Towing and Storage Under the At-Fault Driver's Insurance: What You're Owed

This guide is general legal information, not legal advice. How the rules apply depends on your individual circumstances — the matter should be assessed by a qualified Polish lawyer. Twoja Sprawa helps you organise the documents for that assessment.

After a crash in Poland, the car often can't be driven away — it has to be towed. Towing (on a flatbed lorry) and then parking or storage can add up fast. Will the insurer actually pay for this? The answer is yes — but only for costs that are reasonable and properly documented. Below we set out what the at-fault driver's OC (third-party liability) insurer reimburses, what tends to get disputed, and how to guard against inflated bills.

Towing from the scene — is it always covered?

Yes. The cost of towing from the scene of the accident to a garage, your home, or a car park is a normal consequence of the damage and is recoverable from the at-fault driver's OC insurer.

Polish law here rests on the principle of necessity of expense: if the vehicle can't move under its own power, towing is necessary.

What's covered

• Towing from the accident scene to a garage, home, or car park
• A flatbed lorry or a tow truck — the type doesn't matter (car or van)
• Transport in one direction (you don't need to justify a round trip)

What tends to get disputed

1. The towing rate — the insurer challenges the price as inflated
2. The distance — they argue you chose a garage too far away
3. The method — e.g. you used a tow truck when a flatbed would have been cheaper

How to avoid disputes over towing

• Call the insurer or the police before you order a tow — ask if they can point you to a reasonably priced option
• Get quotes — at least 2–3 prices from different towing firms
• Choose a sensible destination — a garage in town, not one 50 km away
• Ask for an invoice for every leg of the journey — you'll need the paperwork

Indicative rates (2026)

⚠️ These rates are indicative only — the market moves. A loss adjuster or a court will compare your invoice against actual prices in the area where the accident happened.

Parking and storage — when is it covered

Once the car is off the road, the next question is: where does it go? Parking and storage costs are covered under OC, but subject to time limits.

The rule: a reasonable period of storage

The insurer covers storage provided the period is reasonably short and justified:

• Storage up to 2–3 weeks — usually accepted without issue (time for a diagnosis and a decision)
• Storage up to 30 days — justified (time to repair, or to sell the wreck)
• Storage beyond 30–60 days — disputed territory (the insurer will ask why it took so long)

What normally counts as justified storage

✅ Waiting for the insurer's decision (up to 2 weeks) ✅ Time needed for repairs (typically 2–4 weeks) ✅ Waiting to sell the wreck (up to a month) ✅ Waiting for parts to arrive (up to a month)

❌ Storage because you "didn't get round to collecting it" — not covered ❌ Indefinite storage — the insurer will demand repayment of the "excess" period

Typical storage rates

Police pound vs private paid tow yard — differences and consequences

After an accident in Poland, you may hear the police say something like:

Officer: "The car has to come off the road. We can take it to the police pound, or you can arrange your own tow."

Police pound (komisariat)

Pros: - Usually cheaper (sometimes free for the first 24 hours) - The car is secured (under police supervision) - Paperwork is straightforward (a formal notice of impoundment)

Cons: - Limited storage time (typically 24–72 hours) - Little space — the car sits in an open yard - Once the time limit passes, you must collect it or it may go to auction

Private tow yard/car park

Pros: - Longer storage periods available - Better conditions (covered, monitored) - You can leave the car longer (for a fee)

Cons: - More expensive (you pay from day one) - Paperwork is less clear-cut — the two sides can end up disputing the collection date

In practice: which should you choose?

1. Straight after the accident → the police pound (24–48 hours while you assess the situation)
2. After the initial diagnosis → a private car park (if repairs will take a while)
3. When selling the wreck → a specialist storage facility (until it's sold)

Frequently Asked Questions

Does the insurer have to accept the towing firm I choose? No — but they must cover a reasonable market rate for your area. If you chose a premium towing firm charging twice the going rate, you may be asked to cover the difference yourself.

How many days of parking will the insurer typically cover? As a rule of thumb: up to 30 days without issue. Beyond that, you'll need to show the storage period was justified (e.g. waiting for parts from an authorised dealer, or a repair that took longer than usual).

What if the car goes missing or is stolen from the police pound? That's the pound's responsibility, not the OC insurer's. You'd need to report the theft to the police and pursue compensation from the pound directly — considerably harder. This is one reason a private, monitored car park can be the safer choice.

Can I claim the cost of transporting a written-off wreck to a scrapyard? Yes — if the car has been formally declared a total loss and you own the wreck, the cost of transporting it for recycling or dismantling is recoverable from OC.

Disclaimer

Twoja Sprawa (twojasprawa.com) is a matching platform that connects Polish-speaking clients with a regulated Polish qualified lawyer (adwokat or radca prawny) — it is not a law firm. This article is for general information only and does not constitute legal advice. Every case requires an individual assessment of the documents and circumstances by a regulated lawyer.

Sources

• Act on Competition and Consumer Protection (UOKiK)
• Polish Civil Code, Article 444 (compensation for damage)
• Police — vehicle storage rules (Regional Police Headquarters, Komenda Wojewódzka)
• Towing market rates (Google, local listings)

Related articles

• Car repair under the at-fault driver's OC insurance — step by step
• Underpaid OC compensation — how to claim the difference
• Total loss vehicle — what it means and what you'll receive