How to Get a Category B Driving Licence? Instructions in 7 Steps
What should you do in each of the 7 steps?
- Age: you can start the course at 16 years and 9 months and get your licence from age 17.
- Course length: the course itself usually takes from about a month to several months.
Follow the steps below for illustrations, practical guidance and checklists.
Step 1 of 7
Get a medical examination
Book an appointment with a doctor authorised to examine driver candidates. The doctor will assess whether you have any health conditions that prevent you from driving. To obtain a licence, you need a certificate confirming there are no medical contraindications.
Show checklist: 4 items
- Book an appointment with a doctor authorised to examine driver candidates
- Bring an identity document with you
- Tell the doctor about any illnesses, medication you take, and glasses or contact lenses you use
- Collect your medical certificate after the examination
Step 2 of 7
Take a photo for your driving licence
Prepare a current biometric photo that meets the requirements for a driving licence photo.
Show checklist: 4 items
- The photo should be taken no earlier than 6 months before submitting the application
- The required format is 35×45 mm
- Your face should be facing straight at the camera
- The photo should have a plain, light background
Step 3 of 7
Submit your application and get a PKK number
Full step-by-step guide, required documents and checklistYou can submit your driving licence application and the required documents in person, by post, through an authorised representative or online — on the info-kierowca.pl e-services portal or via ePUAP, if the competent office accepts electronic applications.
Once the documents have been checked, the authority will create your Candidate Driver Profile and give you an individual PKK number.
Show checklist: 4 items
- Attach your medical certificate, photo, and any other required documents
- Address your application to the transport department responsible for where you live, which may differ from your registered address
- If you send your application by post, you will also receive your PKK number by post
- The PKK number is needed to start the course and to sign up for the exam
Step 4 of 7
Choose a driving school
How to choose a driving schoolOnce you have your PKK number, choose a driving school and sign up for a course. Before choosing, check the total price, lesson availability, the car fleet, the rules for changing instructors, and the conditions for cancelling the course.
How do you sign up for a driving course? Give the school your PKK number — the school registers you in the system and you can start lessons. You can start the course at 16 years and 9 months at the earliest, and a minor needs written consent from a parent or guardian for the PKK.
The contract with the school is a contract for services; if you conclude it online, as a consumer you generally have 14 days to withdraw from it. Next comes the course with the internal exam, and after it you book the state exams at WORD.
Show checklist: 5 items
- Check student reviews and how classes are run
- Compare the course price and the range of services it includes
- Ask about available slots for theory and practical lessons
- Check what cars are used for training
- Pay attention to the location of the school and the manoeuvring yard
Step 5 of 7
Complete the category B driving course
How long a Category B driving course takesYou can take a full course covering theory, first aid and practical driving, or study for the state theory test on your own. If you study independently, pass the theory test at a WORD test centre, then complete practical driving lessons, first aid training and the driving school’s practical test.
Theory
- Traffic regulations, right-of-way rules and the basics of safe driving
- First aid training — compulsory even if you prepare for the state theory test on your own
- The course ends with an internal theory test (skipped if you already passed the state theory test)
Theory training Practice
- Manoeuvres and driving in city traffic and outside built-up areas
- The course ends with an internal practical test with the school's instructor
Practical training Show checklist: 5 items
- A standard course includes theory training and practical driving lessons
- You'll learn traffic regulations, right-of-way rules, and the basics of safe driving
- During lessons, you'll practise manoeuvres and driving in city traffic and outside built-up areas
- A full course ends with the driving school’s own tests. If you have already passed the state theory test, you do not need to take the school’s theory test as well
- First aid training is still compulsory if you study independently and pass the state theory test first
Step 6 of 7
Pass the theory and practical exam
After a full course, take the state theory test followed by the practical test. If you passed the theory test before starting practical training, you can book your practical test at your chosen WORD test centre as soon as you finish that training.
You can take the theory and practical tests at different centres — see how to change WORD test centres.
The category B practical exam is, as a rule, recorded, and the recording is normally kept for 21 days. You can file a complaint about how the exam was conducted, or the conditions it was held in, within 14 days of the exam — in that case, the recording is kept for longer.
Show checklist: 5 items
- The theory exam consists of 32 questions: 20 basic and 12 specialist
- To pass the theory exam, you need at least 68 out of 74 points
- The practical exam includes tasks on the manoeuvring yard and driving in traffic
- Book your exam date online on the info-kierowca.pl portal or in the way your exam centre indicates
- In Wrocław, exams are run by the Lower Silesian Traffic Safety Centre (DORD)
Step 7 of 7
Pay for and collect your driving licence
Once you pass the practical test, the result is sent to your licensing authority. Pay the licence fee, check when your licence is ready and arrange to collect it.
The new probationary rules apply to people first obtaining category B driving entitlement on or after 4 September 2026. The standard period lasts two years if you are 18 or over when you get your licence, or three years if you are under 18, ending no later than your 20th birthday.
During this period, you must have no alcohol in your system when driving and must not drive under the influence of drugs with effects similar to alcohol.
Show checklist: 4 items
- Pay the fee for issuing the driving licence as instructed by your local authority
- Check the document's status on the info-kierowca.pl portal (after logging in) or via the Info-Car service
- The driving licence is usually ready within 9 working days of the authority receiving payment confirmation and all necessary information
- You can collect the document at the authority's office or have it sent by post, if you chose that option
Topic guides
Pick the stage you are at — from the first formalities, through the course and the exam, to your first years behind the wheel.
Before you start
Costs, age and paperwork to sort out before your first lesson.
- How much does a driving licence cost?The course price, mandatory fees beyond the course and possible extra expenses.Read the guide
- Driving licence from 17When you can start, supervised driving and restrictions until age 18.Read the guide
- PKK — driver candidate profileWhich documents to prepare, where to apply and how long the number takes.Read the guide
The driving course
How to plan your training and which car to learn in.
- How to choose a driving school?Where lessons start, how many slots a week, how to read reviews and when to compare prices.Read the guide
- How long does the course take?Theory, driving lessons, the internal exam and the whole path from PKK to WORD.Read the guide
- Automatic or manual?The differences, code 78, the exam, costs and switching to manual later.Read the guide
- Is it worth learning to drive in winter?Winter lessons, difficult weather, test cancellations and choosing when to start.Read the guide
The state exam
Where to take it and what to do if you disagree with how the exam went.
- Category B driving test price in Poland in 2026Driving licence exam cost in Poland in 2026: compare theory and category B practical test fees by voivodeship and find out what retakes cost.Read the guide
- Changing WORD test centresHow to transfer your PKK and test results to another centre, and what happens to the fee.Read the guide
- Exam recording and complaintsWho can view the recording, how long you have to complain and how the appeal works.Read the guide
Problems and changes during the course
When your driving school is not working out or the course has stalled.
After you get your licence
Your first years behind the wheel come with their own rules.
Preparing before you start
What do you need to get a PKK number?
You need a driver candidate profile (PKK) before you start category B driving lessons, although you can choose a school earlier. Also check the residence requirements for Poland and how to prove that you meet them. The general rule concerns living in Poland for at least 185 days in each calendar year because of personal and occupational ties, or personal ties alone with an intention to settle permanently; the Act also covers other situations. Having a registered address alone does not establish eligibility.
- an application for a driving licence
- an identity document
- a medical certificate confirming there are no health-related contraindications to driving
- a current photo for the driving licence, 35×45 mm
- written consent from a parent or guardian, if you're not yet 18
- documents or declarations required by the authority to confirm your place of residence and, for foreign nationals, your right to stay
2026 cost guide
How much does a category B driving licence cost?
The course price is the biggest expense, but not the only one. To get the full cost of a driving licence, you need to add the medical exam, the photo, the state exams, issuing the document, and any extra lessons you might need.
- a driving course in a car with a manual or automatic transmission
- the medical exam needed to get a PKK number
- a photo for the driving licence
- the state theory and practical exam
- the fee for issuing the driving licence
- any extra lessons and repeat exam attempts
Example cost breakdown
5 177–5 377 PLN
The amounts given are a sample cost breakdown for Wrocław in 2026. They include the course, the medical exam, one attempt at the state theory and practical exam, and issuing the driving licence. They don't include the cost of the photo, extra lessons, or repeat exams. The amounts are for a course taught in Polish; the same school's course taught in English costs PLN 800 more (5 977–6 177 PLN in total), and the cost guide shows that variant.
See a sample cost breakdownFrequently asked questions about getting a category B driving licence
All questions and answers (FAQ) →Can I start a driving course without a PKK number?
No. A Candidate Driver Profile number is needed to start a driving course and to later sign up for the state exams. See how to get a PKK step by step: PKK guide →.
Where can I get a PKK number?
You can get a PKK number from the transport department responsible for where you live, which may differ from your registered address. You can apply in person, by post, through an authorised representative or online — on the info-kierowca.pl portal (log in with mObywatel or eDO App) or via ePUAP, if the competent office accepts electronic applications.
Prepare a medical certificate and a current photo, among other required documents. If you apply by post, you will also receive your PKK number by post. Full document checklist: PKK guide →.
Where do you take the state driving exam?
The state exams are run by the provincial traffic safety centres. You can choose which centre to take your exam at. In Wrocław, for example, this is the Lower Silesian Traffic Safety Centre (DORD).
How many questions are on the driving licence theory exam?
The state theory exam consists of 32 questions: 20 on basic knowledge and 12 on specialist knowledge. You need at least 68 out of 74 possible points to pass.
How long does it take to get a driving licence issued?
A driving licence is usually ready within 9 working days of the authority receiving confirmation of payment and all the necessary information.
How much does it cost to get a category B driving licence?
The total cost depends on the course price in your city, the type of transmission you choose, the number of exam attempts, and any extra lessons. In a separate guide, we show a sample cost breakdown for Wrocław in 2026.
What rules apply to 17-year-old drivers?
Until you turn 18, your licence is valid only in Poland. For the first six months after you get your licence, or until your 18th birthday if that comes first, you must have an eligible supervising driver in the front passenger seat when driving a car other than a quadricycle.
Your supervisor must be at least 25, have held a category B licence continuously for at least five years, and have no current driving ban or any driving ban in the past five years. They must also be sober and not under the influence of drugs with effects similar to alcohol.
During probation (licence first obtained on or after 4 September 2026), until you turn 18, carrying a passenger under 18 in such a vehicle requires an accompanying person who meets the statutory conditions, even after the first six months.
You must also not carry out road haulage, taxi services or occasional passenger transport. The minimum age of 25 and five-year licence requirement do not apply to the instructors and examiners specified in the Act. Full rules and the background to the change from 3 March 2026 are in a separate guide: Driving licence from 17 →.
Is there a probationary period for new drivers?
The new probationary rules apply to people first obtaining category B driving entitlement on or after 4 September 2026. The standard period lasts two years if you are 18 or over when you get your licence, or three years if you are under 18, ending no later than your 20th birthday.
During this period, you must have no alcohol in your system when driving and must not drive under the influence of drugs with effects similar to alcohol.
If you accumulate more than 12 penalty points during this period, you must complete practical road safety training at an ODTJ centre. The period starts when the licence is issued or, for a temporary electronic licence, when the driving entitlement is obtained.
It can be extended in cases specified by law. The full rules and penalties are described in the guide: Probationary period for new drivers 2026 →.
How we work
Content reliability and last update
-
Sources and checking information
Legal and procedural information is based primarily on legislation and primary sources: gov.pl, official authority websites and WORD websites.
-
Dates and updates
The “Updated” date beside a guide is the recorded date of a content change, not the date the server started or the page was opened.
-
What PrawkoStart.pl is
PrawkoStart.pl is an information website about obtaining a driving licence in Poland.
Sources
Sources and legal basis
Sources checked on 9 October 2026.These sources explain the legal basis for the guidance on this page. ELI links lead to official publications and any available updated texts and amendments. Check the rules that apply to the date you obtained your licence, including transitional provisions. The legal texts are in Polish; the English titles below are descriptive translations.
- Legislation · ELIDriver Licensing Act — consolidated text, Journal of Laws 2025, item 1226
- Articles 8 and 8a cover minimum age and driving under 18;
- Article 11 covers eligibility;
- Article 79a sets the medical examination fee cap;
- Chapter 14 covers the probationary period.
Use the updated text available in ELI, which incorporates subsequent amendments.
- Legislation · ELIAmending Act of 17 October 2025 — Journal of Laws 2025, item 1676
Changes affecting 17-year-old drivers and probationary periods. Articles 16 and 16a set out transitional provisions. ELI lists the different commencement dates; read the Act together with subsequent amendments.
- Legislation · ELIRegulation on issuing driving licence documents — Journal of Laws 2025, item 1073
Applications, supporting documents, photographs, creation of the PKK profile and the licence issuing procedure.
- Legislation · ELIDriver training regulation — Journal of Laws 2016, item 280, as amended
The training syllabus, theory classes, practical lessons and driving school tests. ELI also provides the consolidated text and a list of amendments.
- Legislation · ELIDriving test regulation — Journal of Laws 2023, item 2659, as amended
How theory and practical tests are conducted, including scoring and test tasks.
- Legislation · ELIMinister of Digital Affairs announcement — Journal of Laws 2026, item 743
Technical implementation of probationary period records in the central driver register: 4 September 2026. Read together with Articles 16 and 16a of the 2025 amending Act.
- Government sourceGov.pl — Get a driving licence
Required documents, applying in person, by post or through a representative, and receiving your PKK number and licence.
- Driving test centreWORD Warszawa — theory test
Number of questions, scoring, test duration and available languages.
- SourceNational Police Headquarters — “New rules for novice drivers – an important clarification”, 18 September 2026
The new probationary-period rules (including Article 91(5)) apply to people who first obtained a category B licence on or after 4 September 2026; they do not apply retroactively.
Example school offer in Wrocław: OSK KopaMa
The links below lead to OSK KopaMa’s offer. Before choosing a school, compare course scope, prices and lesson availability at different schools.
The OSK KopaMa offer shown here is an example and is based on publicly available information.