Poland Driving Guide for Americans (2025): What to Know Before You Drive
1. Can Americans Drive in Poland With a U.S. License?
Yes, Americans can drive in Poland with a U.S. license, but only if you also carry a valid International Driving Permit (IDP) based on the 1949 Geneva Convention. If you are not an American, check out this blog we wrote about who is eligible to get an IDP.
Requirements:
Must be 18+
Must carry original valid U.S. driver’s license
Must carry IDP
IDPs for holders of U.S. driver’s licenses must obtain an IDP from an authorized issuer. PriorityIDP obtains legitimate IDPs on behalf of its customers from AAA and express ships them internationally. This is the fastest, most reliable way to receive an IDP if you are unable to visit a AAA branch yourself.
2. How to legally drive in Poland as a foreigner
Is an IDP required to drive in Poland if I have a U.S. license?
Yes, Polish law requires that U.S. license holders must carry both their valid U.S. license and valid IDP to drive in Poland. See the “Transportation” section on the US State Department’s website for Poland for more information. (Link 2: https://pl.usembassy.gov/driving-in-poland/)
You are required to get a Polish license after 6 months of permanent or temporary residency in Poland.
These rules are based on two legal texts:
1949 Geneva Convention on Road Traffic: This is the international treaty that created IDPs and continues to govern them. There was a subsequent treaty called the 1968 Vienna Convention on Road Traffic that modernized IDPs, but the U.S. never signed that agreement, so only 1949 style IDPs are issued in the U.S. Poland will accept these.
Polish Federal law (in Polish): This law lists out the acceptable forms of driving licenses in Poland. For American license holders, the relevant section says this (translated):
“A document stating the right to drive a moped, motor vehicle or a combination of vehicles consisting of a motor vehicle and a trailer or semi-trailer shall be … the international driving licence set out in Konwencji the Convention on Road Traffic, signed in Geneva on 19 September 1949. (Dz. U. from 1959, items 321, 322 and 324).
The driving licence referred to in Article 4(1)(2)(a) and (b) shall state that you have the right to drive an appropriate motor vehicle in the territory of the Republic of Poland within a period of 6 months from the date of commencement of permanent or temporary residence.”
Who checks the IDP and what happens if I don’t have one?
Poland is one of the strictest countries in the world when it comes to requiring International Driving Permits. Here are the policies of the main three groups who will check for an IDP:
Police
Fines: Police can issue fines as high as 1,500 PLN (~$400) for a first time violation.
Driving ban: You may be immediately banned from driving your car any further since you are not legally licensed to drive in the country. This means someone will need to recover your rental car for you and you’ll need to find alternative transportation.
Legal consequences: In extreme cases, you can be charged with driving without a license. This is a misdemeanor that could land you in court.
Rental car agencies
Most rental companies will not rent to you if you don’t have a valid IDP.
Even if you have a reservation for a car, you will likely be denied at the rental desk.
Insurer
If you paid for a collision damage waiver (CDW) through your rental car company, the contract likely has language requiring that you be properly licensed to drive in Poland. If they can show that you aren’t, they may claim that you violated the contract and refuse to cover any of the damage.
If you paid for a travel insurance policy, they may also refuse to reimburse your claim if you get into an accident and can’t prove that you were properly licensed.
If you have rental car insurance through your credit card, they could reject your insurance claim for the same reason.
How to get an International Driving Permit
IDPs for holders of U.S. driver’s licenses must obtain an IDP from an authorized issuer. PriorityIDP obtains legitimate IDPs on behalf of its customers from AAA and express ships them internationally. This is the fastest, most reliable way to receive an IDP while abroad.
3. Renting a Car in Poland (What to Expect)
Rental Requirements
Valid U.S. driver’s license
International Driving Permit
Credit card for deposit
Minimum age of 18 – see our blog about the minimum age required to drive a car / motorcycle and what age is required to rent a car
How does insurance work when renting a car in Poland?
Check out our blog on this topic.
What other fees should I look out for while renting a car / driving in Poland?
Check out our blog on this topic.
4. Poland-Specific Driving Rules You Must Know
Quick tips
Road signs: Road signs are typically posted in Polish. Make sure to review what different traffic symbols mean in Poland.
Speed limits: Poland has many speed cameras set up to catch speeders. If you are renting a car, your ticket will be sent to your rental company who will bill you automatically. Follow speed limits closely or face high fines.
Tolls: Poland has tolls on its main highways: the A1, A2, and A4.
Driving side: Poland drives on the right side of the road (like the U.S.).
Headlights: Must always be on, regardless of time of day / night or weather conditions.
Seatbelts: Mandatory for all passengers.
Car seats: Small children must be in car seats.
Phone usage: Phones may only be used hands-free.
Alcohol limit: 0.02% – this is ¼ of the U.S. legal limit and is effectively zero. A single drink can put many people over the limit. Police do breath tests randomly. Don’t drink at all if you’re going to be driving.
Right-of-way:
If not explicitly marked by a sign, traffic coming from the right has priority.
Trams have the right-of-way unless marked otherwise.
Yield to traffic already in roundabouts (unless posted otherwise).
Must yield to pedestrians in walkways.
Right turn on red: Not allowed unless there is a small green arrow plate next to the red, in which case you must come to a complete stop before turning and only after yielding to anyone in the crossing.
Required equipment (generally provided by rental company):
Warning triangle
Reflective vest
Fire extinguisher
First aid kit
What to do if you get pulled over
Check out our blog on this subject.
What to do if you get into an accident
The emergency number for Poland is 112.
Check out our blog for more information on this subject.
5. Final Checklist Before Driving in Poland
✔ Valid U.S. driver’s license
✔ International Driving Permit
✔ Rental contract
✔ Insurance coverage
✔ Offline maps downloaded
✔ Understand local rules
6. How to get an International Driving Permit Quickly
Need an IDP? We can ship as quickly as next-day for domestic orders and 2 days for most major cities abroad. We can help figure out where to ship your IDP if you’re already abroad. Don’t panic! We’re here to help :)