Car insurance is always a hot topic for all car owners in Poland. Firstly, the absence of a compulsory insurance policy may result in fines of up to 14 ,000 PLN. Secondly, insurance allows you to feel safer on the road and protect your property. The current market in Poland offers many options for car insurance: compulsory insurance (OC), voluntary insurance (AC) and some additional options. Many people believe that CASCO will work in any case and they will get a payout. SPOILER: it doesn't work at all the way you imagine before. Next, we'll talk more about what the AC product is, how to choose it, and how not to fall for the tricks of insurance agents.
By reading this article to the end, it is very likely that you will not fall for the tricks of agents and you will be able to save several thousand PLN. In aksis, we talk about the tricks used by insurance agents in Poland, nuances, pitfalls and peculiarities. We share valuable information that no one else is talking about on the internet. Here we go!
What is AC and what are the main differences from OC?
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Auto Casco in Poland is one of the types of vehicle insurance. Unlike OC, CASCO is a voluntary insurance. That is, it is up to you to decide whether to take out an extended package or not. You will not face any penalties for not having Ubezpieczenie AC. The essence of this product is to protect car owners from financial losses in:
For example, a heavy hailstorm that crumples the roof of the car or a tree branch falls on the vehicle. These are accidents that are difficult to foresee. That is why Ubezpieczenie AC does not come cheap. Auto hull insurance is a product where you are already actually insuring your car against your own mistakes. By hitting a fence or another car through your own fault, you can get a payout for your mistakes. And many people naively assume that any AC is always for us. But is that really the case? Read more about the pitfalls of AC below.
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Want to know more about OC insurance in Poland, prices and penalties? → Read our article on OC insurance in Poland
CASCO nuances you should know about
So let's talk about how insurance agents can trick you or deceive you. This is the main part of this article, which will help you recognize agent tricks and save your money. There are usually a lot of questions people ask before they sign up for AC. For example, will I get a new bumper installed if I scratch it or is there a payout if I scratch my car while driving out of the garage. Most insurance agents answer all such questions with a confident “yes, sure”. But how do you check this before you even pay for the insurance policy?
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The best solution is to request an OWU “Ogólne Warunki Ubezpieczenia” document. This is the one document that nobody reads, because you don't even have to sign it. Why? First you sign the policy, where in small print it says “I am familiarized with the OWU document”. So what is in this document? All the exceptions to the policy where the insurance can deny payment. For example, if you were not driving - denial or the insured event did not happen in your province - you will receive only 30% of the amount.
A real-life example of an OWU document working against the car owner. Imagine you have provided your car to your son who is 25 years old and has a driver's license. He gets into a minor accident. With auto insurance, you are completely confident that you will receive a payout. However, the OWU document may contain a clause stating that if you give control of the car to your child who is less than 26 years old, you will be denied.
What other nuances can there be? If the driver of the car is drunk at the time of the insured event, there will be no payout from the OC or AC. Moreover, you will be penalized for driving under the influence of alcohol and all financial losses will fall on you. For example, in Poland and in the EU in general, you can often find metal boxes on the side of the road on highways. They are responsible for controlling lights and cameras on the road. The cost of one such box can exceed 250,000 PLN. If you accidentally hit this box and find yourself in a drunken state, you can receive a huge fine of up to half a million PLN.
Before you buy AC Ubezpieczenie for 2,000 PLN, be sure to reread the OWU. For example, it may turn out that the list of insurance includes only theft of the vehicle from your garage. Moreover, it is obligatory that the car is not found. Otherwise, imagine, it is found without interior and beaten up outside, the insurance company refuses to pay out. Why? Because the car was found and you have not lost anything.
Basic AC CASCO packages in Poland
As we said above, Auto Casco is a voluntary option. Therefore, insurance companies come up with different packages, differing in cost and list of different cases and incidents. There are usually three basic AC packages offered on the market in Poland. Let's take a closer look at them in the table below!
Basic AC package | Detailed explanation |
Serwis (serwisowy) ASO | The serwisowy/ASO package is the most expensive. Why? In case of damage, it will be covered at an authorized dealer, with original spare parts. It is this option that is used as a mandatory option when leasing. Expensive, but ideal for new cars. |
Partnerski / Warsztat | This option in case of damage will be covered in partner services with which the dealer has contracts. Substitute parts will be used (neither better nor worse quality). This is a normal alternative to original parts. It is most often suitable for those who already own a car (not leasing) and are practical. |
Kosztorys | Kosztorys - is when you simply have the damage assessed and pay this amount to your account. You look for the parts and service where it will be assembled. This option is for those whose car is already older than 6-8 years, but it is appreciated and realize that the car lost its value when it entered the market, but the cost of repair is still expensive. A good example would be a 2015 Mercedes S-class when it has lost its value in the aftermarket, but its parts are still as expensive as they used to be. |
Is there AC insurance for electric vehicles (EVs)? Absolutely, CASCO is available for both owners of ICE cars and electric vehicles. Due to the great increase in the popularity of this type of car, insurance companies are coming up with separate insurance packages for EV cars. Some of them cover damage to the battery (the most expensive component in an electric car). You should also know about GAP insurance. What is it? It is an additional option when you take out hull insurance. In simple words, it fixes the cost of the car when you buy it, because AC insurance cannot cover 100% of the cost. Banally, the car loses about 20% of the original price immediately after leaving the dealership.
There is another concept as AC mini. This option works in case of theft and in some companies in case of total loss (different insurance companies have their own offer). What is a total loss? This is damage to the vehicle of more than 70% of its value. However, the value of the vehicle can also be considered differently.
Invoice value. The insurance company prescribes the value of the car based on the purchase document. For example, if there is 100k, even after 9 months, when the value on the market may be less, because of mileage, former accidents, and so on. In case of repair for 70% of the value of the car = 70k, the insurance company will consider it for total and pay you 100% of the value based on the invoice.
Market value. The cost of the car determines the market. The insurance company simply calculates the average cost in the market and that's all. It is not profitable if you bought a valuable copy in perfect condition because it will be evaluated as a cheap car on the secondary market.
If you buy a car at the bottom of the market, you will be better off if the total is calculated according to the second option. The invoice value is favorable for those who bought their car recently from the showroom, while its value could not have decreased much yet.
Should you buy Ubezpieczenie AC in 2025?
Considering the question of whether it is worth buying one of the CASKO packages or you can do without a compulsory insurance policy, there can be a lot of disputes and discussions. Some say that AC is useless in real insurance cases. While others insist on CASKO, especially if you own a new and expensive car.
As we said above, AC insurance works for various natural disasters, including flooding. You can find hundreds of videos of flooded luxury autos on the internet. This is not an accident, but a trick that people use. Owners of such cars purposely drive into deep puddles so that the car gets a hydrostroke. This is one of the few real ways to get a complete engine replacement. And this can be up to 70% of the entire auto.
In fact, the decision is only up to you personally. Above we told about all the nuances and pitfalls that may be associated with the registration of Ubezpiecieczenie AC in Poland. The most important thing is to study the contract with the insurance agent in detail, including the document Ogólne Warunki Ubezpieczenia. This will help save your money, effort and emotional health!
Start cooperation with a reliable partner
Now you know that even having an AC insurance doesn't guarantee full coverage of damage in case of an accident, theft, vandalism and other cases. All the terms and conditions are spelled out in the contract, so we recommend that you take a closer look at the documents you are going to sign. Of course, it is best to turn to trusted specialists. A reliable partner will always give you free advice and answer any questions.
Together with aksis you can protect yourself and your vehicle. We will advise you, understand your requirements and find the best solution for you. No hidden conditions and no unpleasant surprises in insurance cases!
