Registering a Car in Poland as a Foreigner — Documents, Steps, Insurance Requirements

If you're a foreigner living in Poland and you've just bought a car — or imported one from abroad — the registration process at your local Wydział Komunikacji can feel like navigating a bureaucratic maze. I've helped hundreds of expats through this process over my career in the insurance industry, and I can tell you: it's entirely manageable once you understand what's expected of you.

This guide covers the full process step by step — from the documents you need, to the OC (third-party liability) insurance requirement, to the common mistakes that delay registrations by weeks. Whether you've purchased a vehicle domestically in Poland or brought one across the border, this article is for you.

 

Who Can Register a Car in Poland?

You don't need to be a Polish citizen to register a vehicle here. You do, however, need to have a legal basis for your stay and a registered address in Poland. In practice, the Wydział Komunikacji (the vehicle registration department at your local Starostwo Powiatowe or Urząd Miasta) will accept registration applications from foreigners who can present one of the following:

• Karta pobytu (temporary or permanent residence card) — this is the most common document for non-EU foreigners
• Zaświadczenie o zarejestrowaniu pobytu obywatela UE — registration certificate for EU citizens residing in Poland
• Valid passport + visa with proof of zameldowanie (registered address) in some municipalities
• PESEL number — while not always mandatory for registration itself, it's practically required for purchasing OC insurance, which is usually a prerequisite

Each local office may interpret the requirements slightly differently. Some Wydział Komunikacji offices in larger cities like Łódź, Warsaw, or Kraków are more experienced with foreign registrations and handle them smoothly. Smaller towns may ask for additional documents or take longer. It's always worth calling ahead or checking the office's website.

 

Buying a Car in Poland — The Starting Point

If you're buying a car that's already registered in Poland, the process is relatively straightforward. You and the seller sign a umowa kupna-sprzedaży (purchase agreement). This document should include:

• Full names and addresses of both buyer and seller
• Vehicle details: make, model, VIN number, registration number, year of production
• Sale price (the actual amount — underreporting to save on PCC tax is illegal and can result in penalties)
• Date and signatures of both parties

You'll also need the seller to hand over the dowód rejestracyjny (registration certificate) and the karta pojazdu (vehicle card), if one was issued. Without these, registration transfer is impossible.

One critical detail: from the date of purchase, you have 30 days to re-register the vehicle in your name at the Wydział Komunikacji. Miss this deadline and you'll face a fine — currently 250 PLN for individuals (as of 2024 regulations, with increases possible under 2025 amendments).

 

Importing a Car from Abroad — Additional Requirements

If you're bringing a vehicle into Poland from another EU country or from outside the EU, the list of required documents grows significantly. Here's what you'll need:

From an EU Member State

• Original foreign registration certificate (some countries issue two parts — bring both)
• Proof of purchase (invoice or sales contract)
• Proof that the vehicle passed a przegląd techniczny (technical inspection) at an authorized Polish station — known as Stacja Kontroli Pojazdów (SKP)
• Valid OC insurance policy (at minimum, a short-term or border policy to cover the transit period)
• Proof of payment of akcyza (excise tax) — you obtain a zaświadczenie from the Urząd Celno-Skarbowy confirming this
• Customs document for VAT if applicable (typically for new vehicles under 6 months old or under 6,000 km)

From Outside the EU (Third Country)

• All of the above, plus customs clearance documents (SAD/PZC)
• Proof of payment of import duties and VAT
• The vehicle may need additional homologation verification depending on its origin

Document Translations — Sworn Translator Required

Any foreign-language document submitted to the Wydział Komunikacji must be accompanied by a sworn translation into Polish (tłumaczenie przysięgłe). This applies to the foreign registration certificate, purchase contracts, and any other supporting paperwork. A regular translation won't be accepted — it must come from a certified sworn translator (tłumacz przysięgły) registered with the Polish Ministry of Justice.

Expect to pay between 50-150 PLN per page depending on the language and complexity. Ukrainian and English translations tend to be the most affordable given the high availability of translators for these languages.

 

The Full Document Checklist for Wydział Komunikacji

Here's the consolidated list of what to bring to your registration appointment. I recommend having originals plus one photocopy of everything:

• Wniosek o rejestrację pojazdu — the registration application form (available at the office or downloadable from your city's website)
• Proof of identity — karta pobytu, passport, or EU registration certificate
• Proof of vehicle ownership — umowa kupna-sprzedaży, invoice, or other title document
• Dowód rejestracyjny — previous registration certificate (Polish or foreign with sworn translation)
• Karta pojazdu — if the vehicle had one (applies to vehicles registered in Poland before certain dates)
• OC insurance — despite widespread information you do not have to bring a valid third-party liability policy but you must get your insurance policy the same day
• Proof of przegląd techniczny — valid technical inspection
• Proof of PCC tax payment — 2% of the declared vehicle value, paid to your local Urząd Skarbowy within 14 days of purchase (form PCC-3). This applies to private purchases; dealer purchases are VAT-inclusive and exempt from PCC.
• Proof of akcyza payment — only for vehicles imported from abroad
• Tablice rejestracyjne — old plates (if re-registering a Polish vehicle and the office requires a plate change, which happens when registering across voivodeships)

 

OC Insurance — The Non-Negotiable Requirement

This is where my professional expertise kicks in, and frankly, where most foreigners make their biggest mistakes.

Polish law requires every registered vehicle to have active ubezpieczenie OC (odpowiedzialność cywilna — civil liability insurance). This is not optional. Although you can complete the registration process without presenting proof of a valid OC policy, the latest you must purchase your insurance is the day of registration (even after your visit to the Department of Motor Vehicles - "Wydział Komunikacji").

Key Facts About OC for Foreigners

• OC is tied to the vehicle, not the driver. It covers damage caused to third parties by the vehicle, regardless of who is behind the wheel.
• The minimum coverage is set by EU directives and Polish law: €5,210,000 for personal injury and €1,050,000 for property damage per incident.
• You need a PESEL number to purchase OC from most Polish insurers. If you don't have one yet, obtaining it from your local Urząd Gminy is free and usually takes one visit.
• Policy duration is typically 12 months. Short-term policies (ubezpieczenie krótkoterminowe) of 30 days are available for vehicles imported from abroad and not yet registered. Extensions of up to 182 days apply if the owner is moving to Poland with the vehicle or if the car is owned by a car dealership.
• Driving without OC carries severe financial penalties enforced by UFG (Ubezpieczeniowy Fundusz Gwarancyjny). In 2026, the penalty for a passenger car without OC for over 14 days exceeds 9,000 PLN.

Which Insurers Offer OC to Foreigners?

Not every insurer's online calculator handles foreign identification documents well. From our experience at Magro Ubezpieczenia, the following companies regularly and smoothly issue OC policies to foreign nationals with PESEL and karta pobytu:

• PZU
• Warta
• UNIQA
• Compensa
• Generali
• Balcia
• Compensa
• LINK4

(It might be also possible to buy the insurance without a PESEL number but you have to have an address in Poland.)

Prices vary dramatically. A Ukrainian national in their 20s registering their first car in Poland may see quotes ranging from 1,000 PLN to over 5,000 PLN for the same vehicle, depending on the insurer. This is why you should compare offers through an experienced agent or car insurance calculator.

 

The Registration Process Step by Step

Here's the realistic sequence of events once you have all documents ready:

Step 1: Buy OC Insurance

You can do this before or after visiting the Wydział Komunikacji but not later than the same day(!) when you get your temporary registration card. You'll need the vehicle data (from the registration certificate or purchase contract) and your PESEL. An agent can issue a policy within minutes.

Step 2: Pay PCC Tax (If Applicable)

For private purchases, file PCC-3 at your Urząd Skarbowy or electronically via e-Deklaracje. You have 14 days from the purchase date. Keep the confirmation — the registration office will ask for it.

Step 3: Get a Technical Inspection

If the vehicle's przegląd has expired — or if it's imported and has never had a Polish inspection — visit any Stacja Kontroli Pojazdów. Cost: approximately 98-162 PLN depending on the vehicle type. The station will enter the result into the CEPiK system electronically.

Step 4: Visit Wydział Komunikacji

Submit your application with all documents. Many cities now require or strongly recommend booking an appointment online (e.g., through the kolejka system). In Łódź, the main office on ul. Smugowa handles registrations and wait times can stretch to 2-3 hours without a reservation.

Step 5: Receive Temporary Registration

On the spot, you'll typically receive a pozwolenie czasowe (temporary registration document) valid for 30 days, along with temporary stickers for your plates or new plates if needed. Your permanent dowód rejestracyjny will be produced and available for pickup within approximately 2-4 weeks.

Step 6: Collect Permanent Registration

Return to the office to pick up your permanent dowód rejestracyjny. You can usually check its readiness online through the office's tracking system.

 

Common Mistakes That Delay or Block Registration

Over three decades in this industry, I've seen every possible complication. Here are the ones that come up most frequently with foreign clients:

• No PESEL. You arrive at the insurance agent's office to buy OC, and the system won't process you. Get PESEL first — it takes 1-2 days at most.
• Missing sworn translation. The clerk won't accept your German Fahrzeugbrief or Ukrainian свідоцтво без перекладу. No translation, no registration.
• Expired przegląd. Even if the car had a valid MOT in Germany, Poland requires its own inspection through the SKP system.
• Forgetting PCC-3. You bought the car 3 weeks ago and never filed the tax return. Now you're late, and there may be interest charges on top.
• OC from the previous owner expired. When you buy a used car in Poland, the seller's OC technically transfers to you — but only until its expiry date. It does NOT auto-renew for the new owner. If it expires while you're gathering documents, you're suddenly driving uninsured.
• Bringing the wrong ID. A visa stamp alone may not be sufficient in every office. Karta pobytu or EU residence registration is much more universally accepted.

 

How Much Does the Whole Process Cost?

Here's a rough budget breakdown for registering a domestically purchased used car:

• Registration fees (opłaty rejestracyjne): approximately 160-180 PLN
• New plates (if required): approximately 80 PLN
• PCC tax: 2% of vehicle value
• Technical inspection: 98-162 PLN
• OC insurance: 800-5,000+ PLN depending on driver profile and vehicle
• Sworn translation (if applicable): 50-150 PLN per page

For imported vehicles, add excise tax (akcyza) which varies by engine capacity and CO₂ emissions — this can range from a few hundred to several thousand złotych.

 

A Note on Temporary Plates and Transit Insurance

If you've imported a vehicle and it doesn't have valid Polish plates yet, you'll need tablice tymczasowe (temporary plates) and short-term OC to legally drive it to the inspection station and registration office. This short-term policy can be arranged through an agent — most online calculators don't handle this scenario well.

 

How Magro Ubezpieczenia Helps Foreigners Through This Process

At Magro Ubezpieczenia, we've been operating in Łódź for over 30 years. We work with 20+ insurance companies, which means we can quickly find an OC policy that fits your situation — whether you're a first-time car owner in Poland, a Ukrainian driver with no Polish claims history, or an EU citizen transferring a vehicle.

We handle the insurance part of the registration process daily. Here's what we offer:

• OC policy comparison across multiple insurers — tailored to foreign nationals
• Same-day policy issuance with proper documentation for the Wydział Komunikacji
• Guidance on which additional documents you may need (we've seen every edge case)
• AC (comprehensive) and assistance insurance bundled with your OC if needed
• Ongoing policy management — renewal reminders, claims support, mid-term changes