Do you have a permanent driving license? You will have to exchange it

As a result of the amendment to the law, the concept of "perpetual driving license" has been abolished. All such documents must be replaced by 2033. What are the rules in this case? Who and when will have to replace their driving license?

Since 2013, all documents authorizing driving have a specific expiry date, which cannot exceed 15 years . These changes result from amendments to the regulations, which aimed to standardize the validity period of driving licenses. Regardless of the date, the driver must also meet health requirements and have no contraindications to driving.

After the maximum validity period has passed, the driver is required to extend their authorization, which involves undergoing medical examinations. However, in the case of people who have a driving license issued before 2013 , i.e. a document without a specified validity period, the situation is slightly different.

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According to the Act on Vehicle Drivers, owners of such documents can exchange their driving license without having to undergo a medical examination. To do this, you must go to the communication department responsible for your place of residence and submit an appropriate application. The application must be accompanied by:

• current driving license (must be original),
• a 35x45 mm face photo (as required),
• ID card or other document confirming identity (e.g. passport),
• a correctly completed application for a driving license,
• a statement on having read the content of Article 233 of the Penal Code,
• declaration submitted pursuant to Article 11 paragraph 1 point 5 of the Act on Vehicle Drivers.

The cost of issuing a new document is 100 PLN and 50 groszy, a registration fee that must be paid directly at the office. Additionally, you have to reckon with the cost of a current photo, which can vary significantly depending on the location.

For people who need to undergo medical examinations, the cost of replacing the document increases by PLN 200. This amount is a fixed rate set by the Minister of Health, which covers medical examinations for drivers.

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The 20-year rule applies to people who obtained their driving licence before 2013. For example, if someone obtained their licence on 20 January 2012, they must exchange it for a new one by 20 January 2032 at the latest.

The exact timetable for the replacement of all permanent driving licenses is expected to be set for around 2026 , when the Ministry of Transport will prepare a detailed document replacement plan.

If a driver is caught driving without a valid driving license, they face a fine of up to PLN 1,500. Additionally, driving without a valid license is associated with a ban on continuing driving.

In such a case, the driver must hand over the vehicle to a person with the appropriate authorization or leave the car in a safe place. If this is not possible, the car will be towed away and the owner will bear the cost of the entire procedure.