A foreign visitor can rent a car in Poland with a passport, a valid driving licence and a card for the deposit. An EU licence is always enough, a licence from a Vienna Convention country (such as Ukraine) is enough on its own, and a licence from a country that is party only to the Geneva Convention (such as the USA) must be accompanied by an International Driving Permit. Once you take up residence in Poland, a non-EU licence remains valid for 6 months.
A foreigner rents a car in Poland on the same terms as a Polish resident: you need a passport (EU citizens may show a national ID card), a valid driving licence and a payment card for the deposit. The difference is the driving licence. A licence from the EU, the EEA or Switzerland is always enough, a licence from a Vienna Convention country is enough on its own, and for countries that are party only to the Geneva Convention you also need an International Driving Permit. At ANSCars the driver must be at least 21 and have held a licence for 2 years.
Below we explain which licences allow you to drive in Poland and for how long, what changes when you take up residence, the rules for people from Ukraine and how to collect a car at Kraków Airport. This is practical information, not legal advice; if you are staying longer, check your situation with the relevant Polish office.
Which driving licences are valid in Poland?
The Polish Act on Vehicle Drivers (Article 4(1)(2)) recognises four types of foreign document: a national licence from the EU, EFTA-EEA or Switzerland, a national or international licence under the 1968 Vienna Convention, an International Driving Permit under the 1949 Geneva Convention, and a licence specified in an international agreement to which Poland is a party.
| Licence issued by | What you show | How long it is valid for driving |
|---|---|---|
| EU, EFTA-EEA country, Switzerland | National driving licence | For the whole validity of the licence, also after moving to Poland |
| Vienna Convention country (e.g. Ukraine) | National driving licence | Visitor: while the licence is valid; after taking up permanent or temporary residence, for 6 months |
| Country party only to the Geneva Convention (e.g. the USA) | International Driving Permit together with the national licence | As above: 6 months after taking up residence |
| Country outside the conventions, with no agreement with Poland | The licence is not valid in Poland | A Polish driving licence is required |
Check whether your country is a party to a convention before you travel, because the lists are long and they change. Some countries are party to both conventions, in which case a national licence that follows the Vienna format is enough.
EU driving licences: do you need to exchange yours?
No. A licence issued in another EU country, in Switzerland or in an EFTA-EEA country allows you to drive in Poland for as long as it is valid (Article 5(6) of the Act on Vehicle Drivers). You do not need to exchange it, even if you move to Poland.
For a rental company such a licence is equivalent to a Polish one. We check only that it is valid, that it covers category B and the date that category was obtained, because ANSCars requires 2 years of driving and a minimum age of 21. EU citizens may show a national ID card instead of a passport.
Since Brexit, a UK driving licence is treated as a non-EU document. According to the Polish government website powroty.gov.pl, holders of UK licences issued up to 31 December 2020 do not have to exchange them, while later licences are subject to the general rules for third countries.
Non-EU licences: the Vienna and Geneva conventions and the International Driving Permit
A national licence from a Vienna Convention country is enough on its own, while for a country that is party only to the Geneva Convention you also need an International Driving Permit. An International Driving Permit is not valid on its own: you always show it together with your national licence.
The International Driving Permit is issued before you travel by the authority in the country that issued your national licence. You cannot obtain one in Poland unless you hold a Polish licence. In practice it is a translation of your entitlements into a format recognised in convention countries, so it also helps the police during a roadside check if your national licence is written in a non-Latin alphabet.
How long can a foreigner drive on a foreign licence?
Article 5(4) of the Act on Vehicle Drivers states that a licence from a convention country (Vienna or Geneva) allows you to drive in Poland for 6 months from the day you take up permanent or temporary residence. Residence within the meaning of the act generally means staying in Poland for at least 185 days in a calendar year because of personal or professional ties.
- A tourist or someone on a short business trip can in practice use a foreign licence while it is valid, because they are not resident in Poland within the meaning of the act.
- Someone who has moved to Poland (for example with a residence card) has 6 months from taking up residence. After that the licence must be exchanged for a Polish one at the district office (starostwo) or city office.
- The exchange costs PLN 100 and requires a sworn translation of the licence. If the licence does not follow the convention format, you have to pass the theory part of the driving test.
Renting a car as a Ukrainian citizen: the rules in 2026
People from Ukraine with temporary protection may drive in Poland on a valid Ukrainian licence for the whole period of temporary protection, without exchanging or translating it. This is based on Regulation (EU) 2022/1280, and according to the gov.pl website temporary protection has been extended until 4 March 2027.
People from Ukraine without temporary protection (for example those staying in Poland on a visa or a residence card) are subject to the general rules. Ukraine is a party to the Vienna Convention, so a national licence is valid for 6 months from taking up permanent or temporary residence, after which it must be exchanged.
The dates related to temporary protection have been moved several times, and many outdated articles are still online. Before a longer trip, check the current position on the gov.pl page about temporary protection.
At ANSCars, Ukrainian citizens rent cars on the same terms as other customers: minimum age 21, a licence held for 2 years, a passport and a payment card. Our travel abroad option (PLN 199 one-off) covers EU countries, Switzerland and Norway, so it does not include travel to Ukraine. Travel abroad without consent costs PLN 1,000.
Which documents and what deposit to prepare
To rent a car from ANSCars, a foreigner needs a driving licence (with an International Driving Permit if required), a passport or an EU national ID card, and a credit or debit card in their own name for the deposit block (prepaid cards and cards such as Zen or Revolut are not accepted).
| Class (example, or similar) | Daily rate for 1-3 days | Deposit | Damage excess |
|---|---|---|---|
| B: Toyota Yaris Hybrid | PLN 177 | PLN 500 | PLN 2,500 |
| C: Kia Ceed SW | PLN 184 | PLN 1,000 | PLN 3,000 |
| C SUV: Toyota RAV4 | PLN 235 | PLN 1,500 | PLN 3,500 |
| D: Škoda Superb | PLN 259 | PLN 1,500 | PLN 3,500 |
The price includes insurance (OC, AC, NNW), assistance and 600 km per day included. A foreign card works just like a Polish one, but check that your bank does not block transactions in Poland and that your limit covers the deposit. On rentals of 3 days or more you can add Protektor, which removes the deposit and the excess; see our page on no-deposit car rental in Kraków. All the conditions are summarised on the rental terms page.
If your licence is written in a non-Latin alphabet or does not show the date you obtained category B, mention it when you book. We will confirm the documents you need before you arrive, not at the car.
Collecting the car at Kraków Airport
Foreign customers most often collect the car straight after landing. At ANSCars, delivery of a car to Kraków Airport (Balice) costs PLN 49.99, and returning it there costs PLN 49.99.
In the booking, enter your flight number and planned arrival time. We meet you at the Orlen petrol station next to the airport (turn left when you leave the terminal, about 500 m), and we confirm the meeting time when you book. A handover outside the opening hours of the pick-up point (Monday to Friday 8:00-20:00, Saturday 8:00-14:00), or on Sundays and public holidays, must be arranged in advance and costs PLN 49.99. At the airport, the typical deposit in the offers we checked in October 2026 was PLN 2,200-4,400 and the excess PLN 3,000-8,000, so it pays to compare the total cost of the rental, not just the daily rate. More about airport pick-up is on the Kraków Airport car rental page.
Polish road rules to know before you drive
The most common surprises for drivers from abroad are headlights on at all times, a low alcohol limit and a higher speed limit at night in built-up areas.
| Rule | In Poland |
|---|---|
| Dipped headlights or daytime running lights | 24 hours a day, all year round |
| Alcohol limit | 0.2 per mille; above 0.5 per mille it is a criminal offence |
| Built-up area | 50 km/h from 5:00 to 23:00, 60 km/h from 23:00 to 5:00 |
| Outside built-up areas | 90 km/h |
| Expressway | 100 km/h (single carriageway), 120 km/h (dual carriageway) |
| Motorway | 140 km/h |
| Children under 150 cm | Child seat or other restraint |
The rules on carrying children are described in our article on child seats in a rental car (in Polish); you can add a child seat to your booking for PLN 15 per day (max. PLN 150). Speed camera fines are sent to the renter, also to an address abroad, and the rental company charges PLN 150 for providing the driver's details; the procedure is explained in our guide to fines in a rental car (in Polish). Once everything is clear, book your car using the booking form.
Frequently asked questions
Can a tourist from the USA rent a car in Poland on a US licence?
The USA is a party to the 1949 Geneva Convention, not the Vienna Convention, so to drive in Poland you need an International Driving Permit together with your national licence. The permit has to be obtained in the USA before you travel. The general ANSCars conditions also apply: minimum age 21, a licence held for 2 years, a passport and a card for the deposit.
Do I need an International Driving Permit with a Ukrainian licence?
No. Ukraine is a party to the Vienna Convention, so a Ukrainian national licence is valid in Poland on its own. People with temporary protection can use it for the whole period of protection, currently until 4 March 2027. Others have 6 months from taking up residence in Poland to exchange it.
Can I rent a car without a Polish PESEL number?
Yes. To sign a rental agreement with ANSCars, a passport or an EU national ID card, a driving licence and a payment card are enough. A PESEL number is not a condition of the rental. Give your home address in the booking, including a foreign one, because letters such as speed camera notices may be sent there.
Can I drive the rental car from Poland to my home country?
At ANSCars you can drive to EU countries, Switzerland and Norway if you declare it in advance. The option costs PLN 199 one-off, and travel abroad without consent costs PLN 1,000. Travel to countries outside this list is not covered by the option. The rules are summarised on our rental terms page.
Is a digital driving licence from my country enough?
Do not rely on it. The Act on Vehicle Drivers lists specific types of foreign licence, and digital versions of other countries' documents are not generally accepted in Poland, either at roadside checks or by rental companies. The Polish mPrawo jazdy in the mObywatel app works only in Poland and only for Polish drivers. Bring your plastic card and, if required, your International Driving Permit.
What if my licence expires during the rental?
Your licence must be valid for the whole rental, because after the expiry date you are not entitled to drive and the insurance may not cover you if there is damage. If your licence expires during the planned trip, renew it before you travel or shorten the rental to the expiry date. Mention it when you book and we will find a solution.
Check availability and the price in a few seconds. Pick-up at our pick-up point at ul. Opolska 12, at your address in Kraków or at the airport.
- ISAP: Act of 5 January 2011 on Vehicle Drivers (Articles 4 and 5), in Polish
- Powroty.gov.pl: driving licences issued abroad, exchange, in Polish
- Gov.pl: temporary protection for people from Ukraine, extension of certificates, in Polish
- EUR-Lex: Regulation (EU) 2022/1280 on driving documents issued by Ukraine
