Cash, leasing or a loan for a car in 2026?
The new 100/150/225k zł caps, the leasing transitional-rules trap and real calculations.
VARTOCAR · Blog
Buying or selling a car in Poland? Start here.
Practical guides: valuing a car for sale, how not to get scammed, customs and OC/AC.
Costs & budget
Cost of owning a car in Poland 2026
The full yearly bill: fuel, OC/AC, servicing, test (149 zł) and depreciation. Around 10,900–11,900 zł a year + how to calculate your own.
Read →OC / AC & the border
Green Card to Ukraine 2026 — when, cost, how to get it
When it is mandatory (8 countries), what it costs (usually €0), validity 15 days–12 months, plus border insurance into Poland.
Read →Customs & taxes
Car from Germany to Ukraine: Polish excise vs customs
When Polish AKC-U/S excise applies vs. only Ukrainian clearance. The double-tax trap and a worked VW Passat example.
Read →Customs & taxes
EV customs clearance 2026 — VAT is back
From 1 January EVs lose the VAT exemption in Ukraine. Duty 0%, excise €1/kWh, VAT 20% — worked through on a 77 kWh battery.
Read →How-to
Importing a car from Germany — step by step
Yellow and red export plates, eVB, Abmeldung, excise within 14 days. A full DIY guide with real costs.
Read →New rules
Changes for drivers in Poland 2026
Licence suspension for >50 km/h outside towns too, confiscation from 1.5‰, limited point reduction.
Read →Formalities
Residence card, buying and registering a car
A passport is enough to buy. A registered address is NOT mandatory — residence is what counts.
Read →Rules
Traffic fines and penalty points in Poland — 2026
Max 5,000 zł, the 24-point limit, repeat-offender doubling and a 3-month suspension over 50 km/h.
Read →Business
A company car (JDG) for Ukrainians in Poland
JDG conditions, leasing vs loan, 50/100% VAT, the 100,000 zł cap from 2026 and the lump-sum tax trap.
Read →Guide
Ukrainian driver in Poland — the complete guide
Licence, Ukrainian plates, customs, buying, OC/AC, accidents, selling — everything in one place.
Read →Law
Buying from a private seller — what foreigners must know
Statutory warranty and its exclusion (art. 558 CC), deposit vs down payment, 2% PCC, deadlines. What to put in the contract.
Read →Guide
How to spot an accident car — 7 signs
Paint thickness 70–170 μm, panel gaps, glass codes, boot welds. A practical inspection list you can do yourself.
Read →Comparison
A car from Germany or in Poland? What really pays off
German prices are 20–40% lower, but excise, transport and paperwork eat the gain. A worked example and three traps.
Read →Financing
Financing a car: loan, leasing or cash?
How to finance a car in 2026: a loan for private buyers, leasing for companies, and a key change — the cost cap dropped to 100,000 zł.
Read →Import
Importing a car from the USA to Poland — process, costs, timeline
Step by step, how long it takes, where to buy, 10% duty, excise, 23% VAT, transport — with a cost calculator.
Read →Guide
Is the seller hiding a defect? Check in 2 minutes
You don’t need to be a mechanic — in 2 minutes check if the price matches the market and which model faults to watch for.
Read →Guide
Don’t overpay 8–12k zł — the 49 zł report
The gap between the listing price and real value is often 8–12k zł. The VARTOCAR report (49 zł) shows the real price.
Read →Valuation
What is your car worth? Hidden defects
A value range (e.g. 52–58k zł) and the model’s typical hidden defects — before you pay a deposit.
Read →News
eLicytacje KAS portal launches: how to buy a car at auction
On 1 July 2026 Poland launched eLicytacje KAS — tax auctions in one place, including cars. How to buy without overpaying.
Read →Buying a car
Importing a car from Germany to Poland
A car from Germany to Poland in 2026: no duty, excise 3.1/18.6%, when VAT isn't due, documents and registration. Guide for Ukrainians + calculator.
Read →Buying a car
How to check a car by VIN in Poland
How to check a car by VIN in Poland: free historiapojazdu.gov.pl (CEPiK) and paid autoDNA/carVertical for imports. Mileage, accidents, owners. 2026 guide.
Read →OC/AC insurance
What to do after a car accident in Poland
What to do after an accident in Poland: when to call the police, what data to collect, how to get a payout from the at-fault driver's OC or via BLS. Step-by-step 2026.
Read →Buying a car
PCC tax (2%) when buying a car
PCC when buying a car in Poland: 2% of value, paid by the buyer, the PCC-3 declaration within 14 days, exemption up to 1000 zł and under VAT-margin. 2026 guide.
Read →Buying a car
Car sale-purchase contract (umowa)
Car sale-purchase contract (umowa) in Poland: mandatory elements, VIN, price, two copies, what to watch for, PCC and registration. 2026 guide.
Read →Customs
Car customs at 0% under transfer of residence
Transfer of residence: a car from Ukraine to Poland with no duty, VAT or excise. Conditions (12 months residence, 6 months ownership, no-sale 12 months), WZZA, mistakes. 2026.
Read →OC/AC insurance
Will your Ukrainian no-claims count for OC
Will a Ukrainian no-claims record count for OC in Poland: when it's recognised, what certificate you need, why prices differ. Guide + OC/AC comparison.
Read →For drivers
How long to wait for a licence exchange and consulate delays
How long a Ukrainian-to-Polish licence exchange takes: 2 weeks–3 months, why delays happen, what to do when the consulate is slow. 2026 tips.
Read →Buying a car
Buying a car in Poland without a residence card
Can you buy a car in Poland without a residence card: buying — yes; for registration you need a PESEL and address (no meldunek); a loan — harder. 2026 guide.
Read →Selling a car
Selling a car on Ukrainian plates in Poland
Selling a car on Ukrainian plates in Poland: the contract, why the price is lower, PCC 2% paid by the buyer, how to set a fair price. 2026 guide + valuation.
Read →Registration
How long can you drive on Ukrainian plates in Poland
How long you can drive on Ukrainian plates in Poland: the 180-day rule, when registration is mandatory, fines of 500–2000 zł. 2026 guide for Ukrainians.
Read →Registration
Registering a car with Ukrainian plates in Poland
Registering a car with Ukrainian plates in Poland: documents, the 160 zł fee, excise, 1200–3500 zł turnkey, without meldunek. 2026 guide.
Read →For drivers
Exchanging a Ukrainian driving licence for a Polish one
Exchanging a Ukrainian licence for a Polish one in 2026: the 185-day rule, 2000 zł fine, documents, medical exam, cost 180–300 zł, no driving test.
Read →OC/AC insurance
OC/AC for Ukrainian plates in Poland
OC/AC for Ukrainian plates in Poland: when you need a Green Card, a border policy or Polish OC, and whether Ukrainian no-claims count. Guide + comparison.
Read →For drivers
Can you drive with Diia in Poland?
Can you drive with Diia in Poland: the Polish police don't accept the digital licence, you need a physical document. Fines and what to do in 2026.
Read →Buying a car
How to Buy a Car in Poland Without Getting Scammed
Buying a used car in Poland: VIN checks, odometer fraud, hidden damage, a safe deal. A step-by-step guide + a free car value estimate.
Read →Customs & registration
Customs Clearance and Registration of a Car from Ukraine in Poland
A car from Ukraine is a non-EU import: duty, VAT, excise, EORI, registration. A step-by-step guide, a worked example and the deadlines.
Read →OC/AC insurance
OC and AC for Ukrainians in Poland
OC is mandatory, AC is optional. Green Card, border policy, no-claims from Ukraine, what drives the price. A guide for Ukrainians + an OC/AC comparison.
Read →Selling a car
How to Value Your Car for Sale
Not sure what to sell your car for? How to set a fair price without underselling or scaring off buyers. A VARTOCAR estimate.
Read →