Traffic rulesPoland

The competent starosta, city mayor with county rights or district authority issues the licence through the local communications department.

A Voivodeship Road Traffic Centre (WORD) conducts the official theory and practical examinations.

The Profil Kandydata na Kierowcę is the electronic candidate profile linking the authority, driving school and examination centre.

It is the official PWPW service used for examination information, online bookings, PKK-related services and document-production information.

Yes. A valid Polish licence is recognised nationwide, subject to its categories, restrictions and current legal status.

Yes. A valid EU-format Polish licence is generally recognised throughout the EU and EEA.

No. EU rules generally permit only one valid EU or EEA driving licence at a time.

It is the official digital version of the Polish driving licence in the mObywatel application.

Yes. Government and PWPW services allow licence-entitlement and production-status checks.

Yes. State examination and document fees are regulated, while tuition and additional-lesson prices vary.

Since 3 March 2026, the minimum age is 17 years.

Training can begin from age 16 years and 9 months.

No. The required consent of a parent or legal guardian must be provided.

No. The young driver must initially drive with an eligible accompanying passenger.

For six months after obtaining category B, but no longer than until the driver turns 18.

In the front passenger seat of a motor vehicle other than a quadricycle.

At least 25 years old.

Continuously for at least five years.

No. The person must not have been subject to a driving ban during the previous five years.

Yes. The companion must not be under the influence of alcohol, drugs or a similar substance.

No. Until the holder turns 18, it is valid only in Poland.

No. The age-related accompaniment and territorial restrictions end automatically, provided the licence remains valid.

The applicant submits the required documents to the communications department responsible for their place of residence.

An application, compliant photograph, identity document, medical certificate and any required consent or residence evidence.

Yes. An authorised doctor must certify that there are no medical contraindications to driving the requested category.

Yes. A condition requiring review can lead to a shorter licence period.

Yes. The appropriate EU restriction code is entered on the licence.

Yes. Codes can require automatic transmission, hand controls or another adaptation.

No. Fitness is assessed individually and adapted-vehicle entitlement may be granted.

No. It is mainly required for professional drivers, instructors, certain offenders and other specified cases.

Yes. The applicant must normally show residence in Poland for at least 185 days or qualifying student status.

No. A current ban, withdrawal or incompatible licence status must first be resolved.

Practical instruction must be completed through an authorised training centre unless a specific legal exemption applies.

The standard programme includes 30 teaching hours of theory, including first-aid content.

A theory teaching hour normally lasts 45 minutes.

At least 30 hours of category B driving.

A practical training hour lasts 60 minutes.

Yes, where an authorised training centre provides the legally compliant remote-learning programme.

Yes. A candidate can pass the state theory examination without completing a school theory course and then take practical training.

Yes. The legally required first-aid component must be satisfied.

The driving school checks theory and practical competence before completing the training record.

Yes. There is no general maximum.

Yes, but a practical pass in an automatic vehicle normally creates code 78.

By passing the state practical examination in a manual-transmission vehicle.

There are 32 questions.

Twenty concern basic knowledge and 12 concern specialist knowledge for the requested category.

The category B theory test lasts 25 minutes.

74 points.

At least 68 points.

No. Depending on road-safety importance, a correct answer can be worth one, two or three points.

Yes. The specialist questions use multiple-choice answers.

The Ministry publishes the official questions used in state examinations.

Yes. Supported languages include Polish, English and German, and sign-language arrangements are available.

The positive state theory result does not have a normal expiry date under the current rules.

The candidate can book another examination and pay the applicable fee.

No.

At a WORD examination centre and on public roads.

The candidate verifies selected vehicle controls or technical items and prepares for safe driving.

Preparation, moving off, lane driving and the prescribed hill-start or control tasks.

Observation, priority, signs, pedestrian protection, speed, manoeuvres, positioning and independent safe driving.

The standard category B road-driving time is 40 minutes.

Yes. It can finish after at least 25 minutes when all required tasks have been completed successfully.

Yes. Dangerous conduct, examiner intervention or specified serious violations can end the test.

Yes. Repetition of an incorrectly performed task can produce a negative result.

Yes. Many WORD centres support booking and payment through Info-Car.

Yes. An accepted current identity document is required.

Yes, when the Temporary Electronic Driving Licence has been generated in mObywatel.

Until the physical licence is collected, but no longer than 30 days, and only in Poland.

No. They begin on 3 September 2026.

A person obtaining category B for the first time under the new rules.

Two years.

Three years, but no longer than until the driver turns 20.

A strict 0.0‰ alcohol limit.

Yes. The law also requires zero concentration of substances acting similarly to alcohol.

They may not carry another person under 18 without an eligible accompanying passenger.

No.

The driver must complete a one-hour practical hazard-awareness course within the statutory period.

The authority can extend the probationary period by another two years or impose a supplementary two-year period.

Mopeds and light quadricycles.

14 years.

Motorcycles up to 125 cm³, 11 kW and the prescribed power-to-weight ratio.

Motorcycles up to 35 kW with the prescribed power-to-weight and derivation limits.

Unrestricted motorcycles, normally from age 24 or from age 20 after two years with A2.

Heavy quadricycles within the statutory limits.

Vehicles up to 3,500 kg with no more than eight passenger seats in addition to the driver.

A trailer up to 750 kg, or a heavier trailer where the combination remains within 3,500 kg.

A category B combination above 3,500 kg but not exceeding 4,250 kg, after the required practical test.

A category B towing vehicle with a trailer within the B+E and vehicle technical limits.

C1 covers vehicles above 3,500 kg up to 7,500 kg; C covers heavier goods vehicles.

D1 covers smaller buses; D covers buses designed for more than eight passengers.

Yes.

Normally 21 years, with lower ages possible through professional qualification.

Normally 24 years, with statutory professional-qualification exceptions.

The EU professional-driver qualification recorded for many commercial lorry and bus drivers.

Yes, unless an acquired-rights or legal exemption applies.

Yes. Professional drivers normally complete 35 hours every five years.

Yes, for professional heavy-vehicle driving and Code 95 procedures.

No. Both the licence category and professional qualification are required.

Up to 15 years.

Yes.

Up to five years.

No. It is required when the entitlement or a medical restriction makes it necessary.

They must be exchanged during the statutory nationwide exchange period without loss of the underlying entitlement.

Yes. The application is made to the competent local authority.

Yes. PWPW and Info-Car services provide production and collection status.

The holder requests a duplicate and reports the loss under the applicable procedure.

Not necessarily. It normally replaces the document based on the existing record.

Yes.

No. The physical licence should be carried outside Poland.

No.

Yes. A valid licence is generally recognised until expiry.

No. Exchange is generally voluntary until renewal, loss or another statutory reason requires a Polish document.

Normally for six months after beginning permanent or temporary residence.

Before continuing to drive after the six-month recognition period.

Yes. The issuing authority may be asked to confirm authenticity and validity.

Yes, unless the licence or applicable agreement removes that need.

No. A theory examination can be required when the document is not covered by an applicable convention or exchange arrangement.

Yes.

Yes. The applicant normally has 14 days to appeal through the authority that issued the refusal.

Yes. The authority can issue the 1949 Geneva or 1968 Vienna format as appropriate.

24 points.

20 points.

Yes.

Normally one year from payment of the fine or final resolution under the current system.

Yes. An eligible driver can normally remove six points once every six months, subject to statutory exclusions.

No, not during the first year after obtaining the first licence.

Driving becomes a criminal offence above 0.5‰; lower positive levels can constitute the separate offence of driving after alcohol use.

Yes.

Yes, including exceeding the limit by more than 50 km/h in a built-up area or on a single-carriageway two-way road outside a built-up area.

Yes. Current rules provide for severe withdrawal consequences, including a five-year loss in the specified case.

This FAQ was prepared from the consolidated Act on Drivers, official government guidance, Info-Car examination information and mObywatel documentation.

Last reviewed: 4 August 2026.

This website is an independent educational resource and is not affiliated with the Ministry of Infrastructure, a starosta, WORD, PWPW, Info-Car, mObywatel or a driving school.

Official legislation and instructions from the competent authority always take precedence.