Registering a car in Poland: steps and time limits

The steps depend on where the car came from. Within Poland everything is simple. From an EU country, excise duty is added. From outside the EU, customs clearance is added too.

Buying within Poland

You will need the sales contract or invoice, the registration certificate (dowód rejestracyjny), a valid technical inspection and OC insurance, the compulsory third-party liability insurance.

You apply for registration at the vehicle registration department (wydział komunikacji) where you live. There is a time limit: you must re-register the car within thirty days of purchase. A fine applies for missing it, and it is noticeable.

OC insurance passes to you with the car, but it is linked to the previous owner and their terms. It is wiser to take out your own: a calculation based on the previous owner may turn out to be unfavourable, and a gap in insurance is not allowed at all.

Bringing a car from an EU country

Excise duty is added. The declaration is filed with the Customs and Tax Office (urząd celno-skarbowy), within fourteen days of bringing the car in. The rate depends on engine capacity. Electric cars and some hybrids have reduced rates.

After you pay the excise duty, you receive a confirmation. Registration is not possible without it. Next, you need a Polish technical inspection and a translation of the documents by a sworn translator (tłumacz przysięgły) if they are not in Polish.

Bringing a car from outside the EU

Here customs clearance comes first: customs duty, VAT, then excise duty. For cars older than a certain age and for some engine types, additional confirmations of compliance are needed.

This route is much more expensive and longer, and the final amount is often higher than the buyer expects. Calculate it before the purchase, not after.

About time limits

Thirty days to re-register a car within the country and fourteen days for excise duty when bringing a car from the EU. Both time limits are counted from a document: from the contract date and from the date the car was brought in, respectively.

Fines for delay are imposed automatically and are hard to challenge. This is a case where putting things off costs real money.

Common problems

A carelessly written contract. A mistake in the VIN, the date or the details of the parties leads to a refusal of registration, and fixing it requires the seller, who may no longer be reachable.

No confirmation of excise duty payment. Without it, the application will simply not be accepted.

Untranslated documents. The translation must be done by a sworn translator. An ordinary translation is not suitable.

In short

Within Poland, thirty days to re-register. When bringing a car from the EU, fourteen days for excise duty. From outside the EU, customs are added. Check the contract before signing and calculate the full cost of bringing the car in advance.

This material is for general information only. Procedures and requirements change, and the details depend on the specific situation. Before you submit documents, check the current requirements.

Topic: Transport