Car inspection in 2025, everything you need to know about it
Driver, do you remember your car's roadworthiness test? You'd better keep an eye on the deadlines, because not having a valid inspection can cost you dearly. Below you'll find all the key information about the mandatory car inspectionfind out how much it costs, where to check its status and what penalties you face for being late. Also read up on the new rules that came into force in September 2022.
How do you check whether a car has a valid inspection?
You can easily check whether a car has a valid inspection on the government website: Vehicle History. How does it work? Enter the registration number, the VIN and the date of first registration, and you'll get the full vehicle history, a list of technical data and information on how long the inspection is valid.
Need the expiry date of the inspection but don't have the registration document to hand? Log in to your trusted profile and open the My Vehicleservice, you don't have to enter any extra details about the car.
Tip: be sure to visit this page before buying a used car, it will show you whether the car has been in any collisions and whether it is registered as stolen. At Car&More we check the technical condition of every car before we publish the listing on our site. That way you can be sure the model you choose is not only road-legal, but also in showroom-like condition.
How often do you need to have your car inspected?
An inspection at a vehicle inspection station is valid for 12 months and must be renewed every year that's clear. It's different, however, for new vehicles. The rules set out clearlywhen to have the first inspection of a new car doneit's a maximum of 3 years from the date of first registration. The second inspection has to be done two years later, and every year after that, regardless of the make of the car or its mileage.
Remember to keep an eye on the dates, otherwise you risk a fine. You can go to the inspection station without much preparation, as long as your vehicle is fully roadworthy. You don't even need the registration document. Only in the case of an LPG car will you also need the certificate of the gas tank's legalisation.
How much does a car inspection cost in 2025?
The cost of a roadworthiness test is the same at every Polish inspection station, and in 2025 it comes to 98 PLN for a passenger car. So whether you're looking for an inspection in Warsaw, Kraków or Łódź, you'll always pay the same. Expect a higher price, though, if you own an LPG car, because the inspection then costs 162 PLN. A lot? Not really, once you realise the size of the fine for driving a car without a valid inspection.
A little tip for business owners: it pays to opt for a car under an operating lease, which lets you count inspection or fuel costs as business expenses. Take a look at the offer available on Car&More, a whole collection of cars from authorised dealers only is waiting for you.
New inspection rules from September 2022. What changed?
On 1 September 2022 major changes to the rules came into force. First of all, the examiner is now required to photograph the car during the roadworthiness test and to keep those photos for 5 years. This is meant to prevent fake inspections from being rubber-stamped.
And what do you need to know as a driver? The September rules mainly hit latecomers. For a car inspection done 30 days after the deadline you'll pay double. So if you don't want to overpay, be sure to note the date of your last roadworthiness test in your calendar or an app. Better still, book an earlier inspection. You can now have it done up to 30 days before the expiry date without losing any unused days. The next date will be set based on the previous inspection, not on the day you bring the car in for the check.
Better leave the technical side to the examiners and move on to the technology in new cars <- see if you know them all!
Overdue car inspection and the fine in 2025.
Am I facing a penalty for a missing inspection? This question crosses many a driver's mind. Our answer: yes, the periodic roadworthiness test is mandatory. Unfortunately, many car owners aren't aware that fines for a missing inspection have gone up recently. Just two years ago it was 500 PLN; now the police can impose a fine of between 1,500 and 5,000 PLN for failing to meet this obligation! In that situation you have just 7 days to have the car inspected.
A driver who fails to have the vehicle's roadworthiness test done on time for 98 PLN risks a fine of between 1,500 and 5,000 PLN.
What determines the size of the fine?
The police officer can decide how high a fine the forgetful driver gets. It depends above all on the technical condition and how much time has passed since the last check. Bear in mind that officers can also confiscate the registration document (even just virtually), which means the vehicle is completely taken off the road.
The cost of an overdue roadworthiness test
Since 2022, drivers who forget about the mandatory test have to reckon with a double rate. How much does an overdue roadworthiness test cost? In 2025 it comes to 196 PLN for a passenger car and 324 PLN for a gas-powered vehicle.
As you can see, a missing car inspection means not only a possible fine, but also a higher rate for the inspection itself.
How long does a passenger car inspection take?
Good news for the impatient, a standard roadworthiness testtakes no more than 30 minutes. It usually takes even less, about 15-20 minutes. During that time the examiners check your car's lighting, brakes, steering, bodywork, seat belts and more. The time may get longer if the examiner detects a fault. You then have 14 days to repair the car and return for a re-inspection at the same station.
Additional car inspection
You need to know that a driver won't always get the so-called stamp straight away. Since September 2022, the owners of vehicle inspection stations have been under close scrutiny, meaning every inspection is carefully recorded. If checking your car's condition reveals it needs repair, an additional roadworthiness test will be required. Information about the fault will be registered in the central register of vehicles and drivers, so trying to get a re-check at another station is pointless.
What to do if the car fails the inspection? Repair the fault within 14 days. We suggest going to the inspection station you visited the first time. That way you'll minimise your costs. How? An additional check of a single component ranges from 14 to 36 PLN. If you use another inspection station, the cost of the car inspection will rise back to the initial 99 PLN.