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A straight road running between an avenue of bare birch trees across flat ploughed farmland in Poland, wet asphalt under heavy grey cloud.

Poland

Drives on the right · PLN · Emergency 112
LAST VERIFIED 2026-09-13

Driving in Poland

Two things about Poland surprise people, and both work in the driver's favour. The first is that most of the motorway network is now free for cars. Charging on the state-managed sections ended in July 2023 for vehicles up to 3.5 tonnes, and the national e-TOLL system applies to heavier vehicles and buses rather than to you. Only two privately run concession stretches still charge a car: the A2 towards Świecko, and the A4 between Kraków and Katowice. The second is the motorway limit — 140 km/h, the highest posted limit in Europe. The urban limit also rises from 50 to 60 between 11pm and 5am. Against that, the alcohol limit is 0.2‰, effectively nothing, and much stricter than the 0.5 common further west. Headlights or daytime running lights are required at all times, year-round, and the camera network is extensive including average-speed sections. Winter tyres are not required by date, but the climate makes them sensible and road conditions can be weighed when fault is assigned after a crash. Paid parking zones operate in city centres during business hours and are usually free outside them. The currency is the złoty.

Speed 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.

Full tolls guide →

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.