Poland to introduce mandatory truck reservation system for non-EU border crossings

The Polish Ministry of Finance has announced a new plan to implement a mandatory reservation system for heavy goods vehicles (HGVs) exiting the Schengen area through Polish borders toward Ukraine, Belarus, or Russia.

Starting March 1, 2027, drivers will be required to register their planned date, time, and crossing point via an electronic platform or smartphone application. Each reservation will incur a 20 PLN fee, which is intended to prevent mass speculative bookings that could paralyze the system. Fees must be paid electronically and are non-refundable if the vehicle fails to appear at the border on the scheduled day.

The system will also include priority reservations for specific types of cargo, such as perishable food, live animals, dangerous goods, or humanitarian aid. Authorities noted that priority status granted without justification will result in vehicles being turned back. The regulating legislation is expected to enter into force on February 1, 2027.