2025-04-13 06:00
publication
2025-04-13 06:00
In 2024, the number of active OC policies in Poland exceeded 29.7 million, and the insurance reported over 1 million damage – according to the data of the Insurance Guarantee Fund. KNF data indicate that the contribution assigned to motor insurance was sent to 17 insurance companies last year. Another player has just appeared in this market – Direct Pojišťovna, the Czech insurance company has taken over the whole insurance portfolio from Wefox Insurance AG and starts operating in Poland.
– The Polish insurance market is very competitive, but has also been undergoing consolidation recently, so players are in fact less than before. We enter as the Direct group for the first time to the Polish market, but we took over the Wefox portfolio, so from the point of view of the number of players nothing really changes, there is only a new player from the Czech Republic – indicates in an interview with Newseria agency Rafał Spanish, Country Manager Direct Pojišťovna in Poland.
The KNF data shows that at the end of 2024 27 insurance companies operated in Poland (apart from the life insurance segment). Even in 2020 there were over 50 of them. Last year, insurers generated a record PLN 10 billion of net profit. In 2022 it was just over PLN 6 billion. Poles allocated PLN 85.7 billion for insurance – by 8.9 percent. more than in 2023.
Growths on the market attract new players. In Poland, the Czech insurance company Direct Insurance has just started the activity (Polish Direct Pojišťovna branch).
– We decided to enter the Polish market because we see in it great development potential. We enter with humility – ready to learn, understand the needs of our clients and only then present them with an attractive offer. We hope that we will be successful on it – says Michal řezníček, president of the board of Direct Pojišťovna.
Direct insurance will initially focus on motor insurance. The company has signed a contract under which it will take over the insurance portfolio of the Polish branch of Wefox Insurance AG, ensuring the continuity of insurance protection and the process of eliminating damage to the insurers.
– We start with traffic insurance. Because we have taken over the Wefox offer, we have a good starting point, we don't start from scratch. We are the first to offer civil liability insurance, autocasco and additional insurance. We plan to introduce housing insurance in turn. In the future, we will join the offer of travel and pets insurance – announces the president of Direct Pojišťovna.
The Polish Insurance Association states that the value of premiums from motor insurance collected by insurers in Poland in 2024 amounted to PLN 31.4 billion. This means an increase compared to the previous year by PLN 3.1 billion, i.e. by over 11 percent. UFG data indicate that during this period insurers paid a record amount from OC and AC policies – over PLN 19 billion, including almost PLN 11 billion from compulsory civil liability insurance. There were over 1 million damage reported from OC in 2024. The average premium of compulsory communication policies (broadly understood – containing tractors, passenger cars, motorcycles and trailers) in 2024 amounted to PLN 538, which means an increase of PLN 26, i.e. 5.1 percent. compared to last year.
Direct Pojišťovna intends to start operating on the Polish market as a branch of the Czech company. The policy distribution is to take place mainly through agents.
– “Direct” in the name does not mean online sales, although of course we will also conduct such in the future and run in the Czech Republic. Insurance agents are and will be our basic distribution channel, and later in the field of corporate insurance – also insurance brokers – explains Rafał Spanish.
Direct Pojišťovna specializes in communication, property and travelers, emphasizes the simplicity of service and the transparency of conditions, eliminating unnecessary formalities. Thanks to modern technologies and a friendly customer service policy, it has gained recognition at the Czech insurance market. During 10 years of activity, Direct Pojišťovna has grown eight times, and its services are used by over half a million customers in the Czech Republic.
– Direct Pojišťovna is primarily a direct approach to clients, to partners, agents and brokers – explains Country Manager Direct Pojišťovna in Poland.
Direct Pojišťovna is part of the Direct group operating in Central and Eastern Europe, which also includes companies such as Fidoo and Direct Auto. The turnover of the entire Direct group is over PLN 1.3 billion.
