Millions of drivers must replace their driver's licenses. Check if you are among them.
In the article
The exchange applies to driving licenses issued before January 18, 2013, meaning documents without an expiration date. This totals around 15 million documents
The exchange will last five years: from January 19, 2028, to January 18, 2033
Deadlines for different driver groups will be set by an infrastructure ministerial regulation
The new document will be valid for a maximum of 15 years
There is no need to retake exams or undergo medical checks
The standard fee is currently 100 zł, with the proposal calling for an increase to 115.50 zł
Permanent driving licenses – where did such a document come from?
For many years, documents without an expiration date were completely normal in Poland. If a driver had no health contraindications, the driving rights obtained once for category B remained valid indefinitely. The form itself did not specify any date by which it needed to be exchanged.
This changed on January 19, 2013. Since then, newly issued driver’s licenses have received an administrative validity period. Now, the same rule will apply to older documents as well. According to the Ministry of Infrastructure, cited by Dziennik.pl, this affects around 15 million driver’s licenses.
Two things need to be distinguished here. The rights to drive remain indefinite. The validity period applies only to the document itself, namely the physical card with a photo and security features. This can be compared to an ID card: citizenship does not expire, but the document needs to be renewed from time to time.
EU regulations and the obligation to replace
The change is not a Polish idea. It stems from a EU directive on driving licenses that standardized these documents across the entire European Union. Under this directive, all driving licenses issued before January 19, 2013, must meet new requirements by January 19, 2033, including having a specified validity period.
Poland incorporated this requirement into its law on vehicle drivers. The regulation states explicitly: “Driving licenses issued by January 18, 2013, must be replaced between January 19, 2028, and January 18, 2033, within the deadlines set by the minister or earlier at the holder’s request.”
Periodic replacement of the document is primarily intended to update the photo and security features. Driving licenses issued decades ago often show a person who is difficult to recognize during traffic checks, and older forms are easier to forge.
Expiration dates for driver’s licenses issued before 2013
The statutory period for renewal begins on January 19, 2028, and ends on January 18, 2033. After this date, old, indefinite-validity documents will no longer be valid.
This does not mean complete freedom in choosing the renewal date. The law stipulates that renewals must take place within periods set by the Minister of Infrastructure. A detailed schedule is intended to be established through a regulation that takes into account the technical capabilities of document issuers and authorities. The goal is to spread out applications over time. Transportation departments will be handling millions of additional cases during this period, in addition to regular applications such as new driver’s licenses, vehicle registrations, or data changes.
How long will the new driver’s license be valid?
After renewal, the driver will receive a document with an administrative validity period of up to 15 years. This applies to popular categories, including category B, which is used by most drivers of passenger cars, including electric ones.
For professional categories, namely licenses to drive trucks and buses, the validity period is shorter and is tied to mandatory medical examinations. A shorter period may also apply to a person whose doctor has identified contraindications or a need to monitor their health, such as due to vision problems.
Without exams and without medical tests
The most important information for drivers: renewal is an administrative formality. There is no need to retake the theoretical or practical exam. Additional medical examinations are also not required, unless they were already ordered for other reasons earlier on.
In practice, the renewal process is similar to that when a document is lost or damaged. The application is submitted to the transportation department of the county office or city hall corresponding to the place of residence. This can be done in person or electronically through the gov.pl website using a trusted profile. An up-to-date, colored photo and proof of payment must be attached to the application.
How much does it cost to renew a driver’s license?
Currently, the standard fee for issuing a driver’s license is 100 PLN, and this amount applies when renewing the document. According to Dziennik.pl, the Ministry of Infrastructure has prepared a legislative amendment to raise this fee to 115.50 PLN. In addition, there is a cost for taking a current photo.
The fee amount is determined by regulations, so it may change again by 2028. It is best to check the current rate on gov.pl or at the office where you will submit the documents before applying.
Can the driver’s license be renewed earlier?
Yes. The regulation explicitly allows for an earlier exchange at the holder’s request. A new document also needs to be issued when another reason arises, such as a change in surname or the destruction or loss of the old form. Such a document immediately receives an expiration date, so the driver will no longer be subject to the mandatory exchange between 2028 and 2033.
It’s worth knowing that changing the residence address does not require exchanging the driver’s license. New forms no longer include an address. It’s also important to remember that the 15-year validity period starts from the date of issuance. The earlier the exchange, the sooner the next one will be due.
What should drivers do now?
An unlimited driving license remains fully valid until it is replaced, so no action is needed at this time. However, it is worth checking the issuance date of your document. If it is before January 19, 2013, the driver will have to apply for replacement between 2028 and 2033.
It is best to monitor the publication of the regulation with the schedule and submit the application by the deadline set for your group, without waiting until the last moment. The procedures are simple—no studying or tests are required. The only real costs are the fee for a new card and the time spent visiting an office or filling out an online application.
Thus, the unlimited driving license is becoming obsolete, but for the vast majority of drivers, this means only replacing the plastic card, not losing driving privileges.
Maciej Gis