Slovakia introduces automatic fines for cars without insurance

In Slovakia, from October 1, 2026, a key part of the compulsory auto insurance PZP reform comes into force. The state automates the search for uninsured vehicles, introduces a new mechanism of fines and ties the availability of insurance to passing technical and environmental control.

The changes are provided by Law No. 77/2026. Information on concluded PZP contracts will be automatically compared between insurers, the Slovak Bureau of Insurers and the state vehicle register. If a car remains without insurance for more than 30 days, the information will be passed to the competent district office for imposing a fine.

The amount of the sanction depends on the maximum permissible mass of the vehicle. For vehicles with a mass up to 750 kg, the fine will be 120 euros, from 750 kg to 3.5 tons - 300 euros, from 3.5 to 12 tons - 600 euros, and over 12 tons - 900 euros. Thus, for most ordinary passenger cars, it is a fine of 300 euros.

If the owner does not take out PZP even after that, the punishment can be applied again - no earlier than 150 days after the previous decision enters into force. The repeated fine will be twice as large.

At the same time, the law provides for the possibility to reduce financial losses. If the owner pays two-thirds of the imposed fine within 15 days, it will be considered fully paid. If in the same period the owner takes out PZP and pays one-third of the fine, the sanction will also be considered settled.

Another important change concerns technical and environmental control. From October 1, a car without a valid PZP will not be able to successfully pass STK or EK. The absence of insurance will be a ground to declare the vehicle unfit for operation and to suspend its use.

Separately, the authorities are purging the register of vehicles that for years have been formally registered but do not have insurance. Vehicles that as of August 1 had been without PZP for at least 24 months and for which insurance was not arranged before October 1, may be removed from the state register.

Important for Ukrainians: the described automated mechanism primarily applies to vehicles registered in Slovakia. For cars with Ukrainian license plates, the rules for foreign transport apply. Ukraine is part of the "Green Card" system, and when entering Slovakia, a driver of a Ukrainian car must have an insurance document valid in the territory of the country. If such insurance does not exist, border insurance is required.

The Slovak Bureau of Insurers explains the tightening of rules by a significant number of uninsured vehicles. According to insurers, about 10% of vehicles in the country had no PZP, and last year alone, 9.4 million euros were paid from the guarantee fund for damage caused by uninsured drivers.

Based on materials from: Slov-Lex, Slovak Bureau of Insurers, Allianz Slovakia