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Since 1 August 2024, the compulsory contractual insurance (PZP) has undergone significant changes. Recently, more powerful electric scooters and other selected vehicles have to be equipped with it. However, until now it was not clear whether this obligation also applies to electric bicycles.
From August, the new obligation to sign the PZP applies to all vehicles with a design speed higher than 25 km/h, or vehicles weighing more than 25 kg and with a design speed higher than 14 km/h. These mainly include more powerful Electric ScooterSegway, electric cars, etc. Some insurance companies also include electric bicycles in this PZP, which confuses many car owners.
Insurance companiesprovided by the new PZP, in most cases are governed by only these two data – speed or weight. Since some e-bikes weigh more than 25 kg, the question arises whether the compulsory contractual insurance also applies to them. We are mainly talking about e-bikes with pedal drive.
“UNIQA will provide insurance for small electric vehicles and will remove the PZP from August 1 this year. Mainly heavier and faster electric scooters and electric bicycles (designed for speeds exceeding 25 km/h or reaching 14 km/h and weighing more than 25 kg). We will provide them with compulsory insurance with coverage up to the statutory minimum limit, without the need for additional insurance,” Spokeswoman Beáta Lipšicová recently stated on the oPeniazoch.sk website Unica Insurance Company.
Helena Kanderková, External Communications Specialist Allianz Insurance Company In turn, it was revealed that the new PZP products will apply to electric scooters, electric bicycles, electric tricycles, electric quadricycles, Seagways and other small electric vehicles without EČV.
It can be seen from these statements that this obligation also applies to property owners electric bicycleweighing more than 25 kg. Is this really the case?
Is it necessary for pedal electric bicycles to have PZP?
We approached several institutions because of the different opinions on this topic. We were interested in the opinion of the Ministry of Transport of the Slovak Republic, since e-bikes are part of road transport. Web report by Petra Poláčiková, spokesperson for the Ministry of Foreign Affairs Openazocchi However, she said the law was responsible Ministry of Finance of the Slovak Republicso the Ministry of Transport could not comment on its wording.
So we turned to the Treasury Department, which created this law. “The Ministry of Finance of the Slovak Republic or the PZP Act does not deal with the categories of vehicles themselves or their division into categories. The PZP Act basically talks about two parameters, namely the design speed and weight of the vehicle. The PZP shall apply to all vehicles with a design speed higher than 25 km/h or a weight exceeding 25 kg – the maximum design speed is 14 km/h,” The Ministry of Finance’s Information Department revealed.
Do you think pedal e-bikes should have enclosed PZPs?
At the same time, the press service stated that the controlling body is the Police of the Slovak Republic, similar to the usual vehicles PZP. Therefore, we also addressed the Presidium of the Slovak Police Force. Zuzana Hrabovská of the Ministry of Communications and Prevention elaborated on what is meant by motor vehicles that meet the needs of the PZP:
“Separated non-railway vehicles with their own mechanical propulsion and a maximum design speed exceeding 25 km/h or with a running mass exceeding 25 kg and a maximum design speed exceeding 14 km/h.”
The spokesperson for the Presidency stated that the Ministry of Finance of the Slovak Republic is responsible for the PZP Act and is responsible for assessing whether e-bikes are motor vehicles under the PZP Act and whether they are subject to compulsory contractual insurance for the elimination obligation.
According to the police, PZP is mandatory
Hrabovska also said that the decree defines a bicycle with an auxiliary motor and stipulates that the maximum nominal power of the auxiliary motor must not exceed 0.25 kW. When a bicycle with an auxiliary motor reaches a speed of 25 km h-1, or if the rider stops pedaling, its power must be gradually reduced and finally cut off. Vehicles that can be classified as L category are not considered bicycles with auxiliary motors.
“We believe that bicycles with auxiliary motors weighing more than 25 kg and with an auxiliary motor with a maximum rated power of not more than 0.25 kW, whose power is gradually reduced and eventually cut off when the bicycle with an auxiliary motor reaches the rated power and reaches a speed of 25 km h-1 or earlier, if the rider stops pedaling, must purchase compulsory contractual insurance under the PZP Act,” Hrabovska added.
Since the controlling body of the PZP is the Slovak Police, it follows from this statement that e-bike owners should probably buy a PZP if they meet the stipulated conditions. Otherwise, they could face a fine if they are stopped by a patrolling police officer while driving.
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