LicenseTaxiBydgoszcz
Taxi license in Bydgoszcz 2026: step-by-step guide
May 30, 20268-minute readPodpin Research Team
TL;DRIn Bydgoszcz the passenger-transport (taxi) license is issued by the Mayor of Bydgoszcz (Prezydent Miasta Bydgoszczy) through the relevant department of Urząd Miasta Bydgoszczy. The market here is quieter than Kraków's — few classic yellow taxis, but Bolt, Uber and FreeNow actively recruit drivers, and the proximity of Toruń (≈45 km) adds inter-city rides between the two capitals of the Kuyavian-Pomeranian voivodeship. Since the 17 June 2024 reform, the rules for all platforms are unified nationwide. From filing to decision the average wait is about 21 days, and the all-in cost is around 740 zł plus 100-300 zł for incidentals. Below is the breakdown. If you want to start faster, you can drive on a fleet partner's license without dealing with the office yourself.
Short answer in four numbers
~620 zł
all-in cost
5-year license + all certificates
~21 days
approximate wait
from filing to decision
5 years
validity
minimum tier, same price up to 15 years
200 zł
license fee
statutory, the single-gmina rate (Warsaw: 320/380/450 zł)
These numbers assume "first time, all from scratch" in Bydgoszcz, 2026. If you already have medical certificates or a clean criminal record on file — less. EU/EEA citizens go through the same exams, plus a Polish or EU cat. B license. Confirm exact fees and the timeline on bip.um.bydgoszcz.pl or at Urząd Miasta Bydgoszczy — administrative rates can change.
What changed on 17 June 2024 (national rules)
The reform ("Lex Uber") tightened rules across several fronts and applies the same in Bydgoszcz, Toruń, Kraków and across Poland. Older guides on Google are outdated. The key points:
- A Polish category B license is mandatory for everyone. The 17 June 2024 reform means Ukrainian, Belarusian, Georgian and other non-EU licenses no longer work for passenger transport. Exchange yours at WORD Bydgoszcz, sometimes with a re-test of theory.
- In-person driver verification on the platforms was phased in from 1 October 2024: Bolt, Uber and FreeNow check original documents; remote registration without verification no longer works.
- The passenger-transport license itself has been mandatory since 2020 — it is not new in 2024. The 2024 reform added the key requirement: a Polish driving licence and in-person driver verification.
- Minimum age 21 plus driving experience; clean criminal record — for offenses against life and health, sexual freedom, and traffic safety.
- Medical and psychological exams from authorized practitioners (occupational doctor / transport psychologist). Lists are on the Kuyavian-Pomeranian voivodeship office website.
- The topography exam was abolished nationwide back on 1 January 2020 — this is not a 2024 change. You do not sit a Bydgoszcz topography exam; if a blog claims otherwise, it's outdated info.
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Drivers already working had a transition period to swap licenses and adapt to in-person verification. Now any roadside check without a current Polish driving licence = platform block + fine.
Who specifically needs the license in Bydgoszcz in 2026
Different services, different rules. Here's the table:
| Activity | Taxi license | PL cat. B | Who it's for |
|---|---|---|---|
| Bolt / Uber / FreeNow (car) | Yes | Yes | Main demand in Bydgoszcz |
| Yellow taxi | Yes | Yes | Corps, station, BZG airport |
| Bolt Food / Uber Eats / Glovo (car) | No | Yes | Food delivery |
| Bolt Food / Glovo (bicycle) | No | No | City center |
| Bolt Food / Wolt (50cc scooter) | No | AM or B | Food delivery |
| Cargo up to 3.5 t | No (different license) | Yes | Logistics |
Couriers on bicycles or scooters don't need a license — but if you plan to side-gig as a taxi driver in Bydgoszcz on weekends, you need it upfront, even for 1 ride per week.
Full document checklist
Gather it all before going to the Bydgoszcz office — saves at least one wasted trip:
- Wniosek o udzielenie licencji — passenger-transport license application. Downloadable from bip.um.bydgoszcz.pl or filled in on-site. Available via ePUAP if you have a profil zaufany.
- Copy of Polish cat. B license (or EU/EEA equivalent). Non-EU licenses must be exchanged for Polish ones before filing — the key requirement since 17 June 2024.
- Zaświadczenie o niekaralności (KRK) — clean criminal record certificate, valid up to 30 days. Online via e-KRK for 20 zł, or in person for 30 zł.
- Orzeczenie lekarskie — medical certificate from an authorized occupational doctor. Cost in Bydgoszcz usually 150-250 zł.
- Orzeczenie psychologiczne — psychological assessment from an authorized transport psychologist. Cost: 150-300 zł.
- Proof of payment — license fee receipt (200 zł for 2-15 years) + wypis (1% of the fee, ~2 zł per car). Pay to the City of Bydgoszcz account.
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If you'll drive a rented car — also include a copy of the registration document and a rental agreement. If your own — proof of ownership + OC insurance covering commercial use. Confirm the exact document set on bip.um.bydgoszcz.pl — forms and attachments are updated periodically. We deliberately avoid listing unverified extra requirements.
Total cost — every line item (approximate)
Full "all-in" cost for Bydgoszcz 2026, 5-year license, one car. The license fee is national and depends on the validity period:
Total license cost end-to-end, zł
License (5 years)200 zł32%
Wypis for 1 car2 zł0%
Niekaralność (e-KRK)20 zł3%
Medical exam200 zł32%
Psychological exam200 zł32%
zł · License fee by validity period
200
250
300
2-15 lat
320 zł
15-30 lat
380 zł
30-50 lat
450 zł
Lifehack: pick 5-15 years on first application. Same price (200 zł) as 2 years, validity 2-7× longer. Wypis for each additional car — separate fee, +11% of the base (≈22 zł); the wypis for the main car is 1% (≈2 zł).
Step-by-step plan: zero to license in 3 weeks
Done in parallel (2-3 items per day) — realistic 14-21 days. One after another — 4-6 weeks.
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Step 1. Exchange license for Polish0-30 days (skip if already Polish)
If your license is non-EU/EEA — book a WORD Bydgoszcz slot for the exchange. 1-2 week lead time. Cost: 100-200 zł exchange + 100-300 zł sworn translation. Do this first — without a Polish driving licence, since 17 June 2024 you can't get the licence.
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Step 2. Book medical exams1-7 days
Authorized occupational doctor and authorized transport psychologist — both have queues. In Bydgoszcz, occupational-medicine centers operate in the center and in Szwederowo/Fordon. Book immediately. The exam itself takes ~2 hours. You leave with the orzeczenie same day.
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Step 3. Niekaralność via e-KRKSame day
Visit ekrk.ms.gov.pl, log in via profil zaufany or MOJE-ID, pay 20 zł, download PDF. No profile? — the KRK point at the Sąd Rejonowy w Bydgoszczy with passport + 30 zł.
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Step 4. File the application at Urząd Miasta Bydgoszczy1 day (visit)
Go to the relevant department of Urząd Miasta Bydgoszczy with the full document set. Fill in the wniosek. Pay on-site or show the transfer receipt. The clerk verifies and assigns a case number. Check the exact address/department on bip.um.bydgoszcz.pl.
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Step 5. Wait for the decisionapprox 14-30 days
The office verifies the criminal record, the driving licence, sometimes asks for clarifications. The ready license plus wypis for the car are issued together.
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Step 6. Activate on the platform1-3 days
With the license and wypis ready, complete in-person verification at Bolt/Uber/FreeNow (mandatory in person since 1 October 2024). After that you can take rides across Bydgoszcz, Toruń and the whole voivodeship.
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Total: parallel work — 2-3 weeks and 580-780 zł. If you want to earn right away — consider starting on a fleet partner's license while your own is being issued.
Where exactly to apply in Bydgoszcz
The passenger-transport (taxi) license in Bydgoszcz is issued by the Mayor of Bydgoszcz through the relevant department of Urząd Miasta Bydgoszczy. Approximate details (confirm on bip.um.bydgoszcz.pl):
- Urząd Miasta Bydgoszczy — main site bydgoszcz.pl, documents and forms — on bip.um.bydgoszcz.pl
- Transport license matters are handled by the relevant city department — check the exact department name and address in the BIP (the structure is occasionally reorganized)
- Citizen service points (punkty obsługi mieszkańców) operate at several locations, including the center and Fordon
- Office hours are usually Mon-Fri; walk-in queues are possible — book a slot
Online via ePUAP: with a profil zaufany you can submit the wniosek electronically. Originals still need one in-person visit for verification.
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Tip: book your visit slot online through the office's system to skip the queue. Before the visit, check the current document list on bip.um.bydgoszcz.pl — more reliable than any guide, including this one.
Frequently asked questions
Answers that didn't fit in the main text:
Can I drive Bolt/Uber while waiting for the license?
No on your own license until it's issued. But you can start on a fleet partner's license — the legal and fastest way to begin driving around Bydgoszcz while you sort out your own.
Does a Bydgoszcz license work in Toruń and other cities?
Yes. The passenger-transport license works across all of Poland, including Toruń and the entire Kuyavian-Pomeranian voivodeship. No need to redo it for trips.
What if I had a license in Ukraine/Belarus?
Doesn't count. The Polish license is a separate document, issued by Polish standards only. Foreign driving experience does count toward the requirement.
Topography exam for Bydgoszcz — yes or no?
No — topography was abolished nationwide back on 1 January 2020. You don't sit a Bydgoszcz topography exam.
Is the license tied to the car or to me?
To the carrier. But wypis is a separate document per car (1% of the fee, ~2 zł). Change the car — renew wypis.
Where exactly do I file documents in Bydgoszcz?
At the relevant department of Urząd Miasta Bydgoszczy. The current address and department name are on bip.um.bydgoszcz.pl; we deliberately avoid naming a specific room because the city structure changes.
How much does the license itself cost?
The fee is statutory and the single-gmina rate (Warsaw: 320/380/450 zł): 200 zł for a 2-15 year term, 250 zł for 15-30 years, 300 zł for 30-50 years. Wypis per car — 1% of the fee (~2 zł). Confirm the exact amount at filing time with the office.
Can I start driving this week?
Yes — via a fleet partner: you drive on their license while getting your own in parallel. Partner catalog — on Podpin.
Common pitfalls — where weeks and money disappear
From real driver experiences obtaining the license in Bydgoszcz in 2024-2026:
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Pitfall #1 — non-EU license without exchange. Since 17 June 2024 Ukrainian/Belarusian licenses don't work for commercial transport. Fix: WORD Bydgoszcz exchange takes 4-8 weeks plus money. It's item #1 in the plan — without it, the rest is pointless.
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Pitfall #2 — medical certificate from the wrong doctor. Only authorized occupational doctors licensed to examine professional drivers count. A regular family-doctor visit doesn't. Fix: the list of authorized doctors is on the Kuyavian-Pomeranian voivodeship office website.
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Pitfall #3 — skipping in-person platform verification. Since 1 October 2024 Bolt/Uber/FreeNow must verify the driver in person. Even with the license ready, the account won't activate without it. Fix: book verification right after you collect the license and wypis.
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Pitfall #4 — outdated address/department from an old guide. The structure of Urząd Miasta Bydgoszczy changes and the application intake point can move. Fix: before the visit, always verify the department, address and document list on bip.um.bydgoszcz.pl, not in a year-old guide.
Waiting for the license — but want to drive now?
Podpin lists fleet partners in Bydgoszcz: start on a partner's license while your own is being issued. Filter by partner, read real driver reviews, transparent terms.
Sources (May 2026): BIP Urzędu Miasta Bydgoszczy, bydgoszcz.pl, ustawa o transporcie drogowym (Dz.U. 2001 nr 125 poz. 1371 as amended; 26.05.2023 amendment effective 17.06.2024), e-KRK. Important: the exact department name at Urząd Miasta Bydgoszczy, the office address and the precise license fee should be verified directly on bip.um.bydgoszcz.pl or by phone with the city office before filing — these details change and are given here as approximate. Medical exam prices — averaged across Bydgoszcz occupational-medicine centers.