What do you think is the most cherished dream of a driver? Always getting the green light? Perfectly smooth roads? No, every driver dreams of getting a perpetual driving licence, which will not need to be changed in the future. And earlier, in Poland there was such an opportunity, which many people managed to take advantage of. However, as it often happens, time is inexorable and brings changes in the rules of the game.
Whether it is necessary to change the driving licence issued for an indefinite period of time, how to replace the licence in Poland and much more, read in this article. Enjoy reading this article!
What is an indefinite driving licence in Poland?
Those who have been living in Poland for more than 10 years are familiar with the term «bezterminowe prawo jazdy». Until 17 January 2023, drivers in Poland had the opportunity to obtain a «perpetual licence», exempted from the need for periodic replacement.
However, that was not the case! After loud discussions, the decision to abolish the issuance of perpetual driving licences in Poland was taken, and as of 17 January 2023, this unique opportunity became a part of the past. Thousands of motorists have managed to take advantage of this special privilege, but now the question arises: is it necessary to change a driving licence issued for an indefinite period of time? Let's look at this question in more detail so that every driver is aware of the changes.
An indefinite driving licence obtained in Poland before 2013 looks as follows:
![[object Object]](https://images.ctfassets.net/o5pzd75oy6c1/4nfkQnQQukGZgkkqzplPzz/584cf7addcabf2a9eaf4ef96e6f7ffec/prawo_jazdy.jpg)
When should an indefinite licence be replaced with a new one?
As you may have already understood, such licences are not only no longer issued, they will soon be invalidated in Poland. Why did this happen? The reason is that Poland, as a member of the European Union, is obliged to follow the requirements and standards set by the EU Directive. It is in this point, indefinite licence violates all EU rules.
We hasten to reassure all those who have managed to get such a licence – you can safely drive a car for the next few years. The replacement of indefinite licence in Poland will start in January 2028 and will last until January 2033. If you do not change your licence within 5 years, it will automatically be considered invalid.
What happens if I do not replace indefinite driver's licence in time?
First of all, it is worth noting that from 18 January 2033 such a licence will be considered invalid. And if you are stopped by the police, you will be subject to the penalties for driving without a licence that will be in force at that time. Today, the amount of such a fine ranges from 1,500 PLN or more, according to Article 94 of the Code of Offences of the Republic of Poland. What the fine will be in 5-10 years – no one knows, but it is better not to risk it, and immediately exchange your licence.
We would also like to remind you that Ukrainian driving licences are valid in Poland until the end of 2023. This means that in 2024 you can drive in Poland only on a Polish licence. We have told you more about it in our article.
The process of replacing an indefinite driver's licence in Poland
It's actually very simple, and the replacement procedure will look like this:
→ Come to the public institution Urząd komunikacji from 19 January 2028 to 18 January 2033.
→ Preparation of required documents. When visiting the institution, you will need to present your old indefinite driving licence and a new 3x4 cm photo.
→That's all - you don't need to take any exams, no tests, nothing. Your old licence will be taken away and your new one will be ready within a few days.
It is worth noting that this service is not free, and at the moment it will be necessary to pay for a plastic card costing 100 PLN, but in time the cost may be different. The term of the new driving licence will be as long as 15 years.
Conlusions
As a summary, those who were lucky enough to get an indefinite licence before 2013 will have to replace it with a new one from 2028 to 2033. If you fail to do so, you will face bad consequences in the form of fines.
The aksis migration agency has been successfully assisting with the issue of replacing a driver's licence in Poland for several years. Our agents approach each client individually and provide full support of the case. Trust aksis and we will solve your problem in the shortest possible time!
