Driving licences issued before 19 January 2013 will have to be exchanged between 19 January 2028 and 18 January 2033. This applies to as many as 15 million drivers, and the deadline comes from the law, not from a new government decision.
Reports of a “deadline set by the government”, which appeared on 4 November, including in “Rzeczpospolita”, are based on rules that have been in force for years. Article 124(4) of the Act on Drivers of Vehicles states that driving licences issued up to 18 January 2013 are subject to exchange between 19 January 2028 and 18 January 2033. The exchange is to take place “at times specified by the minister responsible for transport” or earlier, at the holder’s request.
Where the obligation comes from
The provision stems from an EU directive that required member states to exchange documents by 19 January 2033 and introduced a uniform driving licence model and an administrative validity period. The obligation was examined by the Constitutional Tribunal. As stated in the Tribunal’s press release, in ruling K 5/13 of 12 December 2013 it found these regulations compliant with the constitution.
The Ministry of Infrastructure informs on its website that documents issued before 2013 will be exchanged gradually in 2028–2033. The ministry also notes that the exchange does not require retaking the exam or additional medical tests. The exception concerns people whose driving licence was issued for a fixed period due to health restrictions.
What we still don’t know
The law sets the time frame, but the detailed schedule – that is, which cohort must apply within which deadline – is to be set by the minister. We have not found such a regulation in the sources we reviewed. The figure of about 15 million holders of indefinite-term documents has appeared in the media; we did not find it in an official ministry communication.
The new document will be valid for a maximum of 15 years. The entitlements of drivers who obtained them indefinitely do not expire – it is the document itself that will be time-limited.
What it will cost and what happens if you don’t exchange
According to “Rzeczpospolita”, the fee for issuing a driving licence is currently PLN 100. The paper reports that the Ministry of Infrastructure had planned to raise it to PLN 115.50, and the fee for an international driving permit from PLN 35 to PLN 40.50. As of publication, we have not confirmed in regulations whether or when these rates will take effect.
After the exchange deadline, the document will lose its validity. According to “Rzeczpospolita”, a driver caught driving with such a licence faces a PLN 1,500 fine, the same as for driving without authorisation. However, this applies only to the period after 2033, not the current year.
What it means for drivers
Holders of indefinite-term licences do not need to rush to an office in 2026. Earlier exchange is required only when the document or a specific category expires, after a change of surname, or if the document is lost or damaged. Those who wish may exchange it earlier, on request.
The application is submitted at a city hall, a county office (starostwo) or a district office. Required are: a current colour photo measuring 35×45 mm, a copy of the existing driving licence, proof of payment and an identity card. Instructions for exchanging the old-type document are published by the gov.pl portal.
