Poland's 2026 Driving Rule Changes: Licence at 17, Speeding
Short answer: Since 3 March 2026 a B licence is possible at 17 with limits until 18, and exceeding the limit by 50 km/h outside built-up areas on two-way single carriageways can also lead to withdrawal.
A road traffic amendment (Dz.U. 2025, item 1676, act of 17 October 2025, published 2 December 2025) changed several driving rules in Poland in 2026. Most took effect on 3 March 2026, and the helmet rule followed on 3 June 2026. This guide covers the changes that matter to residents and newcomers, based on the text of the act and a Polish Police summary dated 2 March 2026. Facts are as of 15 October 2026.
When the changes took effect
The act says it enters into force three months after publication, with exceptions. Counting from 2 December 2025, that is 3 March 2026, which matches the date given by the Pomorska Police. Some provisions have different dates, for example six months after publication (3 June 2026) for the helmet duty. We list only the changes confirmed in the act or by police and national road safety sources.
* Photos: "10 t, 30 km h, Mokre-Kolonia" and "Farm and tractor in Färlev", Wikimedia Commons, CC0.
Driving licence withdrawn for speeding by more than 50 km/h
The act changes the rules on withholding a driving licence (zatrzymanie prawa jazdy). Before, the rule applied to exceeding the speed limit by more than 50 km/h in a built-up area. Under the new text, the same applies when driving more than 50 km/h over the limit on a two-way single carriageway road outside a built-up area. The Pomorska Police summarise it the same way: it is no longer only in built-up areas.
The act keeps the administrative procedure, where the starosta (district head) issues a decision on withholding the licence. If you are a foreign driver, check how the rule applies to a foreign licence with the traffic police or a lawyer, as the sources we used do not cover it.
Category B licence from age 17, with limits
The minimum age for a category B licence (car) is 17 under the new Article 8a, although the licence is restricted until the holder turns 18. A licence obtained at 17 allows driving:
- only in Poland until the holder reaches 18;
- for the first 6 months after getting it (and never beyond the 18th birthday), only with a passenger in the front seat who meets the conditions below.
The accompanying passenger must be at least 25 years old, have held a category B licence continuously for at least 5 years, not be subject to a driving ban and not have been banned in the last 5 years, and be sober.
For minors, the probation period also changes. For a first category B licence the probation period is 2 years for someone who is 18 or older. For a holder of a licence obtained at 17, it is 3 years, but no longer than until they turn 20.
If you move to Poland with a teenager, remember that this is a Polish rule for Polish licences. The sources do not describe how it affects foreign licences or exchange of a foreign licence.
Helmets for children under 16
The act adds a duty for cyclists, riders of e-scooters and personal transport devices under 16 to wear a protective helmet while riding. The police and the national road safety council say the duty applies from 3 June 2026. A child up to 7 carried on a bicycle must also wear a helmet and be seated in a proper child seat or similar equipment. See our full guide to e-scooter rules for age and licence requirements.
Electric scooters: minimum age 13
The act sets the minimum age for an electric scooter or personal transport device at 13. Younger children may use them only in a residential zone under an adult's supervision, as the police summary explains.
Agricultural tractors: 40 km/h
The permitted speed of an agricultural tractor, also with a trailer, rises from 30 to 40 km/h according to the act and the Pomorska Police summary. If you drive on country roads, expect to meet faster tractors.
What to do
1. If you drive in Poland, remember the speed limits outside towns. More than 50 km/h over the limit on a two-way single carriageway outside a built-up area now counts for licence withdrawal. 2. If you have a child under 16, check helmets for bikes and scooters. 3. If you have a 17-year-old who wants to drive, ask the driving school about the accompanied-driving rules. 4. Rules and tariffs can change. Check the current Road Traffic Act on the government legal portal.
Frequently asked questions
Can a 17-year-old get a driving licence in Poland?
Yes, for category B since the 2026 changes. Until 18 it is valid only in Poland, and for the first 6 months only with an eligible front-seat passenger.
Who can accompany a 17-year-old driver?
Someone aged 25 or over who has held a category B licence for at least 5 years without a driving ban in that period, and who is sober.
When can the police take my licence for speeding?
When you exceed the limit by more than 50 km/h in a built-up area, or on a two-way single carriageway road outside one.
What is the speed limit for tractors now?
40 km/h, including with a trailer, up from 30 km/h.
