Major changes for new drivers take effect in Poland on September 3

Poland is introducing a new set of rules for first-time category B drivers on September 3. The changes follow a law adopted on October 17, 2025, parts of which have already been in force since March 3.

Every driver who first obtains a category B licence from September 3 will enter a mandatory probationary period. The relevant date is when the person passes the exam, not when the licence document is collected. The period will last two years for drivers aged 18 or older. For those who qualify at 17, it will last three years, but not beyond their 20th birthday.

Drivers in the probationary period will face an absolute ban on driving after consuming alcohol or substances with similar effects. The permitted level will be 0.0 parts per thousand in blood, or 0.0 milligrams of alcohol per cubic decimeter of exhaled air. Other drivers will continue to face the 0.2 parts-per-thousand limit.

The law adds specific conditions for 17-year-old drivers. Their licences will be valid only in Poland until they turn 18. For six months after qualifying, and no later than their 18th birthday, they must drive with an accompanying driver aged at least 25. That person must have held a category B licence for at least five years, sit in the front seat, remain free of alcohol and drugs, and have had no driving ban in the previous five years.

Until turning 18, these drivers also cannot work as taxi drivers, provide occasional passenger transport or carry out road freight work such as courier services. New drivers who exceed 12 penalty points must complete a one-hour practical course on traffic risks within a year. Exceeding 20 points during the first year can lead the local authority to withdraw the driving entitlement.