Driving in Poland from the UK: what you need
Checked against official sources on 8 November 2026 · Sources at the bottom of this page
Driving your own car to Poland? You need:
- A UK sticker, unless your number plate shows "UK" with the Union flag GB stickers are no longer valid: remove or cover them
- Your photocard driving licence, logbook (V5C), insurance certificate and ID Without them, police can take the car. Still have an old paper licence? You need an international driving permit (£5.50 at a PayPoint) Hire or lease car from the UK? Take a VE103 certificate instead of the logbook
- A passport for everyone in the car See the passport rules for Poland below
- A warning triangle, and a fire extinguisher is worth carrying Polish cars must carry both
- Dipped headlights on at all times, set for driving on the right Many newer cars adjust for the right from a menu setting, others need beam deflector stickers
- To register before driving into Kraków See below
- No more than a sip of alcohol: the limit is 0.2
🛂 Your border check happens before Poland
Driving through France, Belgium and Germany? You enter the Schengen area when you cross the Channel, so your passport is checked, and the EU's Entry/Exit System (EES) records your fingerprints, at Dover, Folkestone or your arrival port. Your passport must be less than 10 years old on the day you arrive and valid for 3 months after you leave.
Check your passport for Poland →Tolls and clean transport zones
Poland has no vignette, and state-run motorways are free for cars. Two cities have clean transport zones for older cars.
On the A4 you can pay in cash (złoty, euro or dollar notes) or by card, or use video tolling. Older cars that don't meet Kraków's rules can pay PLN 2.50 an hour to enter until 2028.
Speed limits in Poland
| Road | Limit |
|---|---|
| Motorways | 140 km/h≈ 87 mph |
| Dual-carriageway expressways | 120 km/h≈ 75 mph |
| Other expressways and dual carriageways | 100 km/h≈ 62 mph |
| Roads outside towns | 90 km/h≈ 56 mph |
| Towns and villages (day and night) | 50 km/h≈ 31 mph |
Since 3 March 2026, going more than 50 km/h over the limit outside towns means your licence is suspended for 3 months, as it already did in towns. Speeding fines run from PLN 50 to PLN 2,500.
Rules that catch UK drivers out
🍷 Very low drink-drive limit
0.2 per mille. From 0.2 to 0.5 it's a fine of at least PLN 2,500 and a ban, and over 0.5 it's a crime, with a ban of at least 3 years.
💡 Headlights on at all times
Dipped headlights or daytime running lights must be on whenever you drive, all year.
🚑 Rescue lane
In motorway and expressway queues, leave a gap for emergency vehicles. Not doing so is a PLN 500 to 2,500 fine.
🔀 Zip merging
Where two lanes become one, merge in turn, one car from each lane.
📵 No handheld phones
Holding a phone while driving is a PLN 500 fine.
🛣️ Roads
Expect roadworks, heavy lorry traffic, and narrow, poorly lit minor roads at night.
Breakdowns and emergencies
- Call 112, or 999 for an ambulance, 998 for fire and 997 for the police.
- Put on a hi-vis vest before you get out.
- Place the warning triangle at least 100 m behind the car on motorways and expressways, 30 to 50 m behind on other roads outside towns, and just behind the car in towns.
Hiring a car in Poland instead
- Hire companies may be stricter on age and experience, and may ask for an international driving permit.
- Most won't let you take the car into Ukraine.
- They may ask for a DVLA licence check code. Get one on GOV.UK shortly before you collect the car: it's only valid for 21 days.
FAQs
Do I need a vignette for Poland?
No. Poland has no vignette for cars, and the state-run motorways are free. Cars only pay on three privately run stretches: the A1 Gdańsk to Toruń, the A2 Świecko to Konin and the A4 Katowice to Kraków (PLN 18 per toll plaza in 2026). The A4 Katowice to Kraków becomes free from 16 March 2027.
Do UK cars need to register for Kraków's clean transport zone?
Yes. Since 1 January 2026, foreign-registered cars must be registered before they first enter Kraków's clean transport zone, even if they meet the rules. Petrol cars must be Euro 4 (around 2005) or newer and diesel cars Euro 6 (around 2014) or newer.
What is the drink-drive limit in Poland?
0.2 per mille, much lower than the UK. Over 0.5 is a crime, with a ban of at least 3 years and possible prison.
Do I need headlights on during the day in Poland?
Yes. Dipped headlights or daytime running lights must be on at all times, all year.
What is the motorway speed limit in Poland?
140 km/h (about 87 mph) on motorways, 120 km/h on dual-carriageway expressways and 50 km/h in towns at all times.
Do I need an international driving permit for Poland?
No, not with a UK photocard licence, which you can use for up to 6 months.
More for your trip
Sources
Checked on 8 November 2026. Rules change, so check the official sources before you travel.