I am a citizen of an EU member state.

What conditions must I meet to register a vehicle in Poland?
 

To register a vehicle belonging to a citizen of an EU member state, it is necessary to have a registered residence (so called "zameldowanie") in the territory of the Republic of Poland (it may be temporary, but it must be valid for at least 30 days from the date of vehicle registration) and a PESEL number.

What is "zameldowanie" and why is it needed when registering a vehicle?
 

"Zameldowanie" is an administrative procedure involving reporting the place of residence to the municipal office. This means that the person registering informs the office of their address of residence, both permanent and temporary. "Zameldowanie" serves record purposes and is intended to confirm that a given person is staying in a given place.

Vehicle registration must take place at the DMV competent for the owner's place of residence.

The Road Traffic Act and the Civil Code of Republic of Poland indicate that the place of registration of a vehicle should be consistent with the owner's place of residence.

What documents do I need to register a car purchased in Poland?

Completed application, invoice or purchase/sale agreement, previous registration certificate and plates (if the car has been registered before), COC (in the case of new cars), translations of documents (if they were written in a foreign language), completed power of attorney for DMV.

What documents do I need to register a car purchased abroad?

Application for registration, purchase document - purchase/sale agreement, donation agreement, VAT invoice etc., current technical inspections, confirmation of excise duty payment, completed power of attorney for DMV.

I am a citizen of a country outside the EU.
What conditions do I have to meet to register a vehicle in Poland?
 

To register a vehicle of a citizen from outside the European Union, a residence card (may be temporary - TRC) or a valid (min. 30 days from the date of vehicle registration) visa in the passport is required. Additionally, registration in the territory of the Republic of Poland (so called "zameldowanie") and a PESEL number are required.

Is third party liability insurance mandatory?

Yes, in Poland there is an obligation to have third party liability insurance. The car must be insured no later than the day of registration. From January 1, 2025, the penalty for not having it will be: PLN 1,870 (up to 3 days), PLN 4,670 (from 4 to 14 days), PLN 9,330 for a break in third party liability insurance over 14 days. The penalties for a truck will be even higher.

How long does it take to register a car?

 

Each case is individual. The time to register a car is usually between 2-21 business days.

What documents do I need to register a car purchased abroad?

Application for registration, purchase document - purchase/sale agreement, donation agreement, VAT invoice etc., current technical inspections, confirmation of excise duty payment, completed power of attorney for DMV.