LicenseTaxiLublin
Taxi license in Lublin 2026: step-by-step guide
May 30, 20268-minute readPodpin Research Team
TL;DRLublin is a large academic city in eastern Poland with a sizeable community of drivers from Ukraine and Belarus, so demand for Bolt, Uber and FreeNow is high while competition for rides is moderate compared with Warsaw. The passenger-transport (taxi) license in Lublin is issued by the Mayor of Lublin (Prezydent Miasta Lublin) through the relevant department of Urząd Miasta Lublin. 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 rate for 2-15 years
These numbers assume "first time, all from scratch" in Lublin, 2026. If you already have medical certificates or a clean criminal record on file — less. EU/EEA citizens go through the same steps but only need a Polish or EU cat. B license. Confirm exact fees and the timeline on bip.lublin.eu — administrative rates can change.
What changed after the 2024 reform (national rules)
The road-transport-act reform ("Lex Uber") tightened rules across several fronts and applies the same in Lublin, Warsaw and across Poland. Older guides on Google are outdated. The key points:
- Polish category B license is mandatory. Since the 17 June 2024 reform, commercial passenger transport requires a Polish driving licence; Ukrainian, Belarusian and other foreign licenses are not enough to work for Bolt/Uber/FreeNow. Exchange yours at WORD Lublin, sometimes with a re-test of theory and/or practice.
- Platform driver verification — from 1 October 2024. From that date Bolt, Uber and FreeNow must verify each driver's identity and documents; remote registration without showing originals no longer works.
- The passenger-transport license itself has been mandatory since 2020 — it is not new in 2024. The 2024 reform added the Polish-license and driver-verification requirements.
- 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 kept by the Lublin voivodeship office.
- The topography exam was abolished across all of Poland from 1 January 2020 (the last exam was held in December 2019). This applies to Lublin too: if a blog claims you must pass a Lublin topography exam — it's outdated info.
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Drivers already working had a transition period to swap their licenses for Polish ones. Now any roadside check without current paperwork = platform block + fine.
Who specifically needs the license in Lublin in 2026
Different services, different rules. Here's the table:
| Activity | Taxi license | PL cat. B | Clean record |
|---|---|---|---|
| Bolt / Uber / FreeNow (car) | Yes | Yes | Yes |
| Yellow taxi | Yes | Yes | Yes |
| Bolt Food / Uber Eats / Glovo (car) | No | Yes | No |
| Bolt Food / Glovo (bicycle) | No | No | No |
| Bolt Food / Wolt (50cc scooter) | No | AM or B | No |
| 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 Lublin on weekends, you need it upfront, even for 1 ride per week.
Full document checklist
Gather it all before going to the Lublin office — saves at least one wasted trip:
- Wniosek o udzielenie licencji — passenger-transport license application. Downloadable from bip.lublin.eu 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.
- 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 (250 zł for 15-30 years, 300 zł for 30-50 years) + wypis for the base car ~2 zł (1% of the fee). Pay to the Gmina Lublin 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.lublin.eu — forms and attachments are updated periodically.
Total cost — every line item (approximate)
Full "all-in" cost for Lublin 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 base car is 1% of the fee (≈2 zł); each additional car is a separate fee, +11% of the fee (≈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.
1
Step 1. Exchange license for Polish0-30 days (skip if already Polish)
If your license is non-EU/EEA — book a WORD Lublin 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 you can't work without a Polish licence.
2
Step 2. Book medical exams1-7 days
Authorized occupational doctor and authorized transport psychologist — both have queues. Lublin has plenty of centers, but book immediately. The exam itself takes ~2 hours. You leave with the orzeczenie same day.
3
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? — Sąd Rejonowy Lublin-Zachód / Lublin-Wschód with passport + 30 zł.
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Step 4. File the application at Urząd Miasta Lublin1 day (visit)
Go to the relevant department of Urząd Miasta Lublin 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.lublin.eu.
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Step 5. Wait for the decisionapprox 14-30 days
The office verifies the criminal record, sometimes asks for clarifications. The ready license plus wypis for the car are issued together.
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Step 6. Platform verification1-3 days
Since 1 October 2024 Bolt/Uber/FreeNow run driver verification: you upload the license, wypis and Polish driving licence in the app or show originals. Once approved you can accept rides.
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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 Lublin
The passenger-transport (taxi) license in Lublin is issued by the Mayor of Lublin through the relevant department of Urząd Miasta Lublin. Approximate details (confirm on bip.lublin.eu):
- Urząd Miasta Lublin — main site lublin.eu, documents and forms — on bip.lublin.eu
- 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 offices (Biura 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.lublin.eu — 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 in Lublin while you sort out your own.
Does a Lublin license work in other cities?
The passenger-transport license works across all of Poland. No need to redo it for trips to Warsaw, Rzeszów or any other city.
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 Lublin — yes or no?
No — topography was abolished across all of Poland from 1 January 2020 (the last exam was in December 2019). This applies to Lublin too.
Is the license tied to the car or to me?
To the carrier. But wypis is a separate document per car. The wypis for the base car is 1% of the fee (≈2 zł), each additional car +11% (≈22 zł).
Where exactly do I file documents in Lublin?
At the relevant department of Urząd Miasta Lublin. The current address and department name are on bip.lublin.eu; 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. The wypis for the base car is 1% (≈2 zł). Confirm the exact amount on bip.lublin.eu.
Where do I exchange my license and take exams in Lublin?
Foreign-license exchange and any exams go through WORD Lublin (Wojewódzki Ośrodek Ruchu Drogowego). The regional airport is Lublin Airport (LUZ, Świdnik), handy for transfer rides.
Common pitfalls — where weeks and money disappear
From real driver experiences obtaining the license in Lublin in 2024-2026:
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Pitfall #1 — working on a foreign license after 17 June 2024. Since the reform, commercial transport requires a Polish driving licence. Non-EU foreign licenses are not enough. Fix: the WORD Lublin exchange takes 4-8 weeks plus money — put it at the start of your plan.
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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 kept by the Lublin voivodeship office.
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Pitfall #3 — skipped platform verification. Since 1 October 2024 Bolt/Uber/FreeNow verify identity and documents. Without passing verification no rides come through, even with the license in hand. Fix: right after receiving the license, upload it and the wypis in the platform app.
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Pitfall #4 — outdated address/department from an old guide. The structure of Urząd Miasta Lublin changes and the application intake point can move. Fix: before the visit, always verify the department, address and document list on bip.lublin.eu, not in a year-old guide.
Waiting for the license — but want to drive now?
Podpin lists fleet partners in Lublin: 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 Lublin, lublin.eu, ustawa o transporcie drogowym (Dz.U. 2001 nr 125 poz. 1371 as amended; reform effective 17.06.2024; driver verification from 1.10.2024), e-KRK. Important: the exact department name at Urząd Miasta Lublin, the office address and the precise license fee should be verified at Urząd Miasta Lublin / on bip.lublin.eu before filing — these details change and are given here as approximate. Medical exam prices — averaged across Lublin occupational-medicine centers.