Poland
Drives on the right · PLN · Emergency 112Speed limits
Urban
50 km/h
Rural / outside built-up areas
90 km/h
Motorway
140 km/h
Alcohol limits
General limit
0.2‰
Novice drivers
Same as general limit
Mandatory equipment
- •Warning triangle
- •Hi-vis vest
- •First aid kit
Winter tires & snow chains
No legal requirement to fit winter tires by a fixed date, though strongly recommended given the climate — road conditions can be treated as a factor in fault for an accident.
Tolls
System
Mixed tolls
Some motorway sections charge tolls (a mix of government e-TOLL electronic tolling and a few private concession roads with booths); other sections are free — check your specific route. Trucks and vans have separate toll obligations that don't always apply to standard cars.
More things to know before you drive
Seatbelts
Mandatory front and rear for all occupants.
Mobile phone use
Hands-free only; holding a phone while driving is prohibited.
Child seats
Children under 150 cm must use an approved child restraint suited to their size.
Headlights
Dipped headlights (or daytime running lights) are required at all times, day and night, year-round.
Low-emission & restricted zones
A small but growing number of cities (e.g. Warsaw) are introducing low-emission zones — check current rules before driving into a city center.
Right of way & roundabouts
Priority to the right at unmarked intersections; roundabouts give way to traffic already circulating.
Parking
Paid parking zones ("Strefa Płatnego Parkowania") are common in city centers, typically via meter or app, usually free outside business hours.
Speed cameras
Extensive fixed and mobile camera network, including average-speed sections on some roads.
Good to know
Urban speed limit rises from 50 km/h to 60 km/h between 11pm and 5am. Currency is the złoty (PLN), not the euro.