Register a car or change its owner in Poland

A vehicle you bought or imported has to be registered in your name

Cars are registered at the wydział komunikacji (transport department) of the county or city office for your home address, and in Warsaw at a district office. The buyer registers the vehicle in their name, and the seller reports the sale. Expect to show proof of ownership, valid compulsory liability insurance (OC) and a technical inspection, with extra customs papers for imports from outside the EU. All owners attend, or send an authorised person.

How it works

Register or transfer a vehicle

Register a car you bought or imported, or transfer it to a new owner.

When you buy, import or sell a vehicle, its registration has to be updated. A first registration or an import usually requires proof of ownership, a valid technical inspection, insurance, your ID and proof of address; imports may also need customs or tax clearance and new plates. When you buy a used car within the country, the seller and buyer often complete the transfer together, sometimes online, at a post office or at a registration counter. Expect fees for plates and registration documents.

Also searched as

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At a glance

Offices
74 offices in 36 cities
Book online
At 57 of 74 offices
Apply online
At 2 of 74 offices

Each transport department has its own counter rules

Where to register your vehicle

Vehicle counters work differently from one office to the next. One may need a reservation, another uses tickets or starts with a document check, so the way your visit begins can change from city to city.

Related services

Other everyday services in Poland

Other countries

The same task in other countries

Moving on, or comparing before you decide? See how this works elsewhere.

Where to next

Vehicle registration offices by city

Browse the offices that register cars and check how each handles appointments, plates and owners who cannot attend.

Vehicle registration offices in Poland