LicenseTaxiŁódź
Taxi license in Łódź 2026: step-by-step guide
May 30, 20268-minute readPodpin Research Team
TL;DRIn Łódź the passenger-transport (taxi) license is issued by the Mayor of Łódź (Prezydent Miasta Łodzi) through the relevant department of Urząd Miasta Łodzi. Łódź is Poland's third-largest city — a big, student-heavy, post-industrial market where demand for Bolt, Uber and FreeNow stays steady in the centre and the housing estates year-round. Łódź Władysław Reymont Airport (LCJ) is small with very few scheduled flights, so airport runs are marginal — the real money is made in the city itself. Since the 17 June 2024 reform, the rules for drivers 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
Karta Pobytu
sufficient validity needed
check the requirement with the office
These numbers assume "first time, all from scratch" in Łódź, 2026. If you already have medical certificates or a clean criminal record on file — less. EU/EEA citizens skip Karta Pobytu but still need certificates plus a Polish or EU cat. B license. Confirm exact fees and the timeline with Urząd Miasta Łodzi — 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 Łódź, Warsaw and across Poland. Older guides on Google are outdated. The key points:
- Polish category B license is mandatory for everyone. Ukrainian, Belarusian, Georgian and other non-EU licenses no longer work for passenger transport. Exchange yours at WORD Łódź (Wojewódzki Ośrodek Ruchu Drogowego), sometimes with a re-test of theory and practice.
- The 17 June 2024 reform requires a Polish driving licence — that is the core of the change, not some separate "driving-licence permit". Many used to drive on foreign licenses; that loophole is now closed.
- In-person driver verification and proof of credentials: platforms and the office check original documents; remote registration without verification no longer works. This verification has been in force since 1 October 2024.
- Karta Pobytu for non-EU citizens, with sufficient remaining validity — check the current residence-card validity requirements with the office. No unverified "mandatory" conditions: go by the office's official checklist, not by forums.
- Minimum age 21 plus driving experience; clean criminal record — for offenses against life and health, sexual freedom, and traffic safety.
- The passenger-transport license itself has been mandatory since 2020 — it is not new in 2024. The 2024 reform added the Polish-licence and verification requirements.
- The topography exam was abolished across all of Poland from 1 January 2020 (not in 2024). If a blog claims you must pass a Łódź topography exam — it's outdated info.
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Drivers already working had a transition period to swap licenses and paperwork. Now any roadside check without a current Polish driving licence = platform block + fine.
Who specifically needs the license in Łódź in 2026
Different services, different rules. Here's the table:
| Activity | Taxi license | Karta Pobytu | PL cat. B |
|---|---|---|---|
| Bolt / Uber / FreeNow (car) | Yes | Yes (non-EU) | Yes |
| Yellow taxi | Yes | Yes (non-EU) | Yes |
| Bolt Food / Uber Eats / Glovo (car) | No | Recommended | Yes |
| Bolt Food / Glovo (bicycle) | No | No | No |
| Bolt Food / Wolt (50cc scooter) | No | Recommended | AM or B |
| Cargo up to 3.5 t | No (different license) | Yes | Yes |
Couriers on bicycles or scooters don't need a license — but if you plan to side-gig as a taxi driver in Łódź on weekends, you need it upfront, even for 1 ride per week.
Full document checklist
Gather it all before going to the Łódź office — saves at least one wasted trip:
- Wniosek o udzielenie licencji — passenger-transport license application. Downloadable from bip.uml.lodz.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.
- Karta Pobytu (non-EU citizens) — original + copy. With sufficient validity — check the current residence-card validity requirements with the office.
- 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: 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 Gmina Miasta Łodzi 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 with Urząd Miasta Łodzi — forms and attachments are updated periodically.
Total cost — every line item (approximate)
Full "all-in" cost for Łódź 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. The wypis for the main car is 1% (~2 zł); each additional car is a separate fee, +11% of the base (~22 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 Łódź slot for the exchange. 1-2 week lead time. Cost: 100-200 zł exchange + 100-300 zł sworn translation. Do this first — since 17 June 2024 commercial transport is impossible without a Polish licence.
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Step 2. Karta Pobytu — validity check1 day
Check that your karta pobytu has sufficient validity remaining — confirm the current requirement with the office. If it's running out — first extend at the Łódź voivodeship office (Łódzki Urząd Wojewódzki). Extension takes 2-6 months.
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Step 3. Book medical exams1-7 days
Authorized occupational doctor and authorized transport psychologist — both have queues. Book immediately. The exam itself takes ~2 hours. You leave with the orzeczenie same day.
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Step 4. 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? — any KRK point with passport + 30 zł.
5
Step 5. File the application at Urząd Miasta Łodzi1 day (visit)
Go to the relevant department of Urząd Miasta Łodzi 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.uml.lodz.pl.
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Step 6. Wait for the decisionapprox 14-30 days
The office verifies the criminal record, karta pobytu validity, sometimes asks for clarifications. The ready license plus wypis for the car are issued together.
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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 Łódź
The passenger-transport (taxi) license in Łódź is issued by the Mayor of Łódź through the relevant department of Urząd Miasta Łodzi. Approximate details (confirm on bip.uml.lodz.pl):
- Urząd Miasta Łodzi — main site uml.lodz.pl, documents and forms — on bip.uml.lodz.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 across the city
- 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.uml.lodz.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 while you sort out your own.
Does a Łódź license work in other cities?
The passenger-transport license works across all of Poland. No need to redo it for trips to other cities.
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 Łódź — yes or no?
No — the topography exam was abolished across all of Poland from 1 January 2020, not in 2024.
Is it worth counting on airport income at Łódź Reymont Airport?
Probably not. LCJ is small, scheduled flights are few, and airport runs are rare. Real demand in Łódź comes from the city itself: the centre, universities, housing estates. Plan your shifts around the city, not the airport.
Is the license tied to the car or to me?
To the carrier. But wypis is a separate document per car. Change the car — renew wypis for ~2 zł (1% of the fee).
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. 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 Łódź in 2024-2026:
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Pitfall #1 — Karta Pobytu expires too soon. The office looks at the remaining validity of the card. If it's running out — rejection is possible. Fix: check the validity requirement with the office in advance and, if needed, extend the karta first (2-6 months) at the Łódź voivodeship office, then apply for the license.
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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 Łódź voivodeship office website.
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Pitfall #3 — Ukrainian/Belarusian license without exchange. Since 17 June 2024 commercial transport requires a Polish licence; a foreign one doesn't work. Fix: WORD Łódź exchange takes 4-8 weeks plus money. Put it at the start of your plan.
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Pitfall #4 — outdated address/department from an old guide. The structure of Urząd Miasta Łodzi changes and the application intake point can move. Fix: before the visit, always verify the department, address and document list on bip.uml.lodz.pl, not in a year-old guide.
Waiting for the license — but want to drive now?
Podpin lists fleet partners in Łódź: 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 Łodzi, uml.lodz.pl, ustawa o transporcie drogowym (Dz.U. 2001 nr 125 poz. 1371 as amended; 26.05.2023 amendment effective 17.06.2024; driver verification from 1 October 2024), e-KRK. Important: the exact department name at Urząd Miasta Łodzi, the office address and the precise license fee should be verified with Urząd Miasta Łodzi / on bip.uml.lodz.pl before filing — these details change and are given here as approximate. Medical exam prices — averaged across Łódź occupational-medicine centers.