Language switcher
+48 732 225 322
+48 732 225 322
English
+48 732 225 322

October 2026

Code 95 and the driver card in Poland in 2026: how to get them and what they cost

Profi Hand editorial team · employment agency, KRAZ certificate 32053

Code 95 and the driver card in Poland in 2026: how to get them and what they cost

In short: to drive a truck (C, C+E) for a Polish company you need code 95 in a Polish document: in a Polish driving licence, or in a karta kwalifikacji kierowcy if your licence is foreign. You get it after a course and a test at a WORD exam centre (the test is 50 zł). The tachograph needs a separate karta kierowcy (driver card) from PWPW: 140 zł plus VAT, i.e. 172.20 zł. A Ukrainian code 95 is not on the list of documents Poland accepts. Below: which of these you need, the steps and the prices.

50 złcode 95 test at WORD, also in English, Russian and Ukrainian
150 złkarta kwalifikacji kierowcy from the starosta, for foreign licences
172.20 złtachograph driver card (PWPW)

Three different documents that are often confused

DocumentWhat it is forWho issues it, and the fee
Polish driving licence with code 95Proves the driver's qualification. For those who live in Poland and have exchanged their licenceStarosta (county office), licence exchange, 100 zł
Karta kwalifikacji kierowcyThe same code 95, for a driver with a foreign licence who cannot get a Polish oneAny starosta, 150 zł
Karta kierowcy (tachograph card, «chip»)Records driving and rest time in the tachographPWPW, 172.20 zł

A code 95 entry is valid for 5 years, but no longer than your medical and psychological certificates. An employer may let a driver carry goods only if the driver holds the qualification and has completed periodic training.

Which course you need

CourseHoursFor whom
Kwalifikacja wstępna (full initial)280 hLets you drive C and C+E from age 18
Kwalifikacja wstępna przyspieszona (accelerated)140 hC and C+E from age 21
Szkolenie okresowe (periodic)35 hEvery 5 years, to renew code 95. No exam at the end

The hours are those of the training regulation in force until 2 November 2026. A new regulation (Dz.U. 2026 poz. 1355) applies from 3 November 2026. According to an industry portal, under it the whole course may be taught in a foreign language, part of periodic training may be online, and part of the driving may be on a simulator. As the kod-95.pl school explains it, periodic training alone is enough if you got category C before 10 September 2009; if later, you take the kwalifikacja wstępna.

How to get code 95, step by step

  1. Medical check and psychological testsNeeded before the code is entered. Repeated every 5 years, and every 30 months after age 60. The psychological test costs 150 zł (raising it to 200 zł is only a draft so far). For an employed driver these checks are paid by the employer.
  2. A course at a training centreAccelerated (140 h) or full (280 h). Prices vary by city; examples below.
  3. The test at WORD20 basic and 10 specialist questions, 45 minutes. You need at least 16 of 20 and 5 of 10 right. The test is available in Polish, English, Russian and Ukrainian. It costs 50 zł.
  4. Code 95 into a documentWith a Polish licence: apply to the starosta to exchange the licence with a code 95 entry, 100 zł. With a foreign licence: a karta kwalifikacji kierowcy from any starosta, 150 zł, usually within 9 working days (Łódź says up to 30 days).
  5. The tachograph driver cardApply to PWPW online through info-car.pl or by post (ul. Karczunkowska 30, Warsaw). More in the section below.

A Ukrainian code 95 does not count in Poland

The road transport act lists the documents that prove code 95: a Polish licence or a karta kwalifikacji kierowcy, plus documents from EU, EEA, Swiss and UK authorities. A Ukrainian document is not on the list. EU Regulation 2022/1280 allows countries to recognise the Ukrainian qualification after 35–60 hours of supplementary training, but we found no sign that Poland has introduced this. So drivers from Ukraine take the same course and test as Polish drivers.

The tachograph driver card (karta kierowcy)

  • Issued by: PWPW (Polska Wytwórnia Papierów Wartościowych).
  • Condition: your normal residence is in Poland. Under EU rules that means at least 185 days a year.
  • If you have been in Poland less than 185 days: EU rules allow a temporary, non-renewable card valid for up to 185 days. It is only for a driver whose normal residence is neither in the EU nor in a country that is party to the AETR agreement, and who has an employment contract with a Polish transport company. The application needs the employer's statement about the employment contract and, for international transport, a copy of the świadectwo kierowcy (driver attestation). The price is the same, 172.20 zł. Ukraine, Moldova, Belarus, Georgia, Kazakhstan, Uzbekistan, Armenia and Azerbaijan are AETR parties, so under this rule the temporary card is not provided for drivers who live in those countries. Ask your employer or PWPW which card applies to you.
  • Fee: 140 zł plus VAT (21 zł for the application and 119 zł for the card), 172.20 zł in total.
  • How to apply: online through info-car.pl (you need a trusted profile, e-ID or qualified signature) or on paper to PWPW. According to the gazelka.pl driving school, online takes about 7 working days plus delivery, paper up to 30 days.
  • Validity: no more than 5 years.
  • If you lose it: apply for a replacement within 7 calendar days. It is issued within 8 working days, and you may drive without a card for no more than 15 days.

Since 1 July 2026 a tachograph is also required in vehicles over 2.5 t (including the trailer) used for international goods transport or cabotage.

A foreign licence: when to exchange it

You can exchange a foreign licence for a Polish one if you live in Poland at least 185 days a year. The fee is 100 zł. It takes up to 9 working days after the other country's authority confirms your licence data, which can take several weeks. If your licence does not follow the Geneva or Vienna Convention model, you must pass the theory exam. Until the licence is exchanged, code 95 goes into the karta kwalifikacji kierowcy.

Ukrainian citizens with UKR status do not need to exchange an ordinary licence while temporary protection lasts (EU Regulation 2022/1280). For international transport, the Polish carrier also obtains a driver attestation (świadectwo kierowcy) from GITD for a driver from outside the EU; the company applies and pays.

What the course costs: example prices

Training centreFirst code 95Periodic training
WORD Lublin (ODTJ)5,300 zł (full qualification)490 zł
ABC Szkolenia, Warsawfrom 2,800 zł (accelerated)900 zł
kod-95.pl, Wrocław3,100 zł (accelerated, incl. medical and psychological tests)1,100 zł (incl. medical and psychological tests)

Prices from the training centres' own pages, checked on 26 October 2026. They change, so confirm with the centre before you sign up. We are not connected with these centres.

What to watch out for

Search results are full of ads for «code 95 without an exam». After the course, code 95 is confirmed by the WORD test; only periodic training has no exam, and only if you already hold code 95. You can check that an agency is legal in the KRAZ register; see «How to check an employment agency in Poland». Profi Hand works under KRAZ number 32053, and all our services are free for you.

FAQ

How much does code 95 cost in Poland?

The WORD test is 50 zł. A course at a training centre costs from 2,800 zł (accelerated) to 5,300 zł (full), prices as of 26.10.2026. The licence entry is 100 zł; the karta kwalifikacji kierowcy is 150 zł.

Can I take the code 95 test in English, Russian or Ukrainian?

Yes. WORD Warsaw runs the test in Polish, English, Russian and Ukrainian.

Will my Ukrainian code 95 be recognised?

No. It is not on the list of documents that prove code 95 in Poland. You need the Polish course and test.

What is the difference between karta kierowcy and karta kwalifikacji kierowcy?

Karta kierowcy is the tachograph card, issued by PWPW. Karta kwalifikacji kierowcy is the code 95 document for a driver with a foreign licence, issued by the starosta.

How often do I renew code 95?

Every 5 years, after periodic training (35 hours). Medical and psychological tests are also every 5 years, and every 30 months after age 60.

Do I have to pay Profi Hand?

No. All our services are free for you.

Sources

Jobs you can apply for now

Housing and city from current Profi Hand vacancies. All our services are free for you.

All jobs →

More to read

All articles →