Compulsory insurance is one of those things that we often only realise when there is a problem. You may have forgotten a payment, bought a used car without insurance, or even received a letter asking you to pay a debt. What to do in such a situation? How do you check that your compulsory liability insurance is in order? And what to do if you find out that the insurance company or the Czech Insurers’ Bureau has a debt on you?
With a bit of exaggeration, you could say that compulsory liability insurance is like a ticket to the road. Without it, you can only ride a bike – and even then you can be stopped by a policeman if you decide to run a red light. The problem is that some drivers sometimes forget to pay this imaginary ticket or think they are not covered by the compulsory insurance. And that’s a big mistake. So what to do if you’re not sure whether your car has paid compulsory insurance? How to find out the insurance by number plate? And how to deal with unpaid compulsory insurance if you already have a fine or debt? Let’s break it down in detail.
So, you’ve bought a used car, but you’ve misplaced the contract, or you just don’t know whether you’ve actually made the last payment for compulsory liability insurance? Don’t worry, leave the stress aside for a while. There are a couple of ways to find out your insurance by license plate number.
Compulsory insurance by number plate: the easiest way is through the Czech Insurance Office. Simply open their website and use the license plate search service. By entering your car’s registration number (registration plate), you can find out whether the car has a valid compulsory insurance policy and with which insurance company it is registered. So, anyone can easily find out their insurance by number plate.
If you’re the meticulous type, you should definitely have a contract, bank statement or other proof of payment of compulsory insurance stashed away in a folder or drawer. Finding such documents is sometimes literally detective work, but it’s worth finding them before the police pull you over and you and they find out you’re driving an uninsured car.
Green card: do you have one? Because if you have car insurance, you’ll get a green card. This document used to be really green, but now the green card is white, which can be a little confusing. Anyway, now there is no longer an obligation to have the card directly in your car, the police will check the validity of your insurance online.
If you’re completely stuck and don’t know how else to find out about unpaid compulsory liability insurance, there’s nothing easier than calling the insurance company you contracted with directly. In most cases, you just need to give your name, registration number and car details and you’ll know where you stand.
Try an affordable attorney! Our legal clinic is here for anyone who needs help with any legal issue. You’ll get an answer within 48 hours, and we’ll advise you on how to proceed if necessary. We are here for you, whatever you are wondering about, a lawyer can help you.
I want an answer to my question
So, now you may have discovered that your car has no compulsory insurance. So you have a problem, but there is a solution to that too. In any case, don’t drive your car anywhere, because a car without compulsory insurance has no business on the roads. What are the risks of not having paid compulsory insurance?
A fine from the police: If you are stopped by the police and found not to have valid compulsory insurance, you can be fined up to 40,000 crowns. This is more than the annual premium for most normal cars. And that extra fine isn’t the only thing that will make your life miserable.
If your car hasn’t paid its compulsory liability insurance, the Czech InsuranceOffice (CIA) will sooner or later find out and start charging you a fee for each day you are uninsured. This can be 50 to 250 crowns per day depending on the type of car, so in just a few months the amount can climb to a few tens of crowns. And since the CKP is not a charity, if you don’t pay it voluntarily, it will send a bailiff after you.
Accident compensation: Now comes the worst case scenario: Imagine you are driving a car without insurance and cause an accident. In that accident, you do half a million worth of damage to the other driver’s car. Who will pay for it if you don’t have compulsory insurance? Nobody, it’s all on you. The injured party gets the money from the guarantee fund, but the insurance company then recovers it from you – to the last crown.
Tip: If you don’t pay the compulsory liability insurance, you may be liable to have your account seized. How does this type of execution work and what are your options to defend yourself? Find out in our article.
So now you know you have a debt. Now what? You don’t need to panic at this point either. Even a compulsory liability debt can still be dealt with. In the first place, do not continue with your current set-up and arrange a compulsory liability immediately. The sooner you take out a new contract, the better. Because the shorter the period of time you are without insurance, the lower the amount the CCP will ask you to pay.
The next step is to check the amount you owe. If you have already received a letter from the CCP, find out exactly how much you owe. Sometimes the CCP may ask you for an amount for a period when you did not own the car. In this case, you can make a claim.
Next, arrange a payment plan. This is particularly useful if the amount you owe is very high and you cannot pay it straight away. It is better to start paying in instalments than to wait for the bailiff to ring at your door.
If there is a situation where you have received a demand for payment from the CCP but you are sure that you are paying the compulsory liability, then contact the insurance company and the CCP immediately and appeal. Prepare your contract, bank statements and green card to serve as evidence.
What should you do if you buy a used car and find that the previous owner did not pay the compulsory insurance? In any case, take out insurance on yourself as soon as possible. If the CTU wants to claim anything from you, provide it with the contract of sale, which clearly states that you were not the owner of the car at the time.
Tip: Have you bought an electric scooter and now you’re heroically navigating the streets of Czech cities? Then you should know that compulsory liability insurance also applies to electric scooters. Read on to find out under which conditions you have to pay it.
First of all , set up a standing order for payment of the compulsory liability. This is usually paid annually or semi-annually, so it’s quite easy to forget about it. A standing order will prevent you from not sending the payment. When you buy a car, always check the number plate on the aforementioned CKP website to see if the car has compulsory insurance. Also keep the contract and proof of payment carefully. On the other hand, if you are selling the car, then cancel the insurance immediately and report the change of owner to the vehicle registry.
Compulsory insurance is like a toothbrush – if you don’t have it, it will soon start to hurt a lot. And the longer you put it off, the more it will cost you. So if you’re not sure if you’re all set, find out by looking at your number plate now. And if you’ve already received a debt letter, don’t wait and start addressing the situation. Otherwise, the compulsory liability will cause you an optional but rather unpleasant financial problem.
The easiest way to check the validity of your compulsory insurance is to use the Czech Insurance Office’s service, where you can check the insurance of your vehicle by the number plate. Furthermore, a green card, documents from the insurance company or a direct enquiry with the insurer can help. Unpaid compulsory liability insurance can lead to a fine of up to CZK 40,000, charges to the guarantee fund or recourse compensation in the event of an accident. If you discover a debt, take out insurance as soon as possible, check the amount owed and arrange a repayment plan. For used cars, always check that the compulsory liability insurance has been paid. The best prevention is a standing order and careful checking of documents.
Our team of experienced attorneys will help you solve any legal issue. Within 24 hours we’ll evaluate your situation and suggest a step-by-step solution, including all costs. The price for this proposal is only CZK 690, and this is refunded to you when you order service from us.
Ondřej is the attorney who came up with the idea of providing legal services online. He's been earning his living through legal services for more than 10 years. He especially likes to help clients who may have given up hope in solving their legal issues at work, for example with real estate transfers or copyright licenses.
In person and online. Just choose the appropriate service or opt for an independent consultation when you are unsure.
