Tighter Rules on Foreign-Licensed Vehicles in Poland: What Ukrainian Drivers Need to Know.

New Requirements for Cars with Foreign Registration in Poland

According to Novyny.live: Poland’s government is set to tighten oversight of vehicles with foreign plates, particularly those from Ukraine, by introducing stricter registration and technical inspection rules. Infrastructure Minister Dariusz Klimczak has unveiled a draft law aimed at tracking cars registered abroad. The initiative seeks to bring order to the use of such vehicles, especially given the surge in their numbers on Polish roads since 2022.

Current regulations under the Vienna Convention permit driving cars without local registration. However, the massive influx of Ukrainian vehicles has exposed gaps in the inspection system, prompting urgent state action. The key change under the proposed law will be a 12-month limit on using foreign license plates from the date of entry. After that period, owners must register their cars in Poland.

New Insurance and Safety Obligations

The draft law also mandates that drivers take out insurance policies with Polish companies. Dariusz Klimczak emphasized that

“the state cannot ignore the risks tied to the unchecked condition of a large number of vehicles.”

This Polish government initiative highlights the growing challenges linked to foreign-vehicle traffic, which has risen sharply due to the influx of Ukrainian refugees and labor migrants. The new rules are expected to reduce road safety risks and increase accountability for drivers using foreign-registered cars. As the legislation evolves, it will be important to monitor how drivers respond and what impact the changes may have on cross-border relations between Poland and Ukraine.