Professional Registration Plates in Poland for Automotive Testing and R&D Companies
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Poland's professional vehicle registration system allows eligible automotive and research organisations to conduct road tests using professional registration certificates and professional registration plates instead of permanently registering every test vehicle.
Since 5 July 2026, the rules expressly cover entrepreneurs testing vehicles as part of qualifying research and development activities. A foreign company may also be eligible where it operates through a branch in Poland and the activity carried out by that branch meets the statutory requirements.
This can be relevant to automotive R&D centres, OEMs, Tier 1 suppliers and technology companies conducting ADAS, infotainment, connectivity, telematics, software-validation or other vehicle-development tests in Poland.
AkcyzaWarszawa assists international companies with Polish vehicle-registration procedures, documentation review, translations and administrative representation where legally permitted.
What is professional vehicle registration in Poland?
Professional vehicle registration is a special Polish system intended for qualifying entities that need vehicles to enter road traffic for test drives.
Instead of permanently registering every test vehicle, an eligible entity receives a professional registration decision, professional registration certificate blanks and one or more professional registration numbers and plates.
Before a particular vehicle is used for a test drive, the relevant professional registration certificate must be completed for that vehicle and the statutory requirements relating to the vehicle, insurance and electronic records must be met.
The decision itself is issued for one year.
Professional plates are not the same as Polish green EV plates
This distinction is important.
Polish professional registration plates have green characters on a white background and include the professional-registration identifier.
They should not be confused with registration plates for electric and hydrogen vehicles, which use black characters on a green background.
Both are sometimes informally referred to as “green plates”, but they serve completely different legal purposes.
Who can obtain professional registration plates in Poland?
Following the 2026 amendment, professional registration may be available to:
- an entrepreneur with its registered office in Poland involved in vehicle manufacturing, vehicle distribution or vehicle testing carried out as part of qualifying R&D activity;
- a foreign-headquartered entrepreneur operating through a Polish branch and conducting the relevant activity through that structure;
- an authorised technical service;
- a research unit of a manufacturer of vehicles, vehicle equipment or components conducting relevant testing.
The R&D route is particularly important for international automotive technology companies because it expressly covers vehicle testing performed as part of research and development activity.
What qualifies as R&D?
Not every automotive technology activity automatically qualifies.
The Polish Corporate Income Tax Act defines research and development as creative activity involving scientific research or development work, undertaken systematically to increase knowledge and use that knowledge to create new applications.
Therefore, simply developing automotive software does not automatically make a company eligible.
The relevant question is whether the vehicle testing itself forms part of qualifying R&D activity.
Can a foreign automotive or technology company apply?
Potentially yes, but its legal structure in Poland matters.
The Road Traffic Act refers to an entrepreneur with a registered office in Poland or, where the entrepreneur has its registered office abroad, a branch in Poland.
This means that a foreign parent company without the required Polish presence should not assume that it can apply directly.
A Polish incorporated subsidiary is a separate Polish entrepreneur and may potentially apply in its own name if it independently meets the statutory requirements.
For international groups, the first step should therefore be an eligibility review covering:
the entity that will apply, its Polish registration, the activity carried out in Poland and the exact purpose for which the vehicles will be tested.
Professional registration for automotive R&D
Professional registration may be relevant where vehicles are used for genuine development or research work such as:
ADAS validation, infotainment testing, connected-car development, telematics validation, navigation and GPS testing, 4G/5G vehicle connectivity, software integration, prototype validation, development-vehicle testing and real-world field testing.
These examples do not mean that every such project automatically meets the legal definition of R&D.
The underlying activity and the way the vehicles are used must be analysed in each case.
Professional registration for ADAS and connected-vehicle testing
Automotive technology companies increasingly test software and electronic systems in real traffic rather than only on closed proving grounds.
A company testing ADAS, connected-car systems, navigation, infotainment or telematics in Poland may therefore face two separate questions:
First: does the company and its vehicle-testing activity qualify for professional registration?
Second: does the nature of the automated-driving functionality trigger additional rules governing research on automated vehicles?
Polish law now distinguishes six levels of vehicle automation. Public-road research involving automated vehicles below level 3 does not require the special research permit introduced for higher levels. Testing at level 3 or above may require a separate permit in addition to compliance with professional-registration rules.
This distinction is particularly important for ADAS and autonomous-driving development projects.
What vehicles can be used under professional registration?
The professional-registration framework applies to motor vehicles, mopeds, agricultural tractors and trailers used for qualifying test drives.
Since 5 July 2026, the general statutory wording no longer limits professional registration to vehicles that have never previously been registered.
This is a significant change from the pre-July 2026 system.
Vehicles used exclusively for qualifying R&D activities are expressly subject to professional registration under the new Article 80s(7).
Can the same professional plates be used on different test vehicles?
Yes, sequentially, provided the statutory procedure is followed for each vehicle.
Professional plates are assigned to the authorised entity rather than permanently assigned to one specific vehicle.
The same professional number can therefore be used for different test vehicles.
However, before a particular vehicle is driven, the entity must complete a professional registration certificate for that vehicle, comply with insurance requirements and record the required data in the electronic vehicle register.
Professional plates should not be understood as a set of unrestricted transferable plates that can simply be attached to any vehicle without documentation.
What documents are required?
The exact application package depends on the legal category of the applicant.
For an entrepreneur, the statutory framework requires evidence or declarations confirming the relevant entry in the Polish business register, together with the declarations required under Article 80t.
Following the July 2026 changes, an R&D applicant must also satisfy requirements concerning:
- the technical condition of vehicles used for testing;
- documented rights to use those vehicles;
- use of the vehicles exclusively for authorised test purposes;
- the R&D use requirements applicable to research vehicles;
- liability insurance covering the R&D activity;
- proper completion and control of professional registration certificate blanks.
Where an external representative submits the application, a power of attorney may also be required.
Practical note: because the implementing regulation was amended on 20 August 2026 and entered into force on 26 August, companies should use the current application and declaration forms rather than older versions downloaded before the change.
How does the application process work?
The process can generally be divided into four stages.
1. Eligibility review
Determine whether the applicant is an eligible entity and whether the testing activity falls within the professional-registration framework.
2. Application and company documentation
Submit the application and required declarations to the authority competent for the applicant's Polish registered office or branch.
3. Decision, certificate blanks and plates
The authority issues the professional-registration decision, professional registration certificate blanks and the professional plates corresponding to the registration number or numbers granted in the decision.
4. Vehicle-level compliance
Before each vehicle is used on the road, the appropriate professional certificate is completed, the vehicle is entered in the required electronic register and the required motor liability insurance is arranged.
Which authority handles professional registration?
The competent authority is the starosta responsible for the location of the eligible entity's registered office or branch.
In a city with county rights, this function is exercised by the city president.
For an eligible entity based or operating through the relevant branch in Warsaw, the competent authority is therefore the Mayor/President of the Capital City of Warsaw, acting as the registration authority.
How long is professional registration valid?
There are two separate time limits that should not be confused.
The professional registration decision is generally valid for one year.
A professional registration certificate completed for an individual vehicle is generally valid for:
30 days for entrepreneurs falling under Article 80s(2)(1), including an entrepreneur testing vehicles as part of qualifying R&D;
6 months for the technical services and manufacturer research units referred to in Article 80s(2)(2).
In either case, the certificate cannot remain valid beyond the expiry or revocation of the underlying professional-registration decision.
Is insurance required?
Yes.
A vehicle used in road traffic under professional registration must have the required motor third-party liability insurance.
The vehicle is entered in the electronic register in connection with completing the professional registration certificate and before the relevant motor liability insurance arrangement.
There is an additional requirement for R&D applicants introduced by the 2026 amendment: an entity conducting qualifying R&D must declare that it has liability insurance covering its research and development activity.
These are separate requirements and should not be confused.
Who can drive a professionally registered R&D vehicle?
A test drive may generally be performed by the authorised entity or its employee.
Following the 2026 amendment, where the authorised entity is a vehicle manufacturer or an entrepreneur testing vehicles as part of qualifying R&D activity, a test drive may also be performed by a person acting under a civil-law contract.
This may be particularly relevant to international testing projects using contracted test drivers or engineers.
Can professional registration plates be used outside Poland?
Do not assume that they are automatically accepted abroad.
Polish law establishes the right to use professional registration within the Polish professional-registration system. I have not found a current official source establishing blanket recognition of Polish professional registration certificates and plates for test operations in every other European country.
Cross-border testing should therefore be checked separately for each country concerned, including registration-document recognition and insurance requirements.
For an international test programme, this should be verified before a vehicle crosses the Polish border.
When is professional registration NOT the right solution?
Professional registration is not intended to replace ordinary registration for a normal company fleet or vehicles used for everyday transport.
It should also not be treated as a shortcut for a vehicle imported to Poland for ordinary permanent use.
The key purpose remains test drives carried out within the qualifying activity of an authorised entity.
If a vehicle is later intended for ordinary commercial or private use, a different registration route may be necessary.
How AkcyzaWarszawa can assist international automotive and R&D companies
AkcyzaWarszawa supports international companies dealing with Polish vehicle-registration formalities.
For professional-registration projects, support may include an initial eligibility review, review of company and vehicle documentation, preparation of the administrative application, document translations and representation before the competent registration authority where permitted.
Where a particular vehicle later requires another Polish registration route, the case can also be assessed separately, including registration and excise-related requirements where applicable.
For a foreign R&D team, the objective is to establish the correct Polish procedure before test vehicles are introduced into road traffic rather than resolve documentation issues after testing has already started.
FAQ
Can a foreign company obtain professional registration plates in Poland?
Yes, potentially. A foreign-headquartered entrepreneur may qualify where it has a branch in Poland and the Polish operation carries out an activity covered by Article 80s, including qualifying vehicle testing performed as part of R&D.
Does a foreign company need a Polish branch?
Generally yes if the applicant itself is an entrepreneur headquartered abroad. The legislation specifically refers to a foreign-headquartered entrepreneur having a branch in Poland. A separately incorporated Polish subsidiary is a different legal entity and can potentially apply in its own name if it satisfies the conditions.
Can an automotive software company apply?
It depends. Developing automotive software alone is insufficient. The company needs to fall within the statutory professional-registration categories, and the vehicle testing must form part of qualifying R&D activity.
Can professional plates be used for ADAS testing?
Potentially yes. ADAS vehicle testing can fall within automotive R&D, but the activity must meet the relevant statutory conditions. Higher levels of automated-driving research may also trigger a separate research-permit regime.
Can they be used for prototype vehicles?
Potentially yes. Prototype and development vehicles are a natural use case where they are actually being used for qualifying tests and meet the relevant technical and administrative requirements.
Can the same set of professional plates be used on several cars?
Yes, but not as unrestricted universal plates. They may be reused sequentially across eligible vehicles after completing the required professional registration certificate and vehicle-level formalities.
Do professional plates replace permanent registration?
No. They are intended for qualifying test drives. They are not an alternative permanent registration system for ordinary company vehicles.
Can vehicles be driven on public roads?
Yes. Road-traffic test drives are the core purpose of professional registration, provided all statutory requirements are satisfied.
Can professional plates be used outside Poland?
It depends on the destination country. Polish law alone does not establish automatic universal acceptance abroad. Recognition and insurance should be verified for every country where tests will be conducted.
Is Polish OC insurance required?
Yes. A vehicle entering road traffic needs the relevant motor third-party liability insurance. R&D applicants also face an additional requirement relating to liability insurance for their R&D activity.
How long is the professional registration decision valid?
One year.
How long is an individual professional registration certificate valid?
Usually 30 days for an R&D entrepreneur. The six-month period applies to the separate category of technical services and manufacturer research units.
How long does the application take?
There is no sensible basis for guaranteeing a fixed turnaround in every case. Warsaw's administrative guidance provides for processing within the applicable administrative-procedure periods and the complexity of the case can affect timing. Companies should therefore start the process before the planned road-testing date.
Who issues professional registration in Warsaw?
For an eligible applicant whose registered office or relevant branch is in Warsaw, the competent authority is the President of the Capital City of Warsaw acting as the registration authority.
Can AkcyzaWarszawa assist a foreign company?
Yes, within its vehicle-registration service scope. The practical first step should be a review of the company's Polish legal structure, intended R&D activity and vehicles before preparing the professional-registration application.
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