Selling a Car in Poland: Report It in 30 Days or Risk 250 zł
Short answer: Sellers must notify the registration office within 30 calendar days of selling or giving away a car; a missed deadline may cost 250 zł. Filing is free online with a trusted profile or at the office.
If you sell or give away a registered car in Poland, you must tell the vehicle registration office. The deadline is 30 days, and the official page says missing it can lead to a 250 zł penalty. The notification is free, and you can do it online or in person. This guide follows the Gov.pl service page "Zgłoś zbycie lub nabycie pojazdu" (last updated 14 January 2026, Ministry of Infrastructure) and explains who files, what to prepare, how the online form works and what changes for buyers.
Who must report, and by when
The seller, meaning the previous owner who sold the vehicle or gave it to someone else, reports the transfer (zbycie). Gov.pl says the deadline is 30 calendar days from the day of disposal, for example from signing the sale agreement or the gift agreement. A person who does not report within 30 days may pay a penalty of 250 zł.
For buyers the rules changed at the start of 2024. The page says you must report the acquisition if you bought the vehicle before 1 January 2024. If you buy a vehicle after 1 January 2024, you do not have to report it, but you do have to register it. Registration is done at the office, and the page refers to a separate "Zarejestruj pojazd" service for details.
What to prepare
For the online route, Gov.pl lists:
- the buyer's details
- a scan or photo of the document that confirms the transfer, for example the sale agreement or a gift agreement
For an unregistered vehicle the page also asks for the make, type (if there is one) and model, the VIN or body, chassis or frame number, and the previous registration number. These details can be found, for example, in the registration certificate, the sale agreement or a VAT invoice.
For the paper route, you need:
- the notification of vehicle disposal form, which you get at the county office (starostwo powiatowe) or the city office, and which offices often publish on their websites
- an identity card or passport
- a residence card, if you are a foreigner
- a copy of the document confirming the transfer, such as the sale agreement or gift agreement
Reporting online
You need a trusted profile (profil zaufany) or a qualified certificate to file online. The steps on the page for a registered vehicle are:
1. Prepare a scan or photo of the sale agreement or gift agreement. 2. Click "Wyślij zgłoszenie". You are moved to login.gov.pl, where you pick a login method. 3. You land in the "mój Pojazd" service, which lists your vehicles. Click "Zgłoś zbycie pojazdu" next to the right vehicle. 4. If the vehicle has more than one owner, tick the statement that you act with their consent. 5. Enter the date of the disposal. 6. Check or complete your own details. 7. Enter the buyer's details. 8. Attach the scan of the document confirming the transfer. 9. Choose the office you are sending the notification to. 10. Check the form and sign it electronically with a trusted signature or a qualified certificate. 11. Send it.
After sending, you see a message that the notification went out. You receive an official proof of submission (UPP) in your ePUAP or e-Doręczenia mailbox. The page says you do not receive any other official document confirming the filing. The page also mentions that this matter can be handled through e-Doręczenia.
Reporting in person or by post
You can take the documents to the office or post them. Gov.pl says the clerk usually accepts the notification at once. If something is missing, or the clerk needs to check the case, it can take longer.
If you file at the office, the clerk puts an official annotation on the document that confirms the transfer. That is your confirmation. You do not receive a separate official document.
Where to file
You file with the communication department (wydział komunikacji) of the office competent for your place of residence. According to the page, this can be:
- the county office (starostwo powiatowe)
- the city office, if you live in a city with county rights
- the district office, if you live in Warsaw
You can also use an attorney (pełnomocnik). Ask the office how to arrange that.
Cost
The service is free, both online and at the office.
An unregistered vehicle
The page has a separate online route for an unregistered vehicle. There you enter the vehicle data yourself (make, model, VIN or body number, previous registration number) and the buyer's details, then attach the document confirming the sale. The 30-day rule and the 250 zł penalty are stated there as well.
Practical points from the official page
- Keep the sale or gift agreement. You need a scan of it for the online form, and a copy for the paper route.
- Keep the UPP in your mailbox, or the annotated document from the office. Those are the only confirmations the page says you receive.
- If you cannot find your vehicle in the "mój Pojazd" service, the page tells you to use another service linked from the page.
* Photos: Someone handing a key over (Wikimedia Commons, CC0); Volvo V40 key (Wikimedia Commons, CC0). Both are illustrative and not from Poland.
Frequently asked questions
What is the deadline to report the sale of a car in Poland?
30 calendar days from the day you sold or gave away the vehicle, according to Gov.pl. A person who does not report in time may pay 250 zł.
Does it cost anything?
No. Gov.pl states that the service is free.
Do buyers have to report the purchase?
Only if they bought the vehicle before 1 January 2024. For vehicles bought after that date, the buyer does not report but must register the vehicle.
What proof do I get that I reported it?
Online, an official proof of submission (UPP) in your ePUAP or e-Doręczenia mailbox. At the office, an official annotation on your sale or gift document. You receive no other official document.
Can a foreigner report a sale?
The paper route lists a residence card as the identity document for foreigners. For the online route you need a trusted profile or a qualified certificate.
