ERGO Hestia
ERGO Hestia is a motor third-party liability insurance for the PL market with no online purchase and 24/7 assistance.
Direct payment
Direct claims settlement (BLS – Bezpośrednia Likwidacja Szkód) is available: if the insured vehicle is damaged by a third-party driver insured with a BLS-participating insurer, the claim can be reported directly to ERGO Hestia, which settles and then recovers from the at-fault insurer. Property-damage-only claims up to PLN 30,000, maximum two vehicles involved, no court proceedings, with confirmed fault documentation.
Geographic scope
PL
Poland, EU member states, Andorra, Bosnia and Herzegovina, Montenegro, Iceland, Liechtenstein, Norway, Serbia, Switzerland, United Kingdom; Green Card available for non-EU countries within the international Green Card system
Unique selling points
- Direct Claims Settlement (BLS): if the insured is hit by a third party insured elsewhere, ERGO Hestia handles the entire claim internally without the customer contacting the at-fault insurer.
- No-Claims Discount Protection (OC Wariant III): a single claim during the policy year does not reduce the bonus-malus discount at renewal with ERGO Hestia.
- iHestia self-service portal allows 24/7 policy management, claim reporting, document download, and remote policy acceptance without visiting an agent.
- ERGO 7 bundles OC with optional All-Risk Autocasco (three variants), Car Assistance Turbo with unlimited towing in Poland, and Legal Protection up to PLN 20,000, allowing broad customisation within a single package.
- Personal Accident coverage (NNW) for both driver and passengers reaches up to PLN 60,000 sum insured with a 200% death benefit multiplier in Wariant III – above the typical market standard for bundled NNW.
Coverage limits
Bodily Injury Liability (OC – personal injury)
Covered
Covers financial consequences of personal injuries (death, bodily harm, loss of bodily function) caused to third parties in connection with the movement of the insured vehicle, in accordance with the Polish Compulsory Insurance Act. The guarantee sum is set by statute at EUR 5,210,000 per event regardless of the number of injured parties.
SourceProperty Damage Liability (OC – property damage)
Covered
Covers financial consequences of property damage caused to third parties in connection with the movement of the insured vehicle, in accordance with the Polish Compulsory Insurance Act. The guarantee sum is set by statute at EUR 1,050,000 per event.
SourcePhone Legal Assistant (Telefoniczny Asystent Prawny)
Optional
Optional add-on available in OC Wariant II and III. Provides up to 12 telephone legal advice sessions per policy year on matters related to the insured vehicle, including claims, traffic offences, licence suspension, and vehicle registration. Also includes access to model contracts (up to 4 per year) and legal act texts (up to 4 per year). Sum insured: PLN 2,000.
SourceGreen Card (international motor insurance certificate)
Covered
The OC policy automatically provides coverage equivalent to Green Card requirements within EU member states and countries where the Polish OC is recognised. For countries outside the EU that are part of the international Green Card system, a Green Card document can be issued as evidence of liability cover. The scope of cover is identical to the OC PPM policy.
SourceVehicle Towing (Holowanie pojazdu) – OC add-on
Optional
Optional add-on available in OC Wariant II and III. Covers organisation and costs of towing the insured vehicle and vehicles it collided with from the scene to a location designated by the parties, up to 150 km per vehicle within Poland, in case of a collision caused by the insured driver. Sum insured: PLN 2,000. Activated on the insured's request. Does not include breakdown (awaria) towing — that requires a separate Car Assistance policy.
SourcePersonal Accident Insurance – Driver (NNW Kierowcy)
Optional
Optional standalone coverage for the driver of the insured vehicle. Covers consequences of road accidents including death (100% of sum insured in Wariant I/II; 200% in Wariant III), permanent disability (lump sum per disablement table in Appendix 1), temporary incapacity to work or study (1‰ of sum insured per day, from day 10 or day 1 if ≥30 days, up to 180 days), and medical treatment costs (up to 30% of sum insured). Sum insured options: PLN 10,000 (Wariant I), PLN 30,000 (Wariant II), PLN 60,000 (Wariant III). Territorial scope: worldwide.
SourcePersonal Accident Insurance – Passengers (NNW Pasażerów)
Optional
The NNW KiP policy (Personal Accident Insurance for Driver and Passengers) covers passengers of the insured vehicle under the same terms as the driver. Benefits include death, permanent disability, temporary incapacity and medical costs. If more passengers are present than the registered seat count, the sum insured per passenger is prorated (sum insured × registered passenger seats ÷ actual passengers). Sum insured options: PLN 10,000 / 30,000 / 60,000. Territorial scope: worldwide.
SourceKey conditions
territorial_scope
The MTPL (OC) policy covers losses arising from the movement of the insured vehicle in Poland and other EU member states, as well as Andorra, Bosnia and Herzegovina, Montenegro, Iceland, Liechtenstein, Norway, Serbia, Switzerland, and the United Kingdom. For countries outside this list that participate in the international Green Card system, a Green Card certificate must be carried. Exclusions for Belarus, Moldova, Russia, and Ukraine apply to Autocasco but not to mandatory OC.
green_card_rules
The Polish OC policy automatically serves as proof of liability insurance within the EU and in countries recognising the Polish compulsory OC. A separate Green Card certificate (Zielona Karta) is issued on request and confirms liability coverage in countries outside the EU that are signatories to the Multilateral Guarantee Agreement. The Green Card is available from ERGO Hestia and provides coverage equivalent to the OC policy. Carrying the Green Card is mandatory in certain non-EU countries.
driver_restrictions
Coverage is excluded for losses where the driver: (a) was under the influence of alcohol (≥0.5‰ BAC or ≥0.25 mg/l breath alcohol), narcotics, or similar substances and was authorised to use the vehicle, where this affected the occurrence or extent of loss; (b) left the accident scene and was authorised to use the vehicle, where this affected the increase in loss; (c) did not hold a required driving licence and was authorised to use the vehicle, where this affected the occurrence of loss. These exclusions apply only to the additional (voluntary) insurance elements bundled with OC (Wariant II/III), not to the mandatory OC liability cover itself.
claim_notification_deadline
The insured must notify ERGO Hestia of the event immediately after it occurs or upon learning of it. Notification channels: iHestia online account (ihestia.ergohestia.pl), online form at www.ergohestia.pl, through an ERGO Hestia representative, or by phone at 801 107 107 or 58 555 5 555. In the event of wilful breach or gross negligence in notifying, ERGO Hestia may reduce compensation only if the breach contributed to increasing the loss or prevented ERGO Hestia from determining the circumstances and consequences of the event. Payment is due within 30 days of notification, or within 14 days of clarification of all necessary circumstances.
bonus_malus_rules
The premium is calculated based on the insured's claims history (bonus-malus system). An optional No-Claims Discount Protection add-on (Ubezpieczenie Ochrony Utraty Zniżki OC) is available in Wariant III: if one claim is made during the OC policy period, upon renewal of the subsequent OC policy with ERGO Hestia the insurance history of the insured vehicle is maintained at the previous (pre-claim) level, preserving the claims-free discount. If more than one claim occurs, only one claim is disregarded for the next renewal.
Where to buy
Policy specifics
Autocasco (voluntary comprehensive insurance) - three variants
Three variant options for comprehensive motor vehicle damage coverage: Variant I (total loss and theft only), Variant II (total loss, theft, collision and vandalism), Variant III (All-Risk comprehensive coverage)
Car Assistance (roadside assistance)
Optional roadside assistance coverage including vehicle towing, replacement vehicle provision, legal assistance, and psychological care; offered in multiple variants
Personal Accident Insurance (NNW) for driver and passengers
Voluntary personal accident coverage for death, bodily injury, or loss of bodily function of the driver and vehicle passengers resulting from road accidents
Baggage coverage
Optional coverage protecting personal items (phones, tablets, keys, documents) transported inside the vehicle or in external baggage compartments against loss or damage
Legal Protection coverage
Optional coverage providing legal assistance and representation in disputes arising from vehicle ownership and use, including defense in criminal proceedings related to traffic violations
No-Claims Discount Protection (for Autocasco)
Optional coverage protecting the insured's claims-free discount rating on Autocasco insurance; allows retention of discount level despite single loss occurrence
Vehicle use scope restriction
Coverage limited to private vehicles not used for commercial, business, or professional activities; excludes vehicles used for trade, services, or economic activity
Vehicle registration requirement
Mandatory Third-Party Liability (OC) insurance for all mechanically propelled vehicles registered in Poland; legal obligation under Polish insurance law
Authorized Service Station (ASO) repair option
Optional repair method using authorized service stations under franchise agreement; guarantees use of original manufacturer parts; alternative to cost-estimate settlement method
Automatic renewal of OC insurance
Third-Party Liability (OC) insurance automatically renews after 12 months if not terminated and premium is paid; policy continues without requiring active renewal action
OC insurance transfer to vehicle buyer
Third-Party Liability (OC) insurance automatically transfers to the new owner upon vehicle sale; buyer can continue using the policy until expiration under original terms