Renting a car in Poland (2026)
Last reviewed: 7 November 2026
In short: Poland accepts international permits under the 1949 and 1968 conventions and national licences from EU, EEA/EFTA states and Switzerland. The minimum age for category B is 18. Compulsory third-party (OC) insurance applies to vehicles in Poland, including foreign-registered ones.
| Rule | What applies |
|---|---|
| Foreign driving licence acceptedRenting a car as a visitor | Accepted documents include an international driving permit under the 1949 Geneva Convention, a national or international licence under the 1968 Vienna Convention, and a national licence from another EU member state, Switzerland or an EFTA/EEA state. Licences under the two conventions entitle the holder to drive in Poland for 6 months from the start of permanent or temporary residence. A valid licence from an EU, EEA/EFTA state or Switzerland may be used for its whole period of validity. It is not recognised if it was seized or the entitlement withdrawn in one of those states. [1] |
| International driving permitRenting a car as a visitor | The act lists an international driving permit under the 1949 Geneva Convention, and a national or international licence under the 1968 Vienna Convention, as accepted foreign documents. A person with a valid licence from an EU, EEA/EFTA state or Switzerland may drive in Poland during its validity. [1] |
| Minimum age set by lawRenting a car as a visitor | The minimum age to drive vehicles of licence category B is 18 (category AM 14, A1 and B1 16). [1] |
| Compulsory insuranceRenting a car as a visitor | The holder of a motor vehicle must take out compulsory third-party liability insurance (OC) for damage arising from the movement of the vehicle. For vehicles registered abroad the duty applies for the whole time they are in Poland. [2] |
| Statutory rules for rental contractsRenting a car as a visitor | ⚠ Not yet verified |
Notes
- No statute specific to car rental contracts was read. Rental conditions such as deposits, damage and rental-company age limits are mostly contract terms.
Sources
- Marszałek Sejmu / Dziennik Ustaw (Sejm ELI API): Obwieszczenie Marszałka Sejmu RP z dnia 1 września 2025 r. w sprawie ogłoszenia jednolitego tekstu ustawy o kierujących pojazdami (Dz.U. 2025 poz. 1226) (consulted 7 November 2026) · all sources
- Marszałek Sejmu / Dziennik Ustaw (Sejm ELI API): Obwieszczenie Marszałka Sejmu RP z dnia 29 maja 2026 r. w sprawie ogłoszenia jednolitego tekstu ustawy o ubezpieczeniach obowiązkowych (Dz.U. 2026 poz. 783) (consulted 7 November 2026) · all sources
Related pages
General information, not legal advice. Rules change: check the official source before you fly or ride.