A driver card is an electronic document mandatory for all persons driving vehicles equipped with digital tachographs, as required by the European Parliament and Council Regulation No. 165/2014.
The requirement to possess a driver card applies to drivers of vehicles with a mass exceeding 3.5 tons and those carrying more than 9 persons (including the driver). The document contains key driver data for identification purposes. Additionally, it records detailed information about driving time and mileage.
It’s worth emphasizing that a driver card does not replace a driving license and does not authorize vehicle operation. However, it is an essential tool for ensuring compliance with transport regulations.
If you want to learn more about the driver card - who issues it, what is its validity period, what is the fee for issuing a driver card, or how and where to submit an application for a driver card - you will find this information in the article below, which we cordially invite you to read!
What is a driver card and what is it for?
A driver card is an electronic document in the form of a chip card that serves as a personal identifier for every driver operating a vehicle equipped with a digital tachograph.
Importantly, the driver card is assigned to one driver and enables the registration of all activities related to their operation of the vehicle.
When is a driver card required?
The obligation to possess a driver card applies to drivers of vehicles with a permissible total mass exceeding 3.5 tons and vehicles designed to carry more than 9 people (including the driver). Every driver performing journeys in a vehicle equipped with a digital tachograph must have a valid driver card.
Upcoming regulation changes will introduce additional requirements. From July 2026, the obligation to register with a tachograph will also apply to vehicles with a mass above 2.5 tons used in international transport.
What data does the driver card record?
The driver card records detailed information necessary for monitoring the driver’s professional activity. The data contained on the driver card includes:
• Driver data (first name, last name, date of birth, driving license number, PESEL);
• Information about the country of registration, date of issue, and validity period of the driver card;
• Data concerning the driver’s work: driver’s driving time, distance traveled, activities (breaks, rest periods, other work);
• Information about the country of beginning and end of the daily work day;
• Possible tachograph malfunctions or power interruptions.
According to regulations, the card can store data from a maximum of 28 working days. The driver is obligated to download this data at least once during this period and store it for a minimum of 12 months.
Why is the card important for safety? Drivers’ working time
The significance of the driver card extends far beyond a simple administrative formality. First and foremost, it enables effective monitoring of drivers’ working time, which directly translates into compliance with regulations regarding driving time and rest periods. Thanks to this, excessive driver fatigue - one of the main causes of road accidents - can be prevented.
From the transport industry perspective, the driver card is an essential tool for employers to control drivers’ work. The lack of a driver card or its improper use results in high penalties for both the driver and the transport company.
How to obtain a driver card?
Obtaining a driver card requires submitting the appropriate application and providing the required documents. This process is relatively simple, but knowing all the details of the procedure will help avoid delays and additional complications.
Where to obtain a driver card?
The Polish Security Printing Works (PWPW) in Warsaw is the only body in Poland authorized to issue driver cards. According to European Union regulations, the card must be issued by the competent authority of the member state in which the driver has their place of residence. Drivers residing in Poland therefore submit applications exclusively to PWPW.
Driver card application - electronic and paper form
The application for a driver card can be submitted in two forms:
- Electronic form - through the info-car.pl website using a trusted profile or qualified electronic signature;
- Paper form - a completed form sent by traditional mail to the PWPW address.
It should be emphasized that depending on the chosen method, the issuance of driver cards will take 7 working days in the case of an electronic application or approximately 30 days in the case of a paper application for a driver card. The delivery time of the shipment should be added to this.
How to obtain a driver card? Required documents
To obtain a driver card, the complete application for issuing a driver card must be accompanied by:
• A copy of a valid driving license (the data in the application must match the information in the driving license);
• A photograph of the driver with dimensions of 3.5 x 4.5 cm on a white background, without headgear and dark glasses;
• A copy of proof of payment of the fee for issuing the card.
Foreigners may need additional documents, including a declaration of residence confirming a stay in Poland of more than 185 days per year.
How to check the status of a driver card?
It is possible to check a driver card for a digital tachograph, or rather its status, if an application for issuing a driver card has been previously submitted. For this purpose, you should enter your PESEL (Polish personal identification number) on the Polish Security Printing Works website.
Cost of obtaining a driver card
The fee for issuing a driver card is 172.20 PLN gross. The driver can seek reimbursement of costs from the employer based on a named proof of payment.
It is also worth remembering that the application must be submitted personally by the driver - neither the employer nor a proxy can do this on their behalf. It is advisable to submit an application for renewal of the card at least 15 working days before its expiry to avoid a break in the possibility of driving the vehicle.
Rules for using a driver card
The proper use of a driver card is subject to strict regulations set out in Regulation (EU) No 165/2014 of the European Parliament and of the Council. Knowledge of these rules is essential for every professional driver to avoid financial penalties and problems during roadside checks.
Validity period of a driver card
The validity period of a driver card is 5 years. However, it should be remembered that its validity cannot exceed the validity period of the driving license held by the driver. Since June 15, 2019, a change has been in effect - the driver card remains valid for a full 5 years regardless of the validity of the driving authorization.
Card renewal procedure
Extending the validity of a driver card requires submitting an application to the Polish Security Printing Works. The key steps in this process are:
• Submitting an application no earlier than 60 days before the expiry of the card’s validity;
• Delivering documents to PWPW no later than 15 working days before the expiry of the driver card’s validity;
• Following a procedure identical to obtaining a new card - the same documents are required;
• No certificate is issued by PWPW when submitting an application for renewal.
It is worth emphasizing that after the card’s validity expires, the driver cannot legally drive a vehicle equipped with a digital tachograph.
Basic driver obligations regarding the card
Regulations impose a number of obligations on the driver related to the proper use of the driver card. These include:
• Using the card on each day of driving the vehicle, from the moment of taking it over;
• Not removing the card from the tachograph before the end of the daily work period;
• Possessing only one valid driver card;
• Prohibition on lending the card to other people;
• Prohibition on using a damaged card or one with an expired validity period;
• Appropriate protection of the card against soiling or damage;
• Presenting the card at the request of authorized control bodies.
According to Polish regulations, when the validity period of a driver card expires, the driver is obliged to return the card to the issuing body, which remains the owner of the tachograph cards.
What to do in case of problems with the card?
Losing a driver card, theft of a driver card, or damage to a driver card requires immediate actions in accordance with the regulations specified in Regulation (EU) No 165/2014 of the European Parliament and of the Council. Proper procedure in such situations allows avoiding additional penalties and problems during roadside checks.
Lost driver card, theft, or damage: Driving without a driver card
If a driver card has been lost, stolen, or damaged, the driver must immediately take the following steps:
• Report the theft of the driver card to the appropriate authority of the state in which it occurred;
• Notify the appropriate authority of the member state that issued the card, in case of losing the driver card;
• Return the damaged driver card to the appropriate authority of the driver’s country of residence.
Additionally, the driver is obliged to prepare two printouts from the tachograph:
- First printout - at the beginning of the day, containing the driver’s first and last name, card number, driving license number, and signature;
- Second printout - after completing the route, including information about the driver’s activity from the moment of making the first printout.
How to obtain a replacement driver card?
After reporting a problem with the card, the driver has 7 calendar days to submit an application for a replacement card to the Polish Security Printing Works. According to regulations, PWPW is obliged to issue a new card within 8 working days of receiving a complete application.
The driver should have with them:
• A copy of the submitted application for issuing a duplicate driver card;
• Confirmation of reporting the theft (in case of theft);
• Certificate of reporting concerning the loss of the driver card or its damage.
Consequences of not having a driver card
Driving without a driver card, except in specific exceptions, results in serious financial consequences:
• 2000 PLN - fine for the driver;
• 500 PLN - penalty for the person managing transport;
• 2000 PLN - penalty for the entrepreneur.
It is worth noting that in case of losing a driver card, or its loss in another way, the driver can continue driving without a card for a maximum of 15 calendar days or longer if necessary for the vehicle to return to base. However, in extreme cases, the driving license may be suspended for a period of 3 months.
For lack of required printouts, an additional fine of 200 PLN is imposed for each missing printout, and for improperly described printouts - 100 PLN for each day.
Temporary driver card
It is also worth mentioning a document known as a temporary driver card. It is dedicated to foreign bus and truck drivers employed in companies with headquarters in Poland.
Moreover, in this case, the validity period of the driver card is 185 days.
Furthermore, the temporary driver card is issued by the Polish Security Printing Works (PWPW).
Driver card vs. company card (enterprise)
It is worth noting that driver cards are not the same as company cards.
While a driver card is assigned to a specific driver, a company card serves a completely different function in the digital tachograph system - it is used to identify a transport company, enabling access to data recorded in the tachographs of vehicles belonging to the company.
Unlike the driver card, which records the driver’s driving time, breaks, and individual employee activities, the company card allows for the management of data for the entire fleet.
Both cards are issued by the Polish Security Printing Works for a period of 5 years, but they differ in price - the driver card costs around 172.20 PLN, while the company card costs 282.90 PLN.
Also importantly, according to EU regulations, each transport company must have a company card to be able to download, store, and analyze data from the tachographs of its vehicles, which is necessary for proper accounting of drivers’ working time and ensuring compliance with road transport regulations. The cooperation of both cards in the tachograph system provides comprehensive monitoring and management of working time in road transport.
If you want to learn more about the company card, we encourage you to read our article: Tachograph company card: What is it and why it’s necessary?
Driver card and its functions - Summary
A driver card is a mandatory electronic document in the form of a chip card for persons driving vehicles equipped with digital tachographs. It applies to drivers of vehicles with a mass above 3.5 tons and carrying more than 9 people.
The driver card is assigned to one person, and its main function is to record working time, distance traveled, and other driver activities, which directly affects road safety through control of driving and rest time.
The card is issued exclusively by the Polish Security Printing Works in Warsaw, for a fee of 172.20 PLN. The application for issuing a driver card can be submitted electronically (waiting time is about 7 days) or on paper (about 30 days). The validity period of the driver card is 5 years, and its extension requires submitting an application no earlier than 60 days and no later than 15 working days before the expiry date.
In case of loss, theft, or damage to the card, the driver must immediately report this fact to the appropriate authorities and submit an application for a replacement card within 7 days. In the meantime, they should make printouts from the tachograph at the beginning and end of the working day.
Driving without a valid driver card can result in a fine of 2000 PLN for the driver, a 500 PLN penalty for the person managing transport, and a 2000 PLN penalty for the entrepreneur. In extreme cases, the driving license may be suspended for 3 months.
It should also be remembered that the driver card differs from the company card - the latter is used to identify the transport company and enables management of data for the entire fleet, costing 282.90 PLN.
If you need support in transport matters, not only those concerning the driver card, but also, for example, in drivers’ payroll calculation, optimizing drivers’ salaries, or in matters of human resources and payroll in transport companies, contact us, and Evotax specialists will be happy to provide support!
Driver card - Frequently asked questions
Below we have collected questions about the driver card that we receive most frequently and provided answers to them. If among them there is no issue that interests you, contact us, and our specialists will be happy to provide support!
What are the basic functions of a driver card?
The driver card is used to record working time, distance traveled, and other driver activities. It is required for persons driving vehicles above 3.5 tons or carrying more than 9 people. It contains the driver’s personal data and is necessary for operating a digital tachograph.
Where and how can I obtain a driver card?
A driver card can be obtained from the Polish Security Printing Works. The application can be submitted online through the info-car.pl website or in paper form. The cost of obtaining the card is 172.20 PLN, and the waiting time is approximately 7-30 days, depending on the form of application submission.
How long is a driver card valid and how do I renew it?
A driver card is valid for 5 years. To renew it, an application must be submitted no earlier than 60 days and no later than 15 working days before the expiry date. The renewal procedure is similar to obtaining a new card.
Replacement of a driver card and what to do in case of loss or theft of a driver card?
In case of loss or theft of the card, this fact must be immediately reported to the appropriate authorities. The driver has 7 days to submit an application for a replacement card. In the meantime, they should make printouts from the tachograph at the beginning and end of the working day.
What are the consequences of driving without a valid driver card?
Driving without a valid driver card can result in a fine of 2000 PLN for the driver and additional penalties for the entrepreneur and person managing transport. In extreme cases, the driving license may be suspended for 3 months.
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