Motor third-party liability — Slovakia

What is MTPL (Povinné zmluvné poistenie) in Slovakia and who is required to have it?

Motor Third-Party Liability insurance, known in Slovakia as Povinné zmluvné poistenie zodpovednosti za škodu spôsobenú prevádzkou motorového vozidla (PZP), is mandatory under Zákon č. 381/2001 Z. z. (Act No. 381/2001 Coll. on Compulsory MTPL Insurance). Every holder of a motor vehicle registered in Slovakia must conclude a PZP policy before the vehicle is admitted to traffic, and keep it in force without interruption. The Okresný úrad – odbor cestnej dopravy a pozemných komunikácií and the STK (technická kontrola) stations require proof of cover to issue or renew registration. The policy covers damages you cause to third parties — not your own vehicle or your own injuries as the at-fault driver. Driving without PZP is a misdemeanour: the Slovenská kancelária poisťovateľov (SKP) imposes a contribution of up to several thousand euros per case, plus full liability for any damages caused.

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

Under § 9 of Zákon č. 381/2001 Z. z., transposing EU Directive 2021/2118 with effect from 23 December 2023, the statutory minimum cover is €6,450,000 per accident for bodily injury or death (regardless of the number of injured parties) and €1,300,000 per accident for property damage (regardless of the number of damaged parties). These limits apply uniformly to all PZP policies issued in Slovakia. Slovakia adopted the Euro on 1 January 2009 and all premiums and claim settlements are in EUR. Some Slovak insurers — Allianz – Slovenská poisťovňa, Generali Poisťovňa, KOOPERATIVA (VIG), KOMUNÁLNA poisťovňa (VIG), UNIQA, ČSOB Poisťovňa, Union poisťovňa — offer higher contractual limits as an add-on, but the statutory minimum is the standard market baseline. An 8% insurance tax under Act No. 213/2018 Coll. applies on top of the net premium.

What does Slovak PZP insurance actually cover?

Slovak PZP 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 and other road users — including pain-and-suffering (sťaženie spoločenského uplatnenia) under § 444 of the Občiansky zákonník; property damage to other vehicles, buildings and any third-party property; medical-treatment costs and lost earnings of the injured party; subrogated claims of the Sociálna poisťovňa and the relevant health insurers (Všeobecná zdravotná poisťovňa, Dôvera, Union) for benefits paid to victims; and the insurer's defence costs against unfounded claims within the overall liability limit. It does not cover damage to your own vehicle (requires Havarijné poistenie / kasko), your own injuries as the at-fault driver, or losses caused intentionally or while under the influence — in those cases the insurer pays the injured party and pursues recourse (regres) against the policyholder.

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

No. Under Zákon č. 381/2001 Z. z. and standard policy conditions, damages suffered by the at-fault driver are excluded from PZP coverage. If you cause an accident, you have no claim under your own MTPL policy for your own injuries or for damage to your own vehicle. For own-vehicle damage you need a separate Havarijné poistenie (comprehensive / kasko) policy, and for personal injury you can buy an Úrazové poistenie vodiča (driver accident) add-on — a low-cost rider that pays out regardless of fault. Most Slovak insurers package driver accident cover and even a Pripoistenie vlastného vozidla (own-vehicle add-on for parking damage, glass, animals) directly on the PZP contract.

Are passengers in the at-fault vehicle covered?

Yes. Under § 4 of Zákon č. 381/2001 Z. z., passengers in the insured vehicle — including family members of the at-fault driver and persons being transported free of charge — are treated as third parties for PZP purposes, and their bodily injury and property damage claims are covered up to the policy limits. The only person excluded from PZP is the at-fault driver themself. Passenger compensation includes bolestné and sťaženie spoločenského uplatnenia under § 444 Občianskeho zákonníka, calculated under Decree No. 32/1965 Zb. and updated each year, plus actual loss of earnings and treatment costs. For broader no-fault protection many Slovak insurers offer an Úrazové poistenie cestujúcich (passenger accident) add-on which pays the agreed sums regardless of fault.

Is legal defence included in Slovak PZP policies?

Defence against third-party claims is a core part of every Slovak PZP policy at the insurer's expense — the insurer investigates the accident, settles or contests the claim on behalf of the policyholder, and bears legal costs and statutory default interest on late payment of compensation, all within the overall liability limit. This is distinct from a standalone Poistenie právnej ochrany (legal expenses insurance) which actively pursues the policyholder's own claims (recovery against an uninsured at-fault driver, misdemeanour or criminal-traffic proceedings, licence-withdrawal disputes). Most Slovak insurers — Allianz, Generali, KOOPERATIVA, KOMUNÁLNA, UNIQA, ČSOB Poisťovňa, Union, D.A.S. — offer legal expenses cover either as a PZP add-on or as a standalone product, typically with limits between €5,000 and €30,000 per case.

Is the Green Card still required with Slovak PZP?

Not for travel within the European Economic Area and additional treaty states (Switzerland, Andorra, Monaco, San Marino, the Vatican, Serbia, the United Kingdom) — the Slovak registration plate alone is sufficient proof of cover and no paper Green Card is required. The Zelená karta (Green Card) remains required for travel to other Green Card system members: Albania, Azerbaijan, Bosnia and Herzegovina, Iran, Israel, Moldova, Montenegro, Morocco, North Macedonia, Tunisia, Turkey, Ukraine. Slovak insurers issue the Green Card free of charge, in paper or PDF form, valid for the entire policy period. The Slovenská kancelária poisťovateľov (SKP) acts as Slovakia's national Green Card bureau and as the guarantee fund for accidents caused on Slovak territory by uninsured or unidentified vehicles.

Which countries does Slovak PZP insurance cover?

Slovak PZP cover extends automatically to: the Slovak Republic; all EU Member States (liability assessed under the law of the country where the accident occurred); EEA countries (Norway, Iceland, Liechtenstein); and additional states whose national insurers' bureau is party to the multilateral Green Card agreement — Switzerland, the United Kingdom, Andorra, Monaco, San Marino, the Vatican, Serbia, Bosnia and Herzegovina, North Macedonia, Albania, Montenegro, Turkey, Ukraine, Moldova, Morocco, Tunisia, Israel and Iran. Within the EEA the contractually agreed Slovak cover sums apply; outside the EEA the insurer's liability may be reduced to the statutory minimum cover required in the visited country, unless the Slovak policy provides higher cover. Travel to Russia and Belarus is excluded by all major Slovak insurers due to international sanctions and the active conflict.

What must I do immediately after a road accident in Slovakia?

After an accident in Slovakia you must: stop immediately and secure the scene (warning triangle, hazard lights, high-visibility vest); render first aid and call the European emergency number 112 — or 155 for medical and 158 for police directly — where there are injuries; call the police where required by Zákon č. 8/2009 Z. z. o cestnej premávke (Road Traffic Act): personal injury or fatality, damage above €4,000 in total, hit-and-run, suspected alcohol or drug driving, damage to public property, or where the parties cannot agree on circumstances; not leave the scene before identifying yourself and exchanging insurance and contact details with the other party; complete an Európsky záznam o nehode (European Accident Statement) signed by both parties when there are no injuries — this is the standard claim trigger; photograph the scene, damage and final vehicle positions; and notify the at-fault driver's insurer (or the SKP) without undue delay, typically within 15 days as required by law and the policy. The insurer must decide on the claim within three months under § 11 of Act No. 381/2001 Z. z.

Can I buy Slovak PZP online and pay in installments?

Yes. All major Slovak MTPL insurers — Allianz – Slovenská poisťovňa, Generali Poisťovňa, KOOPERATIVA poisťovňa (VIG), KOMUNÁLNA poisťovňa (VIG), UNIQA poisťovňa, ČSOB Poisťovňa, Union poisťovňa — offer online conclusion through their own portals and apps, plus through licensed brokers and comparators (poistenie.sk, netfinancie.sk, uzavripoistku.sk, mojtip.sk). The insurer issues the policy and payment confirmation immediately on payment of the first instalment. Annual, half-yearly, quarterly and monthly instalments are widely available; sub-annual instalments may carry a small administrative surcharge. Slovakia operates a Bonus-Malus system: the premium adjusts annually based on the policyholder's claims history, typically with a one-class downgrade for each claim-free year and a multi-class upgrade for each at-fault claim. The full claims history is maintained by the SKP and is portable between Slovak insurers when you switch carriers — change of insurer is possible at policy anniversary with at least six weeks' notice under § 800 of the Občiansky zákonník.