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If you are buying a used car - which is already registered in Poland - and you want to know how to re-register it, here is the information you need.

1. Fill out the vehicle registration application and consent for the processing of personal data (phone number and email address) - if you express it.
   [!] You will receive all forms, among others, on-site at the office. 
2. Attach the other required documents to the application and forward them to the authority relevant due to the place of residence or company registered office. You can do this in several ways. Detailed information can be found in the section Application and collection point.
3. You will receive a decision concerning the vehicle's temporary registration as well as number plates. A temporary permit is valid for a maximum of 30 days.
4. Once you have a temporary registration decision, you must update your vehicle's third-party liability insurance. 
5. The decision concerning vehicle registration, together with the vehicle registration card, should be ready for collection within 30 days.
   [!] You can check the information concerning the vehicle registration card for collection yourself on the info-car.pl website or at the office where you submit the application.

1. Application by the owner(s) for registration of the vehicle.
2. Consent to the processing of personal data, if you give it.
3. Power of attorney  - if you are represented by an attorney in the case. If you wish to submit a copy of the power of attorney it must be certified as a true copy by: 
   • a notary or
   • an attorney or legal adviser who is an agent in the case or
   • the authorised official in charge of the case. In such a case, you must also present the original document. 
4. Vehicle title document. Such a document can be, for example: 
   • a VAT invoice that confirms the purchase of the vehicle, 
   • a sale agreement,
   • an exchange agreement,
   • a donation agreement,
   • an annuity agreement,
   • agreement on the division of the estat,
   • agreement on the abolition of joint ownership, 
   • a final court decision which determines the right of ownership,
   • a valid decision of the court ascertaining the acquisition of an inheritance,
   • registered deed of succession certification,
   • an agreement of transfer of ownership of, for example, a bank,
   • an original transfer of ownership agreement, together with a declaration of reversion and a declaration of full repayment of the debt.
     
     [!] If you want to show us a copy of the vehicle ownership document when submitting your application, it must be certified as true to the original by a notary. After registering the vehicle, we will return this document to you.
     [!] If the seller's data for the vehicle does not match the data in the registration certificate, you must attach all documents that confirm the transfer of ownership to the application for vehicle registration.
5. Vehicle registration certificate with a valid technical inspection or with a certificate of conducted technical inspections of the vehicle (if it has expired).
6. Licence plates.
   [!] From 1 February 2022, you can keep your existing registration number if you apply for the re-registration of a used vehicle purchased in Poland. You can do this if the plates are white and have the EU marking (stars on a blue background). In addition, the plates must be legible, i.e. well-maintained and unbent. If the licence plate of the vehicle purchased does not meet these conditions, we will have to re-register your car with new numbers, which will result in a higher fee. 
7. If you are registering the vehicle as an individual, present an identity document, such as an identity card or passport, for inspection.
8. If you are registering the vehicle as a legal entity, e.g. a limited liability company - provide a current copy of the National Court Register (KRS) for inspection.
   [!] Matters concerning vehicle registration can be handled, on behalf of a legal entity, by an authorised person.
9. If you are a foreigner, a representative of a foreign company or a foreign cultural centre, a foundation or a press correspondent, present:
   1. proof of identity - passport, proof of temporary or permanent residence and one of the documents listed below:
      • a Schengen or national visa,
      • a residence card issued in relation to granting a temporary residence permit,
      • a certificate of registering the residence of a European Union (EU) citizen,
      • a residence card of a family member of an EU citizen,
      • a document confirming the EU citizen's right of permanent residence,
      • a permanent residence card of a family member of an EU citizen,
      • a residence card issued in connection with:
        • granting a residence permit for permanent residence, 
        • long-term resident's EU residence permit,
        • granting of refugee status, 
        • granting of subsidiary protection,
        • granting of a tolerated stay permit.
   2. for a foreign company - a certificate of entry in the register of representative offices of foreign entrepreneurs issued by the Minister of Economy or a current excerpt from the National Court Register for the branch of the foreign entrepreneur to be submitted for inspection,
   3. for cultural centres, foundations, press correspondents - for inspection: international agreements, certificates from embassies, accreditations.

[!] You must submit the attachments to the application in original form or as a certified copy. If you wish to submit a regular photocopy of the document, show the original to the office staff. The office staff will then confirm the compliance of the copy with the original for an additional fee.
If you would like to check what rights you have in relation to the processing of your personal data in this case, please read our Information Clause.

You can pay the vehicle registration fees:

1. at the district office cash desk,
2. cashless on site – if there is a terminal, payment machine, etc., at the place where you submit your application,
3. by bank transfer - select the account assigned to the district in which you will be submitting your application.

Write in the title of the transfer:

• make and model of vehicle, 
• vehicle registration number or the VIN number (this number has 17 characters - verify its correctness before you send the transfer),
• the registration number, if the vehicle already has one.

* Applies to white, undamaged number plates issued by the City of Warsaw. 
** Applies to white, undamaged number plates with EU stars on a blue background, issued by Polish registration authorities.

Possible additional fees:

• PLN 5 - fee for certification of a document copy for conformity with the original by an employee of the office. We charge the fee for the certification of each page started. If you are submitting originals or documents already certified as true copies - we will not charge this fee.
• PLN 17 - stamp duty for submitting a document which confirms granting a power of attorney or proxy. The power of attorney you grant to a spouse, ascendant (parent, grandparent), descendant (child, grandchild) or sibling is free of charge.

You pay these fees:

• at the district office cash desk,
• cashless on site – if there is a terminal, payment machine, etc., at the place where you submit your application,
• by transfer to a bank account.

You can perform a bank transfer to the office's bank account: 
Urząd Miasta Stołecznego Warszawy
Centrum Obsługi Podatnika
21 1030 1508 0000 0005 5000 0070
In the title of the transfer please provide what you are paying the fee for, e.g. fee for power of attorney for XXX XXXX in the case of  XXXXX VIN number of the vehicle concerned.

You can handle the matter:

• in person, 
• via the internet.

I'm handling the matter in person:

• If you have Polish citizenship - come to the delegation of the Administration and Resident Services Department in the district where you live.
• If you are a foreigner - come to the delegation of the Administration and Resident Services Department in the district where you are registered.
• If you run a company (in the form of a commercial law company) with its registered office or branch in Warsaw - come to the Administration and Resident Services Department, in the district where your company is headquartered
  • if the registered office is located in the Śródmieście district – come to the Administration and Resident Services Department of Population Records and Vehicle Registration at ul. L. Kruczkowskiego 2.

1. Complete a vehicle registration application and consent to the processing of optional personal data - if you give it. Sign the documents. Attach the other required documents to the application.
   [!] You can also get the forms on site at the office.
   [!] If the vehicle is not owned solely by you, all owners must come with you to the office or they can give you power of attorney to handle the matter on their behalf. In such a situation you must have powers of attorney separately from each vehicle owner.
2. An office employee will confirm your permanent or temporary residence registration in the system. 
   • IIf you have Polish citizenship, but do not have a registered address, an employee of the office may ask you to present another document confirming the fact of your residence at the indicated address, e.g. your annual PIT-37 tax return, an employment contract with the indicated residence address, a flat lease agreement. We will consider each such case individually.
   • If you are a foreigner, you must have a mandatory permanent or temporary registration.
3. We will verify whether the remaining documents are complete and do not include errors. If they are complete and correct - we will register your vehicle. You will immediately receive legalised number plates and a decision concerning the temporary registration of the vehicle. We will also issue you with a temporary permit, which is valid for 30 days - during which time it replaces the vehicle registration card. 
4. Once you have a temporary registration decision, you must update your vehicle's third-party liability insurance. 
5. Within 30 days, the Polish Security Printing Works (PWPW) will prepare your vehicle registration card. Information on whether it is ready for collection can be found at info-car.pl or at the office where you submit your application.
6. Visit the office before the expiry date of the temporary permit and collect the vehicle registration decision and vehicle registration card. When collecting the vehicle registration card, be sure to return the temporary permit to us and present a valid third-party liability policy.
7. You can only collect the new registration certificate if there has been no change in the ownership of the vehicle, i.e. the vehicle has not been sold or donated to another person, between the date of the application for registration and the date of collection of the decision and the permanent registration certificate.

[!] If you collect the permanent registration certificate together with the registration decision when you are no longer the owner of the vehicle, a notice of suspicion of the offence of false certification by misleading a public officer may be brought against you.

[!] If you wish to submit the application in person at the office, you can book an appointment in the Appointment Booking System. Booking one appointment entitles you to handle only one matter - such as registering one vehicle. If you have more matters or vehicles - book the appropriate number of appointments.
Handle the case online:
You can register a vehicle online via the Polish Security Printing Works (PWPW) box at https://www.esp.pwpw.pl/ - you must have an account set up in the PWPW Electronic Submission Box (ESP).
[!] You will receive all information and notifications to your ESP.

1. You can sign the electronic application:
   • with a signature confirmed by an ePUAP trusted profile, or 
   • with a secure electronic signature verified by a valid qualified certificate.
2. Attach the documents listed in the Required Documents section to the application in the form of a scan or photo.
3. After receiving the application, we must verify it. If all details are correct and complete we will call you to provide us with the originals of the required documents. You will receive the request electronically to the ESP box from which the request was received.
4. Provide us with the required documents via post with acknowledgement of receipt or by courier with return receipt at your expense.
5. After receiving and verifying the documents, we will contact you by email to arrange for the following to be sent by post with acknowledgement of receipt (at your expense): temporary permit, legalised number plates, decision on temporary vehicle registration.
6. Once you receive your registration decision, you must insure your vehicle on the same day.
7. We will inform you by email when you can collect your vehicle registration card within 30 days. You can do this in person at the office. After arranging this with us, we can also send it to you by post with acknowledgement of receipt at your expense.

[!] If you collect the permanent registration certificate together with the registration decision when you are no longer the owner of the vehicle, a notice of suspicion of the offence of false certification by misleading a public officer may be brought against you.

Administration & Resident Services Department of the City of Warsaw

1. Immediately - cases that do not require information or explanations or the collection of evidence.
2. Up to 1 month - cases that require investigation proceedings.
3. Up to 2 months - particularly complex cases.

If you receive a decision, you may appeal against it to the Local Administration Appeal Board in Warsaw (ul. Obozowa 57). Submit your appeal through the Mayor of Warsaw, who issued the decision:

• If you have Polish citizenship - fold them Administration and Resident Services Department in the district where you live.
• If you are a foreigner - fold themAdministration  and Resident Services Department in the district where you are registered.
• If you run a company (in the form of a commercial law company) with its registered office or branch in Warsaw - fold them Administration and Resident Services Department, in the district where your company is headquartered
  • if the registered office is located in the Śródmieście district – come to the Administration and Resident Services Department of Population Records and Vehicle Registration at ul. L. Kruczkowskiego 2.

You have 14 days from the date of receiving the decision to file an appeal. You do not have to pay to submit an appeal.

1. As a vehicle owner, you are obliged to register the vehicle within 30 days of purchase. If you are an entrepreneur and deal in vehicle trade, you have 90 days to register your vehicle. If you fail to do so by the deadline you face an administrative penalty. For more information, see our article "From 1 January 2024, new vehicle registration rules".
2. If you buy a vehicle that is already registered from the Police, the Internal Security Agency, the Intelligence Agency, the Central Anti-Corruption Bureau, the Border Guard, the Military Counterintelligence Service, the Military Intelligence Service, the Armed Forces of the Republic of Poland, the Customs Service then you do not need to present the registration certificate and number plates.
3. The competent authority for vehicle registration in Warsaw is the Mayor of Warsaw. Employees authorised by the Mayor are required to verify that the vehicle has a valid third party insurance. They will do this on the day they issue the registration card and the decision on the permanent registration of your vehicle. If you fail to present us with a valid third-party liability policy this will not affect a positive outcome. However, we must notify the Insurance Guarantee Fund (UBF), which may impose a financial penalty on you.
4. The Masovian Voivodeship is running out of license plates with the "W" mark (e.g. WX 12345). Until the pool of such plates is exhausted, we will continue to register cars with this distinguishing mark. The Minister of Infrastructure has already assigned us a new distinguishing feature for number plates, namely "A" (e.g. AX 12345). From January 2023, we will be issuing new number plates starting with the letter "A" for vehicles that have reduced number plates.
5. Natural and legal persons owning trucks with a maximum permissible weight of more than 3.5 tonnes, truck tractors and ballast tractors with a maximum permissible weight of the vehicle combination of 3.5 tonnes or more, trailers and semitrailers with a maximum permissible weight of 7 tonnes or more, and buses must pay tax on means of transport. You will find more information, together with the declaration form and annex to the declaration, in the information sheet "Determination or correction of the tax liability for the tax on means of transport for natural and legal persons".

1. The Act of 14 June 1960 Code of Administrative Procedure
2. The Road Traffic Law of 20 June 1997
3. The Act of 16 November 2006 on Stamp Duty
4. The Act of 22 May 2003 on obligatory insurance, the Insurance Guarantee Fund, and the Polish Motor Insurers’ Bureau
5. The Act of 20 January 2005 on the Recycling of End-of-life Vehicles
6. The Regulation of the Minister of Infrastructure of 8 November 2024 on vehicle registration and marking, requirements for registration plates and templates of other documents related to vehicle registration
7. The Regulation of the Minister of Infrastructure of August 31, 2022 on detailed actions of the authorities in matters related to the admission of the vehicle to traffic and model documents in these matters
8. The Regulation of the Minister of Infrastructure of 4 August 2022 on the amount of fees for the issuance of a registration certificate, temporary permit and legalized registration plates (plates) and their duplicates
9. The Act of 12 January 1991 on local taxes and fees
10. The Act of 11 March 2004 on goods and services tax
11. The Act of 24 September 2010 on population records
12. The act of 7 July 2023 amending certain laws to mitigate certain effects of identity theft

Version 4.0 z 23.04.2025 r.