When you drive in Poland, you must always wear your seatbelts in the front and back seats of your car. You must also have your driving documents with you, as well as your passport, a first-aid kit, a hazard warning reflective triangle, and a fire extinguisher whenever you’re driving.
The law in Poland requires that children under the age of 12 or shorter than 1.5 m (5 ft) require child car seats. A child seat must be used for infants and children between the ages of nine months and four years old. Children four to 12 must use a booster seat. Therefore, you will either need to bring your own car seat with you or rent one from your car hire agency, as your child will need to be seated in a safety restraint once you leave the airport.
On your travels around Poland, you will notice white and bronze signs that indicate tourist attractions and interesting places to visit. You could rent a four-wheel drive and head to Stolowe Gory to experience its mountains and picturesque terrain, 119 km (74 mi) outside of Wroclaw. If you would prefer to drive around Krakow and see Poland’s oldest Wawel Cathedral, you should opt for a compact vehicle.
If you want to explore Poland’s neighboring countries, you may be able to cross the border with your rental car. Provided that you have permission from your car hire agency, you will be able to cross the borders of most Western European countries; however, you cannot take your rental car to some non-EU countries, including Albania, Bosnia, and Russia. You will need to have your ‘green card’ insurance before crossing the border, which costs about 26,36 zł ($7).
25% of our users found a car hire in Poland for R1 587 or less
Book your car hire in Poland at least 1 day before your trip in order to get a below-average price
Economy car hire in Poland are around 45% cheaper than other car types, on average
FAQs about hiring a car in Poland
On average a car hire in Poland costs R405 per day.
Economy (Renault Clio or similar) is the most frequently booked car hire type in Poland.
In the past 72 hours, the cheapest car hires were found at Viaggiare Rent (R167/day), CarWiz (R171/day) and Wheego (R224/day).
Based on ratings and reviews from real users on KAYAK, the best car hire in Poland is Sixt (7,1, 88 reviews).
Take a look at our extensive car hire location map to find the best car hire deals near you.
Based on car searches on KAYAK, the most popular cities to hire a car in Poland are Warsaw (40% of total searches of users looking to hire a car in Poland), Łódź (30%) and Krakow (10%).
On average a car hire in Poland costs R11 375 per week (R1 625 per day).
On average a car hire in Poland costs R48 752 per month (R1 625 per day).
When you rent a car Poland, you need to remember to drive on the right-hand side of the road. Driving in the country is an enjoyable experience, due to the expansion of highways and other major road networks. You must always have your headlights on low beam and give way to traffic on the right, unless otherwise indicated. You must also refrain from using your mobile phone when driving. You can pay tolls on the A2 and A4 highways, either by cash or electronically if your vehicle has a tag.
You will need to be at least 19 years old and have held a driver’s license for one year to rent a car in Poland. There will be a surcharge for those drivers who are under 25 years old. You will also need an international or EU driving license that will be valid for six months after entering Poland.
You will find that the price of petrol is around 5,26 zł ($1.40) per liter or $5.29 per gallon, when you rent a car in Poland. You will find plenty of self-service and 24h petrol stations around the country, mainly in cities and along principal roads. In the more remote areas, petrol stations are open until 6:00 pm.
You will need to respect the national speed limits when you drive in Poland. In residential areas, the speed limit is anywhere from 20 km/h (12 mph) to 60 km/h (37 mph), and on national roads, you can travel at speeds between 100 km/h (62 mph) and 120 km/h (74 mph). On highways, the maximum speed limit you will find is 140 km/h (86 mph).
The rates displayed include all taxes and fees for hire cars for the class listed and were found by KAYAK users in the last 48 hours. Offers are subject to change and may not be available on all car hires listed or dates of travel. Some hire car providers charge additional fees for other services (GPS, infant car seats, etc.). Please check the website of the respective hire car provider.