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Driving in Poland from the UK: tolls and rules

Poland has no vignette. Cars pay distance tolls only on private motorway sections: the A2 Swiecko to Konin (141 PLN for 255 km) and the A4 Katowice to Krakow (36 PLN), paid at barriers by card or cash. e-TOLL is for vehicles over 3.5 t. UK cars must register for Krakow clean transport zone. Carry an extinguisher and triangle.

Checked on 11 November 2026 against official sourcesPrices in PLN unless shown otherwise

Toll system
Distance tolls
Vignette
None
Low-emission zones
Yes1 listed below
Currency
PLN
On this page

How do tolls work in Poland?

Tolls for cars are charged on concession (privately operated) motorway sections, where you pay at toll plazas. The state e-TOLL system, run for the General Directorate for National Roads and Motorways (GDDKiA), is compulsory only for vehicles over 3.5 t and buses. The A4 operator confirms its Katowice to Krakow section is not part of e-TOLL.

Who runs the roads

How to pay

  • e-TOLL registration and payment are mandatory for motor vehicles and combinations over 3.5 t and for buses on GDDKiA-managed toll roads; cars are not in this group.[1]
  • A2 Autostrada Wielkopolska: pay at the toll plaza in PLN, USD or EUR cash (no foreign coins; change is given in PLN) or by Visa, Mastercard, Maestro and other cards. Between Poznan and Konin you can also pay by number-plate recognition (videotolling) through apps such as Autopay and several bank apps.[2]
  • A4 Katowice to Krakow: pay at the Myslowice and Balice toll plazas by card (Visa, Mastercard, Maestro), cash in PLN, EUR or USD (euro and dollar notes only, change in PLN), Telepass, or videotolling through apps such as Autopay, SkyCash, IKO and Yanosik.[3]

Example toll prices

  • Swiecko (German border) to Konin

    141 PLN[4]

    Distance: 255 kmVehicle: Category 1: two-axle motor vehicle (car), tariff from 11 September 2026

  • Katowice (Myslowice toll plaza) to Krakow (Balice toll plaza)

    36 PLN[3]

    Distance: Not givenVehicle: Category 1: two-axle motor vehicle (car); 18 PLN at each of the two plazas, tariff from 1 April 2026

Checked on 11 November 2026 against the official sources linked in this section.

Low-emission zones and stickers

Krakow has had a clean transport zone (Strefa Czystego Transportu, SCT) since 1 January 2026, covering about 60 percent of the city. Cameras read number plates. Foreign-registered cars must be registered in the SCT system before entering, even if they meet the standards. Warsaw also has an SCT, but its official page could not be loaded.

  • Krakow: Strefa Czystego Transportu (SCT)

    Petrol cars (including LPG) may enter if Euro 4 or built 2005 or later; diesel cars up to 3.5 t if Euro 6 or built 2014 or later. A car registered abroad must be registered in the SCT system at sct.zdmk.krakow.pl before the first entry, with a copy of the registration document, make, model, year and emission standard. Non-residents with a car that does not comply can pay to enter during 2026 to 2028: 2.50 PLN per hour (in 2026, paying two consecutive hours covers the rest of the day; in 2027 a day costs 15 PLN) or a monthly pass (100 PLN in 2026, 250 PLN in 2027, 500 PLN in 2028). Paid entry ends after 31 December 2028.[5]

    Official page (opens in a new tab)

Checked on 11 November 2026 against the official sources linked in this section.

What must I carry in Poland?

  • Fire extinguisher and warning triangle.[6]
  • Daytime running lights are compulsory, with dipped headlights in the dark.[6]
  • Always carry your driving licence, ID, car registration document and insurance documents. Without them police may take the vehicle and charge fees.[7]

Checked on 11 November 2026 against the official sources linked in this section.

Speed limits and alcohol

Built-up areas
50 km/h[6]
Outside built-up areas
90 km/h[6]
Motorways
140 km/h[6]
Drink-drive limit
Under 0.2 g/l (mg/ml) for all drivers.[6]

Dual-carriageway expressways 120 km/h; single-carriageway expressways and dual carriageways with at least two lanes each way 100 km/h; residential areas 20 km/h.

Checked on 11 November 2026 against the official sources linked in this section.

What UK drivers need

  • You can use a UK photocard driving licence to drive in Poland for up to 6 months. With an old paper licence you may need to update it or also get the 1968 international driving permit (IDP).[7]
  • FCDO: you must pay road tolls on some stretches of motorways, expressways and national roads; roadworks are frequent, especially in summer, and some minor and main roads are narrow and poorly surfaced.[7]
  • You do not need an IDP to drive in the EU with a UK photocard licence (for a visit).[8]
  • Display a UK sticker on the back of the car unless your number plate shows the UK identifier with the Union flag. Cover or remove any old GB sticker.[9]
  • Take your log book (V5C) and insurance certificate if you are taking your own vehicle.[10]
  • You do not need a green card to drive in the EU, but you must have valid vehicle insurance.[11]

For documents, insurance, pets and border checks that apply to every country, see the driving to Europe checklist.

Checked on 11 November 2026 against the official sources linked in this section.

Sources

Every fact above links to one of these official pages. The numbers match the small links next to each fact.

  1. 1.
    Changes to the e-TOLL as of 1 February 2026 (opens in a new tab)

    e-TOLL (Polish Ministry of Finance / National Revenue Administration), etoll.gov.pl. Checked on 11 November 2026.

  2. 2.
    Oplaty: cennik przejazdow (price list valid from 11.09.2026) and payment methods (opens in a new tab)

    Autostrada Wielkopolska S.A. (A2 concession company), autostrada-a2.pl. Checked on 11 November 2026.

  3. 3.
    Oplaty i sposoby wnoszenia oplat: cennik od 1 kwietnia 2026 (opens in a new tab)

    Stalexport Autostrada Malopolska S.A. (A4 concession company), autostrada-a4.com.pl. Checked on 11 November 2026.

  4. 4.
    Toll table, category 1, A2 Swiecko to Nowy Tomysl to Konin (255 km), PDF 09.2026 (opens in a new tab)

    Autostrada Wielkopolska S.A. (A2 concession company), autostrada-a2.pl. Checked on 11 November 2026.

  5. 5.
    Strefa Czystego Transportu w Krakowie: praktyczny przewodnik (opens in a new tab)

    Urzad Miasta Krakowa (City of Krakow official website), krakow.pl. Checked on 11 November 2026.

  6. 6.
    Road rules and safety - Poland (opens in a new tab)

    European Commission, Your Europe (content supplied by Polish authorities, last checked by them 18/09/2024), europa.eu. Checked on 11 November 2026.

  7. 7.
    Poland travel advice: Safety and security (updated 7 November 2026) (opens in a new tab)

    GOV.UK (FCDO), gov.uk. Checked on 11 November 2026.

  8. 8.
    Driving abroad: check if you need an international driving permit (opens in a new tab)

    GOV.UK, gov.uk. Checked on 11 November 2026.

  9. 9.
    Displaying number plates: flags, identifiers and stickers (opens in a new tab)

    GOV.UK (DVLA), gov.uk. Checked on 11 November 2026.

  10. 10.
    Driving abroad (opens in a new tab)

    GOV.UK, gov.uk. Checked on 11 November 2026.

  11. 11.
    Vehicle insurance: driving abroad (opens in a new tab)

    GOV.UK, gov.uk. Checked on 11 November 2026.