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Driver's licence - How to exchange British one to Polish legally?


rbuzz  1 | 3  
29 Sep 2008 /  #1
Hello

there was a lot written on licences in the past. I don't want to get anything illegitimate. I have a UK licence but I am now living in Poland. I doubt it is legal for me to drive on this licence as I do not have a proper address in the UK.

Is there an avenue to exchange this for a Polish one?

Rbuzz
rakesh5218  - | 3  
29 Sep 2008 /  #2
I am from UK,I need a legit Driving licence from any country,like Poland,potugese,german,or some eastren Europeon country,But it has to geniuene,not fake,thanks
Bartolome  2 | 1083  
29 Sep 2008 /  #3
You probably need to go to your Starostwo and ask there, but without knowledge of Polish language you won't go far, I'm afraid.

I am from UK,I need a legit Driving license from any country

Start a course, pass the exams and voila.
benszymanski  8 | 465  
29 Sep 2008 /  #4
I doubt it is legal for me to drive on this licence

It is perfectly legal to drive in any EU country with any other EU licence. There is no requirement for you to change your UK licence to a Polish one just because you are now living in Poland.
Bartolome  2 | 1083  
29 Sep 2008 /  #5
It is perfectly legal to drive in any EU country with any other EU licence.

As long as it's valid. And Polish police will probably require some Polish ID (proof of address) in case of control.
benszymanski  8 | 465  
29 Sep 2008 /  #6
As long as it's valid

Yes of course.

Polish ID (proof of address) in case of control.

I don't think so. I don't believe there is any requirement as a foreigner to carry anything except some ID (e.g. British passport) and your driving documents.

In reality I have been stopped a couple of times and once they see a foreign driving licence and think I don't speak Polish they don't bother to ask or check for anything else...
Bartolome  2 | 1083  
29 Sep 2008 /  #7
Good for you, then.
benszymanski  8 | 465  
29 Sep 2008 /  #8
sometimes being a foreigner has its advantages :-)
dnz  17 | 710  
29 Sep 2008 /  #9
I get stopped regularly due to having dark glass and headlights which point the wrong way as my car is RHD and the police do nothing, They usually ask for documents and I give them my v5 and they are on their way, Generally police in Poland have a poor level of education and get nervous when someone speaks to them in English.
polishgirltx  
29 Sep 2008 /  #10
wow..you're the man...
dnz  17 | 710  
29 Sep 2008 /  #11
That was written wrong, I meant dark glass which I had done as I was fed up with native poles staring at me when I stopped at lights and also as a security measure as it doesn't seem safe to leave anything in your car around here.

I speak to them in English as I don't speak Polish very well,

And yes I am the man, thankyou :)
polishgirltx  
29 Sep 2008 /  #12
That was written wron

:) good because 'fura, skóra i komóra' came to my mind immediately...
benszymanski  8 | 465  
30 Sep 2008 /  #13
headlights which point the wrong way

doesn't that dazzle oncoming vehicles? Have you not got those stickers to convert the beam that you can get on the ferry for a couple of quid?
jonni  16 | 2475  
2 Oct 2008 /  #14
Make sure your window glass isn't too dark. They can fine you if it is.
ukpolska  
2 Oct 2008 /  #15
There is but be careful as you may end up in the same boat as myself :)
polishforums.com/trials_tribulations_trying_obtain-7_13993_0.html
sobieski  106 | 2111  
4 Oct 2008 /  #16
I guess if you would speak in Polish to a British cop they would be equally confused
dnz  17 | 710  
4 Oct 2008 /  #17
doesn't that dazzle oncoming vehicles?

I did see them but on my BMW i just had to take the bulb out from behind and turn something to make them dip the other way and assumed that Mitsubishi would have fitted the same sort of system but they havent, I will try those stickers but i'm not sure how they'll cope with the heat from HID lights.

You should really change your license to a Polish one but you would be best with your UK one really as you can't get points on it outside the UK.
benszymanski  8 | 465  
4 Oct 2008 /  #18
why should you change your licence if there is no obligation or requirement to do so? Like you say there is no incentive either...

yeah those stickers might peel off....
OP rbuzz  1 | 3  
6 Oct 2008 /  #19
Thanks for your responses on this.

I am not sure about the legality about driving on a document which does not state your correct and current address from the perspective of car insurance. If my address is not valid in the UK, then I cannot legally drive with this licence.

So the matter of points is of little concern... if you hit someone and seriously disable them it could mean losing a house, business and such.

That's my concern.

Rbuzz
benszymanski  8 | 465  
7 Oct 2008 /  #20
I have heard of insurance being invalidated because there was no MOT, I have never heard of insurance being invalidated because your address wasn't up to date on your licence.

If you are that paranoid then go ahead and change it.
dtaylor  9 | 823  
7 Oct 2008 /  #21
I've been using my U.K licence for the past 4 years here. Been stopped by the police a couple of times for checks, but as far as they were concerned, a UK or any European licence is ligit in Poland.
Harry  
7 Oct 2008 /  #22
I've been using my UK licence for the past 13 years and never had any problems when stopped by the police. That said, before Poland joined the EU I always made sure to have both a British licence and a valid international driving permit.
BubbaWoo  33 | 3502  
7 Oct 2008 /  #23
having driven on a british licence all over the world for 20+ years, experience has taught me that when stopped, simply explaining that passing my test in blighty automatically makes me a better driver than the local chappies is sufficient to get me out of any scrapes i might find myself in
ukpolska  
7 Oct 2008 /  #24
Is that with or without the Bottle of Zubrowka in your hand...just asking for future reference :)
BubbaWoo  33 | 3502  
7 Oct 2008 /  #25
never drink and drive

but fat zoot tings are ok
Harry  
9 Oct 2008 /  #26
never drink and drive

Of course not, you might spill it!
bubi  - | 1  
11 Oct 2008 /  #27
Anyone who knows where to get a polish driver licens quick and easy??
warrigal  - | 4  
4 Oct 2009 /  #28
bubi

I don't think you have too get a Polish Drivers licence a UK EU licence is legal anywhere, refer to other post in these forums.
Tony2462  1 | 12  
5 Jul 2010 /  #29
Can anyone help me I have a full uk car license pcv license and lgv 2 license, I live in Krakow and I want to get a motorbike. I realise that being a eu citizen I dont have to exchange my license but in order for me to ride a motorbike here I need to take a test so how do I do this without exchanging my license?
Varsovian  91 | 634  
5 Jul 2010 /  #30
If you are permanently resident in Poland you can drive here legally on a UK licence for (can't quite remember) 6 months or one year. Then you must change it for a Polish licence.

I had no problems whatsoever. I went down to my local council and filled in a form, handed over my licence and they issued a new one pronto. Ultra efficient and pleasant.

You will have no problems driving in Poland on a UK licence - I delayed changing mine - but there again I wasn't involved in a nasty accident.

Are you 100% sure you won't have an accident where the other party will resort to every trick in the book to cause you trouble? If you are, don't get a Polish licence. Alternatively, why not drive legally?

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