No more unlimited driving licences in Poland. Urgent message for millions of drivers

The coming years will bring a revolution for millions of Polish drivers. The government confirmed plans that would force a immense group of driving licence holders to visit the office, even if their papers were issued as ‘indefinitely’. This is not a distant position – the large exchange action will start in a fewer years and will include even 15 million people. If you have a driving licence issued before 19 January 2013, this work applies to you. The amendments are inevitable and consequence from the request to bring Polish government into line with EU directives aimed at harmonising papers throughout the Community. In practice, this means the end of an era of papers without an expiration date. Each driver subject to the fresh regulations will gotta get a fresh blank, consistent with the current plan and having a specified expiry date. It is crucial to realize who precisely is affected by the changes, what are the deadlines and how to prepare for the upcoming procedure to avoid problems in the future.

No more unlimited driving licenses. Who precisely is the duty?

The key information is that the concept of an "untimed driving licence" goes back to history. According to Article 124 of the Vehicle Drivers Act, all papers issued before 19 January 2013 will cease to be valid within a specified period. What does this mean in practice? Your driving rights do not expire, but the paper itself – a plastic blank – will should be replaced for a fresh one. This work applies absolutely each driverwho has obtained a driving licence before that date, regardless of what is written in the box of validity of the document.

It is estimated that in Poland it is simply a gigantic group even 15 million people. The amendment aims to align all papers in circulation with a fresh EU model which is better secured and contains a specified expiry date. The fresh licence will be valid for a maximum of 15 years. After this period, replacement will be necessary, but without the request to repeat the examinations. This is simply a fundamental change in the approach to evidence of powers, which aims to increase safety and facilitate driver verification throughout the European Union. It is now worth checking the date of issue of your driving licence to mentally prepare for the upcoming formalities.

Exchange schedule. erstwhile do you gotta go to the office?

The Ministry of Infrastructure has already set a timeframe for this immense logistics operation. The mandatory exchange of old driving licences will take place in years 2028-2033. This five-year window aims to spread the number of applications over time and avoid paralysis of communication departments. However, it should be remembered that this is the final date – nothing stands in the way to mention the paper earlier, on its own request. This may be a good solution for those who plan to travel abroad or simply want to have formalities behind them.

Specific deadlines for the submission of applications, which are likely to depend on the date of issue of the document, will be laid down in a peculiar regulation of the Minister for Transport. You can anticipate that the older the driver's license, the sooner you will gotta replace it. The most crucial thing is not to miss the deadline. Driving with a invalid document, even with the privileges, may consequence in a mandate during a roadside inspection. It will so be crucial to follow the messages of the Ministry of Infrastructure and local offices in the coming years. The exchange focuses primarily on the most popular categories: AM, A1, A2, A, B1, B, B+E and T.

Do we have mandatory medical examinations? fresh EU rules

One of the biggest unknowns that arouses emotions among drivers is the question of possible medical examinations erstwhile exchanging documents. The European Parliament has late rejected the proposal to introduce compulsory cyclical investigation for all drivers in the EU, including for seniors all 5 years. However, this decision leaves associate States a large deal of freedom in shaping their own rules. This means that Poland may require the presentation of a medical certificate erstwhile exchanging an ‘indefinitely’ driving licence.

Experts point to 2 possible scenarios. The first, more stringent, assumes compulsory investigating for all paper exchangers or at least for certain age groups, specified as drivers after 70. The second milder script is the introduction of the so-called. health self-assessment form. The driver would fill out a message of his/her wellness and a medical examination would be required only if certain problems were declared. For this moment, the Polish government has not made a final decision, but it is worth being prepared to bear the additional cost of the survey, which is presently around 200 zł.

How do I change my license? Step by step and the papers needed

The process of exchanging driving licences, although mandatory, is not complicated, but requires the preparation of a set of papers and visits to the office. To pass the procedure smoothly, collect the following attachments and go to the department of communication in the territory old age, city or territory office (depending on the place of residence).

Here is simply a list of essential papers and steps:

• Application for a licence: The form may be downloaded from the website of the office or obtained on site.
• Current, colorful photo: It must have dimensions of 35 x 45 mm, be made on a uniform, bright background and present a individual without headgear and glasses with dark glasses.
• Proof of payment of the fee: The charge for issuing a fresh paper shall be PLN 100. It should be paid at the office's office or transferred to the office's account.
• Photocopy of the erstwhile driving licence: The first paper will should be returned erstwhile receiving the fresh document.
• ID card or passport: For inspection, to confirm identity and check-in address.
• Medical certificate (if required): If the government decides to introduce a test obligation, it will be essential to add an up-to-date medical certificate of no contraindications to driving.

After submitting a complete application, the waiting time for a fresh paper is usually up to 9 working days. The position of the case can frequently be traced online to the Polish safety Printing Works (PWPW).

What changes after the exchange? The fresh paper is fresh rules

The fresh driver's licence you get after the exchange will be formally different from the old one. The most crucial change is the introduction expiry date, which shall be maximum 15 years. After this period, a re-visit will be essential at the office to produce another blank. However, it should be stressed that the rights to drive the vehicles granted indefinitely stay valid – only the paper itself shall be replaced.

It is besides worth remembering that the mandatory exchange of the paper concerns not only shares scheduled for the years 2028-2033. You must exchange your driving licence besides in another situations, specified as loss or demolition of the document, change of individual data (e.g. names after marriage) or erstwhile the expiry date of a circumstantial category of driving licence expires (which is standard for professional drivers of categories C or D). erstwhile preparing for the upcoming changes, it is worth making certain that all the data in your paper is up to date to avoid additional complications.