Multas astronómicas, confiscación de vehículos y más: qué cambios pueden esperar los conductores en Polonia en 2024

Este año, los conductores en Polonia enfrentarán una serie de cambios significativos en el ámbito del tráfico rodado que afectarán considerablemente sus derechos y obligaciones. Descubre más sobre lo que cambiará para los propietarios de vehículos y conductores en Polonia en 2024

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In 2024, Poland will introduce a number of innovations that will affect drivers and car owners, and these changes will also affect Ukrainians. In particular, we are talking about new traffic rules and transformations in the vehicle registration process, uapl.info reports.

Car confiscation in Poland: what is known

One of the key innovations is the amendments to the Criminal Code, which will come into force on March 14, 2024. The relevant changes give the right to confiscate cars from drivers in certain situations, namely:

• Increase in the permissible amount of alcohol in the blood, at which the car of a drunk driver may be confiscated.

• Establishment of new penalties in cases when confiscation of the vehicle becomes impossible.

For Ukrainian drivers in Poland, it should be borne in mind that car confiscation may occur in the following situations:

• The level of alcohol in the driver's blood exceeds 1.5 ppm - only the fact of confirmation of the state of intoxication is sufficient.

• The driver is involved in or causes an accident, and his or her blood alcohol level exceeds 0.5 ppm.

Additionally, if the car becomes defective during the accident, the driver may be fined an amount equal to the value of the vehicle. If the actions of a drunk driver result in serious injury or death, the sentence will be increased from 12 years to 16 years in prison.

Tariffs for evacuation and impound lot will increase 

As of January 1, 2024, new tariffs for towing services and vehicle storage at impound lots came into force in Poland. These changes provide for an increase in fines in a number of cases, with the maximum tariff amounts in certain categories increasing by as much as 15%.

The new maximum tariffs for the evacuation and storage of vehicles at impound lots are as follows (based on the approximate conversion of 1 PLN = 9.6 UAH):

• For a bicycle, electric scooter or motorized scooter: for towing services - PLN 166, for a day at the impound lot - PLN 32.

• For a motorcycle: for towing services - PLN 324, for a day on the impound lot - PLN 43.

• For a car weighing up to 3.5 tons: for tow truck services - PLN 697, for a day on the impound lot - PLN 60.

• For a car weighing from 3.5 tons to 7.5 tons: for tow truck services - PLN 871, for a day on the impound lot - PLN 79.

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Significant fines for not having an insurance policy

Since the beginning of January 2024, new record-high fines for not having an insurance policy have come into force in Poland. This became possible due to the linking of fines to the minimum wage, which has increased significantly since the beginning of the year.

Now, car owners without an insurance policy risk a fine of up to 200% of the minimum wage in Poland, which is PLN 8484.

The amount of the fine also depends on how long ago the previous policy expired. The full amount of the fine is imposed on those drivers who have overstayed their compulsory insurance for more than two weeks. At the same time, fines are determined depending on the number of days in the following period:

• From 4 to 14 days after the expiration of the previous insurance policy - PLN 4284 (50% of the full fine).

• Up to 3 days - PLN 1697 (20% of the total fine).

On July 1, 2024, the minimum wage is planned to be raised again, which will lead to a further increase in fines. Thus, drivers can pay up to PLN 8600 for not having a car insurance policy.

Where can I get a Green Card insurance policy quickly and reliably?

It is well known that a Green Card insurance policy is required to leave Ukraine by car. Such a policy is mandatory in 50 countries, including Poland.

Without insurance, the driver may not be allowed to travel abroad, and in the host country, the vehicle may even be seized and deported with a subsequent entry ban. In addition, a fine for the absence of/overdue insurance will cost the driver several dozen times more than the annual Green Card policy. 

You can apply for a Green Card quickly and easily on our website. Follow the link and buy an insurance policy in a few clicks.

New rules for car registration in Poland

Starting January 1, new car registration rules were introduced, replacing the mandatory notification of purchase with a direct obligation to register. Every owner of a used car must now register it within 30 days of purchase. Fines are imposed for violation of these deadlines:

• Within the first 30 days of ownership, a fine of PLN 500.

• Within the next 180 days from the date of acquisition, a fine of PLN 1000.

Entrepreneurs engaged in the trade of cars are subject to double fines:

• PLN 1000 for failure to re-register a vehicle within the first 90 days of purchase.

• PLN 2000 for failure to re-register a vehicle within 180 days of purchase.

Notification of the sale of a car at the place of residence

Starting from 2024, car owners in Poland will be obliged to report the sale of their vehicles within 30 days, but now this notification will have to be sent to the starost at the place of their permanent or temporary residence. Previously, such information was transmitted to the starost at the place of registration of the car.

If the car is jointly owned by several persons, a notification by one of the co-owners will be sufficient. This step will simplify the notification procedure for cases of joint ownership.

Please note that companies will continue to submit information on the sale of their own cars at the address of the vehicle's registration, which will preserve the old procedure for corporate vehicle owners.

Earlier we wrote that the support programs for refugees from Ukraine are constantly changing, and some of them are being completely canceled by the authorities. Find out what major changes for Ukrainians will take place in Poland in 2024 and what to expect in the near future.

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