Car Inspection in Poland: Fees, Deadlines, Imported Cars
Short answer: A Polish car inspection costs 149 zl (245 zl with gas). It is due at 3 years, 5 years, then yearly, counting from first registration, even abroad.
Every car on Polish roads has to pass a periodic technical inspection (badanie techniczne, often called "przegląd"). It is done at a vehicle inspection station (stacja kontroli pojazdów, SKP), and the owner is responsible for presenting the car on time. This guide is based on the Ministry of Infrastructure pages on gov.pl, the fee table in the regulation published in the Journal of Laws (Dziennik Ustaw 2025, item 1223) and article 81 of the Road Traffic Law, read in October 2026. If you just imported a car, read it together with our guide to registering a car in Poland.
Who must do it
According to the Ministry of Infrastructure, the owner of a motor vehicle, farm tractor, moped or trailer is obliged to present it for a technical inspection. The inspection is carried out by a licensed diagnostician employed at a station. The county head (starosta) supervises stations. The ministry splits tests into three kinds:
- Periodic inspections: done at set intervals, depending on the vehicle type.
- Additional inspections: done outside the schedule in cases listed in the Road Traffic Law, for example when the police send a vehicle they suspect is unsafe, or after an accident that damaged load-bearing parts of the body, chassis or frame.
- Conformity inspections: for historic vehicles before their first registration in Poland.
How often: the 3-2-1 rule for a passenger car
For a passenger car, a light truck (up to 3.5 t) or a motorcycle, article 81 of the Road Traffic Law says the periodic inspection must be done:
1. before 3 years pass from the first registration,
2. then before 5 years pass from the first registration, and no later than 2 years after the previous inspection,
3. then every year, before a year passes from the last inspection.
The law makes exceptions to this rule, for example for vehicles carrying dangerous goods, taxis and some vehicles used for paid transport. Light trailers and historic cars are not subject to periodic inspections, except historic vehicles used for paid road transport, which are inspected yearly.
Imported cars
The law is clear on one point that matters to newcomers: the intervals also apply to vehicles first registered abroad. In that case, the "first registration" date is the date of the first registration abroad, not the date of your Polish registration. A seven-year-old car brought from Canada or Germany is therefore already on the yearly schedule.
What it costs in 2026
On 4 September 2025, the ministry announced new fees, the first major update in more than 20 years. They entered into force on 19 September 2025. According to the ministry:
- Passenger car: 149 zł, which is 51 zł more than the previous fee.
- Motorcycle or farm tractor: 94 zł.
- Moped: 76 zł.
- Lorry or special vehicle over 3.5 t up to 16 t: 234 zł.
- Lorry or special vehicle over 16 t: 269 zł.
- Trailer up to 3.5 t (lorry or special): 119 zł.
- Car with a gas installation: the extra specialist inspection of the gas system costs 96 zł, so a passenger car with gas pays 245 zł in total.
The fees are set by regulation and apply at every station. The fee table in the regulation says the amounts include VAT. Check the current table before you go, because the regulation can be amended.
What to bring
The ministry pages do not list a document checklist, so ask the station when you book. In general you will need the vehicle and its registration papers, and it is sensible to check the lights, tyres, brakes and wipers before you go, so a minor fault does not mean a second visit.
Where to do it
Basic inspection stations (podstawowa stacja kontroli pojazdów) can test vehicles up to 3.5 t and trailers for them. District stations (okręgowa stacja kontroli pojazdów) can test all vehicles, including historic vehicles for the conformity test. Most drivers use a basic station near home.
Practical tips
- Mark the date on your calendar. The deadline counts from the date of first registration for the first two tests and from the date of your last test afterwards.
- For a car with LPG, plan on the higher total of 245 zł.
- For a newly imported vehicle, the checks done on first registration are covered in our registration guide.
- A foreign driver's licence exchange is a separate matter, covered in how to exchange a foreign driving licence.
Frequently asked questions
How much is a car inspection in Poland in 2026?
The official fee for a passenger car is 149 zł since 19 September 2025, and 245 zł in total for a car with a gas installation, according to the Ministry of Infrastructure.
When does a new car need its first inspection?
Before 3 years pass from first registration. The second is before 5 years pass from first registration, and then it is yearly.
My car was first registered abroad. Which date counts?
The date of the first registration abroad, according to article 81 of the Road Traffic Law.
Who sets the price?
The Minister of Infrastructure, by regulation. The fees are the same at every station.
