Taxi licence cost 2026: requirements, Bolt and start-up expenses

indekscen.pl editorial team · published 30 September 2026 · prices according to the 5 October 2026 index

A taxi licence covering one municipality (gmina) in Poland most commonly costs PLN 250 (typically PLN 200 ‑ 320) and is valid for 2 to 15 years. The lowest rate in official price lists is PLN 200, while the highest, for a longer period or Warsaw, reaches PLN 450. However, the licence itself accounts for only a small proportion of the cost of starting work as a taxi driver.

A taxi licence is one of the cheaper items on the list of expenses for someone who wants to carry passengers. A vehicle adapted for passenger transport, insurance, medical examinations and running a business cost more. Below, we bring all these costs together, with median prices from public price lists and official fees.

How much does a taxi licence cost?

According to 6 sources collected by indekscen.pl, a taxi licence most commonly costs PLN 250, with half of the rates falling within the PLN 200 ‑ 320 range. This is the cost of passenger transport licence (taxi) covering one municipality (gmina), valid for 2 to 15 years. Each municipality sets its own rate, within the limits laid down by law, so differences between cities are small.

The price increases in two situations:

1. Longer validity period. A licence can be issued for up to 50 years, and each longer period costs more.
2. Wider area. A licence covering a municipality and neighbouring municipalities or Warsaw costs more than one covering a single small municipality.

In addition to the licence fee, there is a fee for a licence copy for each additional vehicle if you have more than one, and a fee for changing the details on the licence, for example after replacing your car. Both are a fraction of the licence price.

„od 200 zł – opłata od każdego pojazdu za licencję na teren jednej gminy”

Biznes.gov.pl, source

„200 zł za licencje ważną na 2-15 lat”

bip.poznan.pl, 2026-06, source

„Za licencję od 2 do 15 lat zapłacisz od ok. 300 zł”

Taksometry.eu, source

„Jej koszt wynosi od 200 do 450 złotych.”

Bolt, source

How much does a taxi licence cost in Warsaw and other cities?

A taxi licence in Warsaw is among the most expensive in Poland: the capital’s starting rate is higher than in a typical municipality, and the longest validity periods cost up to PLN 450. In Łódź, Kraków, Poznań, Wrocław and Gdańsk, fees are close to the national median of PLN 250. At Poznań City Hall, a licence valid for 2 to 15 years costs the same as the lowest rate in our comparison, PLN 200.

We do not collect licence prices for every city because the relevant authority always provides the rate on its service information page. To check it, search your city’s Public Information Bulletin for the phrase „taxi passenger transport licence”.

What are the requirements for obtaining a taxi licence?

A taxi licence is issued to a business owner who meets the requirements of the Road Transport Act. In practice, the authority will usually check:

• business registration in CEIDG or KRS,
• criminal record status of the licence applicant and drivers,
• medical and psychological certificates confirming that there are no contraindications to working as a driver,
• driving licence of the appropriate category,
• vehicle registered in Poland, with a valid roadworthiness certificate, required markings, and a taximeter or an app that replaces it.

The list of documents varies between authorities, so read the service information page for your city before submitting your application. If you are unsure about the regulations, ask the relevant authority or a lawyer.

A taxi licence without a business: is it possible?

You cannot obtain a taxi licence without running a business, but you can drive without your own business. A Bolt, Uber or FreeNow driver can work for a partner company, known as a fleet operator, which holds a licence and licence copies for its vehicles. The company then pays around PLN 250 for the licence, while the driver signs a contract with it and provides their documents: a driving licence, criminal record certificate, and medical and psychological certificates.

This arrangement comes at a price: the fleet operator charges a commission on revenue or a fixed weekly fee. With your own licence, you keep all your revenue, but you pay ZUS contributions, tax and accounting costs yourself. It is worth calculating both options based on your expected mileage.

How long does it take to obtain a taxi licence?

Obtaining a taxi licence usually takes from a few days to a month after submitting all the required documents. The authority has a statutory deadline for issuing its decision, but straightforward cases are processed more quickly. Collecting the documents takes longer: medical and psychological certificates require appointments with authorised practitioners, while a criminal record certificate must be ordered from the National Criminal Register.

The following order saves time:

1. Register your business (CEIDG, free of charge).
2. Complete the driver’s medical and psychological examinations.
3. Order a criminal record certificate.
4. Prepare the vehicle: roadworthiness test, markings, taximeter or app, and cash register.
5. Apply for the licence and pay the fee, usually PLN 200 ‑ 320.

How much does it cost to start working as a taxi driver, excluding the licence itself?

Apart from the licence at PLN 250, the largest fixed costs are insurance, business administration and vehicle maintenance. These are the median prices from price lists for the items included in our index:

Median and typical range from public price lists, as at 5 October 2026. Each price includes a source and quotation on the service page.

Expense	Cost	Frequency
Taxi licence	PLN 200 ‑ 320	once per validity period (2 to 50 years)
Compulsory motor insurance for a passenger car	around 650 PLN/year	annually, usually more expensive for a taxi
Accounting for a sole proprietorship	205 ‑ 320 PLN/month	monthly
Roadworthiness test	PLN 149, with LPG PLN 245	annually
Fourth-generation LPG system	PLN 3,300 ‑ 3,700	one-off, if the car is to run on LPG

Our index does not include prices for taximeters, cash registers or driver examinations, so we do not provide them. We also do not list ZUS contributions or tax amounts because they depend on the chosen form of taxation and any reliefs you use.

How much does taxi insurance cost?

Compulsory motor insurance for a taxi costs more than standard insurance for a passenger car, whose median annual price on comparison websites is 650 PLN/year. Insurers charge a higher premium because a taxi covers many more miles and carries members of the public. Our index does not include an exact rate for taxis. A young driver pays around 1,950 PLN/year even for a standard car, so it is worth obtaining several quotes for a taxi. Read more about choosing a policy in our article on the cheapest compulsory motor insurance.

Is it worth becoming a taxi driver?

The profitability of taxi work depends mainly on how many miles you cover with passengers each month. A taxi journey costs the passenger an average of 3 PLN/km under the daytime tariff, plus an initial charge of around PLN 7. We break down fares in different cities in our article on taxi prices per km.

Revenue must cover fuel, vehicle depreciation, insurance, accounting, ZUS contributions, tax and any app commission. Many drivers reduce their fuel costs by installing an LPG system, which pays for itself faster with high mileage than in a private car. When spread over several years of validity, the cost of the licence itself becomes almost negligible in this calculation.

How can you avoid overpaying when starting taxi work?

• Choose a longer licence validity period if you plan to drive for years: one fee instead of several applications.
• Compare fleet operator offers if you drive without your own business: commissions and weekly fees vary considerably.
• Obtain several motor insurance quotes and ask directly about the rate for a car used as a taxi.
• Ask an accountancy firm for a transport operator package, as with a small number of invoices you will pay closer to the lower end of the range, around 159 PLN/month.

You can find more prices for professional courses and training in the education and courses category, while driving licence costs are covered in our article on how much a driving licence costs.

The prices in this article come from public price lists, official fees and articles. Each price has a source, date and verbatim quotation on the relevant service page, such as how much a taxi licence costs.

Frequently asked questions

How much does a taxi licence cost in Warsaw?

Warszawa należy do droższych miast: stawka zaczyna się wyżej niż w typowej gminie i zbliża się do górnej granicy cenników, czyli do PLN 450. Mediana dla całej Polski to PLN 250.

Do you need a taxi licence to work for Bolt?

Tak, każdy przewóz osób autem do 9 miejsc wymaga licencji. Kierowca może ją mieć sam (z działalnością) albo jeździć na licencji firmy partnerskiej, która płaci około PLN 250 i wystawia wypis na samochód.

How much does it cost to renew a taxi licence?

Licencji się nie przedłuża, tylko po upływie ważności składa wniosek o nową. Opłata jest taka sama jak za pierwszą, zwykle PLN 200 ‑ 320 za okres od 2 do 15 lat.

Do you have to pass a city topography exam?

Obowiązkowy egzamin z topografii i przepisów zniesiono przy zmianie przepisów o przewozie osób w 2020 roku. Koszt licencji to dziś głównie opłata urzędowa, zwykle PLN 200 ‑ 320.

How much does a taxi roadworthiness test cost?

Zwykły przegląd rejestracyjny auta osobowego kosztuje PLN 149, a z instalacją LPG PLN 245. Taksówka przechodzi dodatkowo sprawdzenie wymagane dla aut przewożących osoby, o jego zakres zapytaj stację kontroli pojazdów.

Translation of the original Polish article dated 30 September 2026. Quotations from price lists are in Polish, as published by the companies. Read the original in Polish.

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