All foreigners providing passenger transportation services in Poland are now required to have a Polish driver's license. Read more about the new rules, their impact on the transportation market and possible consequences for drivers and passengers

Insurance policy Green card for traveling abroad by car

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On June 17, 2024, new rules for foreign drivers, including Ukrainians, providing passenger transportation services came into force in Poland. From now on, to work as a driver of vehicles, including taxis, it is necessary to have a Polish driver's license. According to auto.dziennik.pl, this innovation can have a significant impact on the transportation market.

We have described in detail how Ukrainians can get a license in Poland in this article.

Requirements for taxi drivers: Polish driving license is mandatory

The changes that came into force on June 17 require all taxi drivers to have a Polish driver's license. This also applies to those who use popular services like Uber and Bolt. Without a Polish document, it will be illegal to provide transportation services, which will force many foreign drivers to exchange their licenses.

The publication notes that the introduction of new rules could lead to a significant increase in taxi prices and a decrease in the availability of drivers. According to Uber Polska representatives, the new requirements could exclude up to 30% of drivers from the market, providing almost half of all trips. This could create significant difficulties for users of these services, especially in Poland's largest cities.

At the same time, taxi drivers should be prepared for frequent road checks. Traffic police officers will regularly conduct large-scale operations to identify drivers who violate the rules. This includes driving vehicles without proper documents. 

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Are there any advantages to these innovations?

Although the innovations may reduce the availability of cheap travel, they are aimed at improving passenger safety. Therefore, one of the main advantages of introducing a compulsory Polish driving license is to increase road safety. Local police will be able to check drivers' qualifications faster and more efficiently through the national IT system. This will also help reduce the risk of using fake documents.

Penalties for violating the new rules

The new rules provide for severe penalties for drivers and intermediaries who do not comply with the requirements. Fines can reach up to PLN 1 million. For example, intermediary in the transportation of people without a license is punishable by a fine of 500 thousand zlotys, and failure to provide a mobile application for verification - 12 thousand zlotys.

Please note! In order to travel freely in Poland and 48 other countries of the world in a car with Ukrainian registration, the driver must have a Green Card insurance policy. The absence or delay of insurance is fraught not only with fines that are several dozen times higher than the cost of the insurance policy for a year, but also with the seizure of the car and deportation from the country with a subsequent ban on entry. You can take out insurance for the required period on our website. Read more about the amount of fines in Europe for not having a Green Card here.

We remind you! In Poland, drivers will have to buy new special stickers for their cars. Read who the new rules apply to, what information should be on the stickers, and why the Polish government has set these requirements in our previous article.

Photo: the-warsaw.com

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Darya Rogova is the head of the Visit Ukraine insurance department

A Green Card is not only a mandatory document for traveling abroad by car, but also a guarantee of financial security and safety for the driver and passengers. To avoid risks and fines, take out international insurance on the Visit Ukraine portal. We cooperate only with reliable insurance agents.