Poland to mandate registration and inspections for non-EU vehicles

The Polish government is moving to implement new regulations requiring vehicles registered outside the European Union, specifically those from Ukraine, to be registered in Poland and undergo technical inspections if they remain in the country for more than one year.

Infrastructure Minister Dariusz Klimczak announced that the Standing Committee of the Council of Ministers will review the legislative project on October 29. Under the proposed changes, vehicles staying in Poland for over a year must be re-registered, insured, and undergo periodic technical inspections similar to Polish-registered cars. For foreign nationals establishing permanent residence in Poland, the registration deadline would be shortened to 30 days.

The initiative aims to resolve legal tensions and ensure that Polish vehicle inspection stations can perform these required services. The proposal cites the Vienna Convention on Road Traffic as the legal basis, allowing states to deny international traffic status to vehicles present on their territory for at least one year without a significant break. Non-compliance could result in vehicles being removed from the road and foreign registration documents being seized.