Almost 300,000 cars in Slovakia drive on the roads every day without mandatory insurance. Starting August 1, 2026, the state is launching a major reform called Lex PZP to end this. For Ukrainians who own cars with Slovak license plates, this means a transition to new, strict rules — fines will be charged automatically, and persistent debtors will even lose their vehicle registration.
End of Tolerance for Non-payers
Until now, the system for detecting drivers without PZP (Povinné zmluvné poistenie — mandatory third-party liability insurance) was slow and relied mostly on manual police checks. According to experts, one in ten cars in the country does not have valid insurance. Damages caused by such drivers in accidents are covered by a guarantee fund, which is formed from contributions of compliant payers.
To fix the situation, the government has passed a law that removes the need to catch offenders on the road. Databases of the police, state registers, and insurance companies will be combined into a single automated network for instant detection of cars without insurance.
Schedule of Changes: What to Prepare For
The reform is being implemented in several stages. According to human rights defenders, the first steps will start next month:
August 1, 2026. A major cleanup of the vehicle registry begins. Owners of cars that have not had valid insurance for over 24 months will receive an official warning from the state. At the same time, a new special portal nepoistenevozidlo.sk will start working, where every driver can check their insurance status online.
September 2026. This month is designated as the last chance to fix the situation. Owners will be able to either buy an insurance policy or apply for temporary deregistration of the car (for example, if it is faulty or has been parked for years).
October 1, 2026. Launch of objective liability. The system will begin a total automatic check, and starting in November, it will generate fines automatically as soon as it detects a gap in insurance. In addition, a car without valid PZP will no longer be allowed for regular technical inspection (STK) and emissions inspection (EK).
Fines and Confiscation of Registration
For the lack of mandatory insurance, a strict fine of 120 to 900 euros is foreseen. The exact amount will depend on the category and weight of your vehicle. If you receive such a fine and still do not purchase a policy, the penalty can be imposed again after the specified period ends.
The worst-case scenario awaits those whose car has been uninsured for over two years. If the owner ignores the August warning and does not settle the status by October, the vehicle will be forcibly removed from the state register. Such a car will be prohibited from legal use on the roads, and its sale or transfer will become impossible.
What Drivers Should Do Now
If you bought a used car in Slovakia or are simply unsure about the validity period of your contract, do not wait until autumn.
Find your insurance and check its expiration date. Make sure all insurance payments are made on time.
If you have a car that you haven't used for a long time, arrange for its temporary deregistration. This is the only legal way to not pay for third-party liability insurance and keep the vehicle in your ownership without debts.
Starting in August, save the address of the new state portal to monitor the status of your policy in the general system.
