New rules

Changes for drivers in Poland 2026 — a complete overview

2026 brought one of the biggest road-law reforms in years — and it arrived in stages, so it is easy to lose track. Fine amounts themselves did not change, but it is now far easier to lose your licence, and even your car. Below, everything chronologically: what, from when, and what it means in practice.

In short: Fine rates unchanged, but: licence suspension for >50 km/h also outside towns, car confiscation from 1.5‰, reckless driving = a crime, harder to erase points, licences from age 17 and a probation period for new drivers.

29 January 2026 — recklessness becomes a crime

The most significant systemic change. The Criminal Code amendment (act of 4 December 2025, Dz.U. 2025 poz. 1872) allows a driver to be held liable not for an accident itself, but for conduct creating a direct danger.

Reckless driving (gross speeding + breaking other rules + real danger) — 3 months to 5 years in prison, even with no accident.
Illegal races — a crime. Car meets of more than 10 vehicles must be reported to the municipality.
Vehicle confiscation — mandatory at 1.5‰ blood alcohol (0.75 mg/dm³ in breath). If the car is not the offender’s (lease, co-ownership), the court orders a payment of 5,000 to 500,000 zł.
Breaching a court driving ban — as a rule, a lifetime ban on driving motor vehicles.

3 March 2026 — you lose the licence outside towns too

A 3-month licence suspension for exceeding the limit by over 50 km/h — previously only in built-up areas, now also on single-carriageway two-way roads outside towns (national and regional). Motorways and expressways are excluded. In practice: 141 km/h where the limit is 90 = a 1,500 zł fine, 13 points and the loss of your licence.
Category B licences from 17 — the course from 16 years 9 months, written parental consent required. Until 18, driving only with a supervisor (min. 25 years old, min. 5 years holding a category B licence, sober). Such a licence is valid only in Poland.
E-scooters — the minimum age raised from 10 to 13.
Drifting and „showing off” — a 3-month licence suspension.
Farm tractors — permitted speed raised from 30 to 40 km/h.

Watch this one The suspension for >50 km/h outside towns caught many drivers out — the sanction used to be associated only with built-up areas. The first drivers were stopped on the very day the rules took effect. Be especially careful on national roads with a 90 km/h limit.

3 June 2026 — harder to erase points

Point reduction restricted — a WORD course no longer removes points for the most serious offences: gross speeding, running a red light, overtaking at a pedestrian crossing, drink-driving. For other offences the course still works (6 points, once every six months).
Helmets mandatory for those under 16 on bicycles, e-scooters and other personal transport devices. No helmet = a fine for the guardian.

In practice this means the risk of losing your licence over points has clearly risen — the 24-point limit (20 in the first year) stayed, but the „safety valve” of a course no longer works for the gravest offences. Details: the fines and penalty points schedule.

The rules are tightening — so are car costs. Check your car’s real value → VARTOCAR report 49 zł

3 September 2026 — a probation period for new drivers

Anyone obtaining a category B licence for the first time enters a probation period:

2 years — as standard,
3 years (or until turning 20) — for those licensed at 17,
during it an absolute 0.0‰ alcohol rule applies, and serious breaches can extend the probation or revoke the licence.

Technical inspections and CEPiK — no more flying under the radar

Inspection results now go automatically into CEPiK. That means a missing valid inspection is visible to the police in real time — even without a roadside stop, including for parked cars. Oversight of inspection stations was tightened, and critical defects can lead to withdrawal of the registration document. Registering imported cars is more tightly linked to the vehicle’s CEPiK history.

Good news for buyers: vehicle history and damage are increasingly visible in the system, so it is harder to sell a car with a hidden past.

The digital driving licence

The licence in the government app is a full equivalent of the plastic document — but only within Poland. Abroad you still need the physical document.

What this means for Ukrainian drivers

The rules apply equally — citizenship does not change the sanctions. Fines and points go into the Polish register.
Confiscation at 1.5‰ applies regardless of which plates you drive on.
Stronger CEPiK control makes the technical inspection and registration more important than ever — if you have not exchanged your licence yet, check whether you are required to.
When buying a car, use the fact that history is more visible — but remember the system will not tell you whether the price is fair.

If you are still buying insurance, see: OC/AC for Ukrainian drivers.

This material is informational and is not legal advice. The rules took effect in stages and may be amended further — verify the current state.

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Frequently asked questions (FAQ)

What changed for drivers in Poland in 2026? Fine rates stayed the same, but sanctions were tightened: a licence suspension for exceeding the limit by over 50 km/h also outside built-up areas, car confiscation from 1.5‰ alcohol, reckless driving as a crime, restricted point reduction, licences from 17 and a probation period.

When does a court have to confiscate the car? When the driver has at least 1.5‰ blood alcohol (0.75 mg/dm³ in breath). If the car is not solely the offender’s, the court orders a payment of 5,000 to 500,000 zł.

Can I still reduce penalty points on a course? Yes, but not for every offence. From 3 June 2026 the gravest offences are excluded — including gross speeding, running a red light, overtaking at a crossing and drink-driving.

Is a digital licence enough abroad? No. Within Poland it is a full equivalent of the document, but abroad the physical document is still required.