Lost driving licence Poland: duplicate (wtórnik) 100 zł, 9 days
Short answer: To replace a lost or damaged driving licence in Poland, apply for a wtórnik at your city or county office. The gov.pl page gives 100 zł and up to 9 working days. Bring ID, a photo and proof of payment.
If you lose your driving licence in Poland, or it becomes unreadable, you can apply for a duplicate (wtórnik prawa jazdy). This guide summarises the official gov.pl service page on reporting a lost or damaged driving licence. The page shows a last update of 10 July 2023, so check the current fee and procedure with your local office before you apply.
Who can apply
According to the gov.pl page, anyone who has lost their licence, for example by misplacing it, or whose licence is damaged to the point of being unreadable, for example in a fire. The page says you can get a duplicate of:
- A Polish driving licence.
- A driving licence issued in the European Union, if you live in Poland.
The page also reminds you that you may not drive without a valid driving licence. A matter can also be handled through a representative, and the page tells you to ask the office how.
Cost
The page gives a fee of 100 zł for issuing the duplicate. It tells you to call or ask at the office where you will apply to find out how to pay. Usually this can be done at the office cash desk or by bank transfer to the office's account. You bring or send the payment confirmation together with the application. Fees can change, so confirm the amount with the office.
Where to apply
You apply at the office for your place of residence:
- The city office, if you live in a city with county rights.
- The district office, if you live in Warsaw.
- The county office (starostwo), if you live elsewhere.
You can submit the application in person or by post. The page also describes an online route through the ePUAP platform, which needs a trusted profile (profil zaufany) or a qualified certificate to confirm your identity.
What to prepare
For an application on paper, the page lists:
- The application for a duplicate driving licence. You can fill it in at home or at the office. Mark on it whether you want to collect the licence at the office or receive it by post.
- A current photo that meets the driving licence photo requirements.
- Confirmation that you paid the fee.
- Your ID card or passport.
- Your passport or residence card, if you are a foreigner.
- The damaged licence, if it is damaged but the basic data are still visible.
The online route
The page describes these steps for applying through ePUAP:
- Collect the documents: the application (download, fill in, print, sign and scan it), a current photo in electronic form, the payment confirmation, and a scan of the damaged licence if relevant.
- Pay the fee.
- Open the service Issuing a duplicate driving licence on ePUAP and click to start the matter.
- Log in through your trusted profile and fill in the form.
- Attach the documents, then click Next and Sign, and send the form to the office.
- You receive an official confirmation of submission (UPP).
The page gives technical rules for the scans. The application should be a JPEG on a plain white background, in greyscale, signed with a black pen. The photo should be a JPEG of 480 by 615 pixels, in sRGB with 24-bit colour, no larger than 100 kB. Other attachments should be JPEG files of at least 2500 by 3500 pixels, no larger than 200 kB each. Compression quality should be at least 80 out of 100 or switched off.
How long it takes
The page says up to 9 working days from filing. In exceptional cases, for example if you have a driving ban or the office needs to clarify your situation, it can take up to 2 months. You can check whether your licence is ready on the info-car.pl website with your PESEL number and your name.
If the office refuses
If the office does not issue the duplicate, you can appeal within 14 days of receiving the refusal. The appeal goes to the local government appeals board (samorządowe kolegium odwoławcze) but is filed at the office that refused.
What the page does not say
The page does not explain what to do about a licence lost abroad, or how foreigners whose licence was issued outside the EU should proceed. It only mentions a foreigner's passport or residence card as an identity document. Ask your local office about those cases. The page's date is July 2023, so the fee may have changed.
* Photos: Croatian driving licence 2023 (public domain) and Steering wheel, 1950 Plymouth (CC0), both from Wikimedia Commons, used as illustrative images only. The licence shown is not a Polish one.
Frequently asked questions
How much does a duplicate driving licence cost in Poland?
The gov.pl page gives 100 zł for issuing the duplicate. Confirm the amount with the office, because the page dates from July 2023.
How long does it take?
Up to 9 working days from filing, or up to 2 months in exceptional cases such as a driving ban under review.
Where do I check whether the licence is ready?
The page points to info-car.pl, where you enter your PESEL and name.
Can I get a duplicate of a licence issued in another EU country?
According to the page, yes, if you live in Poland.
