The penalty points system in Poland is designed to discipline drivers and improve road safety. For many traffic offences, you receive not only a fine but also penalty points – and often it’s the points that cause the biggest problems.
Below you’ll find a clear explanation of how the system works and a full list of offences – including the less obvious ones that many drivers get caught out on.
📌 What Are Penalty Points?
Penalty points are recorded on your driver profile for traffic offences.
The more serious the violation, the more points you receive.
🔢 Penalty Points Limit
✔️ 24 points – for drivers with a licence longer than 1 year
✔️ 20 points – for drivers with a licence less than 1 year
➡️ If you exceed the limit: you lose your driving licence and must retake the exam
❗ “Obvious” Offences – High Point Values
| Offence | Points |
|---|---|
| Speeding over the limit by 51+ km/h | 15 |
| Running a red light | 15 |
| Overtaking on a pedestrian crossing | 15 |
| Failing to yield to a pedestrian | 15 |
| Creating a dangerous situation on the road | 15 |
| Using a mobile phone while driving (without hands-free) | 12 |
⚠️ “Less Obvious” Offences – The Ones People Often Don’t Realise
Here’s where it gets interesting 👇
| Offence | Points |
|---|---|
| Not wearing a seatbelt | 5 |
| No child car seat | 15 |
| Carrying a child on your lap | 10 |
| Driving without headlights | 6 |
| Stopping on a pedestrian crossing or in an intersection | 10 |
| Entering an intersection without the ability to leave it | 12 |
| Overtaking on the right (outside allowed situations) | 10 |
| Ignoring a STOP sign | 8 |
| Failing to give way on a roundabout | 8 |
| Reversing on a motorway or expressway | 15 |
| Making a U-turn in a tunnel or on a motorway | 15 |
| Using a bus lane without permission | 5 |
| Cutting off another driver | 12 |
| Sudden braking without reason | 10 |
| Driving in the middle lane instead of keeping right | 4 |
| Using high beams and dazzling other drivers | 6 |
🚗 Penalty Points in a Rental Car – How Does It Work?
A very common question:
✔️ The points always go to the driver, not the rental company
✔️ Police contact the rental company for the renter’s details
✔️ The company provides your data according to the rental agreement
➡️ A rental car does NOT mean no responsibility.
⏳ When Do Points Expire?
📅 After 12 months from the date the fine is paid, not from the date of the offence.
🎓 Can You Reduce Your Points?
🚫 Not anymore.
Courses that reduced penalty points have been removed.
The only way:
➡️ Drive without offences and wait for the points to expire.
🧠 How Can You Check Your Points?
✔️ Online via mObywatel / gov.pl
✔️ Or at a police station
✅ Summary
• Penalty points are more dangerous than fines
• The most points come from aggressive driving
• But most people get caught on small, unnoticed mistakes
👉 The cheapest way? Drive legally.
