: theft from a locked garage of a single owner (closed with at least one multi-lever lock, padlock or certified electromechanical system). Exclusion does not apply if there is no causal link or the perpetrator used violence/threats.
Claim notification deadline
Domestic damage (Poland): promptly, no later than 7 days from the event. Theft or crime-related damage: promptly, but no later than the next business day (Mon-Fri, excluding public holidays). Foreign damage: no later than 7 days after re-crossing the Polish border; if PZU assistance was needed before returning, within 3 days of the event. Failure to notify (intentional or gross negligence) may result in reduced or refused compensation if it contributed to increased damage or prevented PZU from establishing circumstances.
Deductible rules
Standard (base) policy: mandatory franchise integral of PLN 300 (claims below this threshold not covered; exception for interior damage from medically-required passenger transport). Optional deductibles (udział własny) reducing premium: (1) PLN 500 flat (not available with AC Mini scope); (2) 20% of compensation, min PLN 500 (only with AC Mini scope); (3) 25% of compensation for insureds/users under 26 years of age (mandatory, can be waived for extra premium). Deductibles are cumulative if multiple apply – applied starting from the largest; each subsequent deductible is calculated on the compensation already reduced by the previous one.
Policy specifics
Replacement vehicle (Auto Non Stop)
Optional service providing replacement vehicle (up to class E) during repair period
SourceTheft exclusion (Eastern territories)
Standard AC does not cover theft losses in Russia, Belarus, Ukraine, and Moldova by default
SourceInsurance sum reduction option (Auto Ochrona Sumy Ubezpieczenia)
Optional add-on that prevents insurance sum reduction after each claim payout
SourceBaggage coverage
Coverage for personal belongings and cargo left in the vehicle, up to 5000 PLN
SourceRepair network options
Three repair settlement variants available: Service (original parts), Optimal (alternative parts), Partner (partner workshop)
SourceDriving under influence and license restrictions
No compensation if driver was under influence of alcohol/drugs or lacked proper driving license
SourceVehicle security negligence
No compensation for theft if vehicle was left unsecured (keys in ignition, unlocked, without anti-theft device)
Source