Driving licence and car documents

About this service

The route for exchanging a foreign driving licence depends on the issuing country and the licence you hold.

A valid driving licence issued by an EU country is recognised in Poland.

Vehicle registration is handled by the transport department responsible for your permanent or temporary place of residence.

The vehicle documents you need depend on whether the car is new, already registered in Poland or imported.

Who it may suit

• People who need help checking the documents for a foreign driving licence exchange.
• Foreign residents preparing to register a car bought in Poland or brought from abroad.

How we help

• Review the licence, your residence documents or the vehicle purchase documents with you.
• Help you identify the relevant office and organise a document checklist.
• Help you prepare forms and check which documents may need translation.

Your next steps

1. Review the documents

   Show us your driving licence or the car's ownership and registration documents. Tell us where you live.

2. Check the requirements

   We review the applicable official guidance and help you prepare questions for the transport department.

3. Prepare the application

   We help you complete the form and organise supporting documents for submission.

Good to know

• An international driving permit cannot be exchanged for a Polish driving licence.
• The general exchange guide calls for a theory test when a licence does not match the Geneva or Vienna convention models.
• Vehicle registration requires evidence of ownership, such as a purchase agreement or invoice.
• Foreign-language vehicle documents generally need a Polish translation by a sworn translator or Polish consul, with exceptions for harmonised codes on EU registration certificates.

Related services