Ukrainian cars in Poland face new inspections: who will have to undergo technical inspection

Ukrainian cars in Poland are increasingly finding themselves in the spotlight of the authorities due to gaps in technical inspection and registration rules. The changes under discussion may affect drivers who have been using cars with Ukrainian number plates abroad for a long time. Find out who will have to undergo a technical inspection, under what conditions re-registration is possible, and what to expect next

Issuing a Green Card policy for traveling abroad by car

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Changes are being prepared in Poland that may directly affect owners of cars with Ukrainian registration. We are talking about the possible introduction of mandatory technical inspections and even re-registration of such cars if they remain in the country for a long time. Legislative initiatives are being discussed against the backdrop of an increase in the number of cars with Ukrainian number plates and increasingly active discussions about road safety.

Remember: when planning a trip abroad in your own car, it is important to check not only the license plates but also other mandatory conditions. In particular, for international travel, you must have a valid Green Card — compulsory civil liability insurance for cars. Ukrainians can apply for a Green Card for travel abroad online through Visit Ukraine, which allows you to prepare for your trip in advance and without unnecessary queues.

Why Ukrainian cars do not undergo technical inspections in Poland

Since the start of the full-scale war, the number of Ukrainian-registered cars on Polish roads has increased significantly. At the same time, most of these cars do not undergo technical inspections in Poland — and formally, this is not a violation.

The reason lies in differences in national regulations. In Ukraine, mandatory periodic technical inspections for passenger cars were abolished in 2011. Since Poland and Ukraine are parties to the 1968 Vienna Convention on Road Traffic, Polish authorities cannot require foreign drivers to comply with regulations that do not exist in the country where the car is registered.

As a result, cars with Ukrainian number plates can drive around Poland for years without a technical inspection, while Polish drivers are required to regularly confirm the technical condition of their cars.

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Unequal conditions for drivers

In Poland, passenger cars older than five years must undergo a technical inspection at least once a year. This is a mandatory requirement for all vehicles registered in the country.

The situation has been further exacerbated by an increase in the cost of technical inspections. Since September 2025, the price of inspections for passenger cars has risen from 98 to 149 zlotys. Against this backdrop, the absence of similar requirements for foreign-registered cars is increasingly perceived as a legal imbalance and a source of tension.

What they want to change for cars from Ukraine

According to Polish media reports, the Polish Ministry of Infrastructure is considering introducing new rules for cars from non-EU countries, including Ukraine. The main focus is on cars that have been in Poland for a long time and are actually used as permanent vehicles.

In such cases, the authorities want to oblige owners to undergo technical inspections in accordance with Polish rules. In some scenarios, mandatory registration of the car with Polish number plates is also being discussed.

UC95 project: technical inspection and re-registration

The draft bill, under the working title UC95, proposes to establish a rule: cars from countries outside the EU that have been in Poland continuously for more than one year must be re-registered.

After that, they will automatically fall under the Polish control system, including mandatory regular technical inspections.

The stated goal of the initiative is to improve road safety and close a legal loophole that allows some cars to avoid technical inspections.

Reminder! Fogged-up windows in a car are not just a seasonal nuisance, but a sign of increased humidity and problems with cabin ventilation. Let's figure out where condensation comes from, why it gets worse in winter, and what mistakes drivers make most often. Find out where to look for the real cause of fogged-up windows and how to quickly solve the problem.

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