Car insurance and green cards in Poland (2026)

Last reviewed: 30 October 2026

In short: Third-party insurance is compulsory for foreign-registered vehicles in Poland. Cars from the Multilateral Agreement states need no Green Card, others need one or border insurance. Drivers must carry proof of insurance.

RuleWhat applies
Third-party insurance compulsoryVisiting with a foreign-registered carYes [1]
Green card needed for cars from other EU statesVisiting with a foreign-registered carNo [1]
Green card needed for cars from the UKVisiting with a foreign-registered car⚠ Not yet verified
Proof of insurance for cars from EU statesVisiting with a foreign-registered carThe driver of a vehicle registered abroad must carry, and show on request, a document confirming the compulsory liability insurance contract or proof that the premium was paid, together with the vehicle's registration document. [2]
Cars from other non-EU statesVisiting with a foreign-registered carA vehicle registered in a state outside the Multilateral Agreement states must present a valid Green Card at entry. Otherwise border or customs control will not admit it unless the holder takes out border insurance before crossing, for at least 30 days. [1]

Notes

  • Article 89 requires a Green Card at entry only for vehicles registered in states other than those whose national bureaux are signatories of the Multilateral Agreement. Article 2 defines that agreement as covering the EU member states, the EFTA states and associated states.
  • Not confirmed from an official source: the Act does not name the United Kingdom among the Multilateral Agreement states, and no list was read.
  • Article 38(2) of the Road Traffic Act applies to every vehicle registered abroad, not only EU-registered ones.

Sources

  1. Kancelaria Sejmu (ISAP): Ustawa z dnia 22 maja 2003 r. o ubezpieczeniach obowiązkowych, Ubezpieczeniowym Funduszu Gwarancyjnym i Polskim Biurze Ubezpieczycieli Komunikacyjnych, tekst jednolity (stan na 28 lipca 2026) (Internet Archive snapshot of 15 August 2026) (consulted 30 October 2026) · all sources
  2. Kancelaria Sejmu (ISAP): Ustawa z dnia 20 czerwca 1997 r. Prawo o ruchu drogowym, tekst jednolity (stan na 20 sierpnia 2026) (Internet Archive snapshot of 8 October 2026) (consulted 30 October 2026) · all sources

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General information, not legal advice. Rules change: check the official source before you fly or ride.