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

rbuzzThreads: 1 Posts: 3 Joined: Sep 29, 08 ♂	Sep 29, 08, 04:44 #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

rakesh5218Threads: - Posts: 3 Joined: Apr 8, 08 ♂	Edited by: rakesh5218 Sep 29, 08, 06:29 #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

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Edited by: Bartolome Sep 29, 08, 08:03 #3

rbuzz:

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

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.

rakesh5218:

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

Start a course, pass the exams and voila.

benszymanskiThreads: 9 Posts: 510 Joined: Feb 29, 08 ♂	Sep 29, 08, 08:49 #4
rbuzz: 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.

BartolomeThreads: 2 Posts: 1,345 Joined: Sep 14, 06 ♂	Sep 29, 08, 11:15 #5
benszymanski: 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.

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Sep 29, 08, 12:03 #6

Bartolome:

As long as it's valid

Yes of course.

Bartolome:

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...

BartolomeThreads: 2 Posts: 1,345 Joined: Sep 14, 06 ♂	Sep 29, 08, 12:07 #7
benszymanski: 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... Good for you, then.

benszymanskiThreads: 9 Posts: 510 Joined: Feb 29, 08 ♂	Sep 29, 08, 14:40 #8
sometimes being a foreigner has its advantages :-)

dnzThreads: 25 Posts: 804 Joined: Dec 2, 07 ♂	Sep 29, 08, 15:19 #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	Sep 29, 08, 15:28 #10
dnz: having dark glass and headlights dnz: speaks to them in English. wow..you're the man...

dnzThreads: 25 Posts: 804 Joined: Dec 2, 07 ♂	Sep 29, 08, 15:34 #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	Sep 29, 08, 15:37 #12
dnz: That was written wron :) good because 'fura, skóra i komóra' came to my mind immediately...

benszymanskiThreads: 9 Posts: 510 Joined: Feb 29, 08 ♂	Sep 30, 08, 02:20 #13
dnz: 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?

jonniThreads: 26 Posts: 4,181 Joined: Nov 27, 07 ♂	Oct 2, 08, 14:01 #14
Make sure your window glass isn't too dark. They can fine you if it is.

ukpolskaThreads: 51 Posts: 2,238 Joined: Oct 23, 06 MEMBER ♂	Oct 2, 08, 14:59 #15
rbuzz: Is there an avenue to exchange this for a Polish one? There is but be careful as you may end up in the same boat as myself :) http://www.polishforums.com/trials_tribulations_trying_obtain-7_13993_ 0.html

sobieskiThreads: 82 Posts: 1,141 Joined: Jun 1, 08 ♂	Oct 4, 08, 13:53 #16
I guess if you would speak in Polish to a British cop they would be equally confused

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Oct 4, 08, 14:29 #17

benszymanski:

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?

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 licence 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.

benszymanskiThreads: 9 Posts: 510 Joined: Feb 29, 08 ♂	Oct 4, 08, 16:04 #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....

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Oct 6, 08, 13:48 #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

benszymanskiThreads: 9 Posts: 510 Joined: Feb 29, 08 ♂	Oct 7, 08, 01:39 #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.

dtaylorThreads: 15 Posts: 992 Joined: Sep 15, 07 ♂	Oct 7, 08, 03:07 #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.

HarryThreads: 62 Posts: 8,508 Joined: May 2, 07 ♂ [Suspended]	Oct 7, 08, 09:26 #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.

BubbaWooThreads: 46 Posts: 4,438 Joined: Sep 26, 06 ♂	Oct 7, 08, 10:40 #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

MEMBER ♂

Oct 7, 08, 11:00 #24

BubbaWoo:

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

Is that with or without the Bottle of Zubrowka in your hand...just asking for future reference :)

BubbaWooThreads: 46 Posts: 4,438 Joined: Sep 26, 06 ♂	Oct 7, 08, 11:25 #25
never drink and drive but fat zoot tings are ok

HarryThreads: 62 Posts: 8,508 Joined: May 2, 07 ♂ [Suspended]	Oct 9, 08, 08:33 #26
BubbaWoo: never drink and drive Of course not, you might spill it!

bubiThreads: - Posts: 1 Joined: Oct 11, 08 ♀	Oct 11, 08, 06:31 #27
Anyone who knows where to get a polish driver licens quick and easy??

warrigalThreads: - Posts: 5 Joined: Oct 4, 09 ♂	Oct 4, 09, 07:55 #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.

Tony2462Threads: 2 Posts: 13 Joined: Mar 8, 10 ♂	Jul 5, 10, 13:24 #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?

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Jul 5, 10, 16:01 #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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