SURVIVING Slovakia

I am a Canadian citizen and am currently staying in Slovakia. I brought my car with me from Canada but do not plan to register it as I am returning to Canada in six months. Is there any place where I can get insurance to cover my driving here?
Although your car is not registered here you have a way of getting insurance. We found out that it is Slovenská kancelária poisťovateľov (Slovak insurer's bureau) that can sell you car insurance. The cost for 30 days is 4,000 Sk (€100). To purchase insurance you need to visit the Slovak insurer's bureau. Take with you your ID, car title (technický preukaz), information about the car and its owner, and, of course, cash. Their website is also in English so if would like to get more information visit www.skp.sk.

I am a Canadian citizen and am currently staying in Slovakia. I brought my car with me from Canada but do not plan to register it as I am returning to Canada in six months. Is there any place where I can get insurance to cover my driving here?


Although your car is not registered here you have a way of getting insurance. We found out that it is Slovenská kancelária poisťovateľov (Slovak insurer's bureau) that can sell you car insurance. The cost for 30 days is 4,000 Sk (€100). To purchase insurance you need to visit the Slovak insurer's bureau. Take with you your ID, car title (technický preukaz), information about the car and its owner, and, of course, cash. Their website is also in English so if would like to get more information visit www.skp.sk.


I understand that at a certain point I must have my car's emissions checked. But I am not sure when I must do this for the first time. I purchased the car new when we moved to Slovakia in 2001. Where do I take the car? What documents must I take with me?


There are two checks that a car has to pass: the technical check and the emissions check. Both of them are performed at a place called STK (Stanica technickej kontroly). The first check is required four years after a new car's registration and then every two years. After having successfully passed the check you will get a small sticker for your licence plate - a red sticker for STK and green sticker for pollution control.

Apart from your car title (technický preukaz) and cash, there are no special documents you should bring with you. One more suggestion: when going to the STK make sure your car has all the necessary equipment required by law, as you do not want to get into trouble for not having a first aid kit.


For a complete listing of STKs visit http://www.telecom.gov.sk/doprava/cesta/pek.xls

Ivona Telekiová, the general manager for Relocation s.r.o., a Bratislava-based company (ww.relo.sk), can answer your questions at surviving.slovakia@spectator.sk.

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