Driving license and registration certificate on your phone? Thanks to the mObywatel application, drivers in Poland can give up physical documents. Check when you can rely on digital solutions and when it is better to have your driving license and registration certificate with you.
Driving license and registration certificate in mObywatel – when and where they can be used
Thanks to new technologies and simplified regulations, drivers in Poland have the opportunity to use digital documents using the mObywatel application. A driving license and registration certificate available on the phone make life much easier, but can we rely on them in every situation? Below you will find information on when you can use these documents and when it is better to have traditional versions with you.
Digital documents in mObywatel – what is worth knowing?
For several years now, Polish drivers have no longer had to worry about having physical versions of their driving license or registration certificate. All thanks to the mObywatel application, which allows digital access to two key documents:
- mDriving License – a digital driving license containing the same data as its physical counterpart.
- mVehicle – digital registration certificate, available to owners and co-owners of vehicles registered in Poland.
Thanks to these solutions, you only need to have your phone with you, and the application allows you to show your documents during a road check. Millions of drivers already use mObywatel, but is this convenience sufficient in every situation?
When can you use your driving license and registration card on your phone?
The mObywatel application provides full functionality of a normal document in most standard situations that a driver may encounter on Polish roads. Digital documents are accepted in cases such as:
- Roadside inspection – the policeman has access to the Central Driver Register, so it is enough to show a digital driving license or registration certificate from the application.
- Purchasing insurance – a digital registration certificate can be used during formalities related to third party liability insurance.
- Road collisions – the mObywatel application allows quick access to driver and vehicle data, which makes it easier to prepare a statement and improves the formalities at the scene of the incident.
- Car rental – for people using car rental companies, the mDriving License may also be a sufficient confirmation of their qualifications.
Situations where it is better to have physical documents with you
Although mObywatel offers many possibilities, not every situation allows replacing traditional documents with digital equivalents. There are situations when it is necessary to have physical versions of documents: :
- Travel abroad – digital documents are accepted only in Poland. When traveling to other European countries, you must have your driving license, registration certificate and a valid third party liability insurance policy with you. In some cases, a Green Card, which is international proof of insurance, is also necessary.
- Official formalities – some procedures require the presentation of a physical registration certificate, e.g. at the transport department or when collecting the vehicle from the parking lot after it has been towed.
- Technical inspections – technical inspection of the vehicle, which is carried out at diagnostic stations, requires the presentation of a physical registration certificate.
- Vehicle sale – when selling a car, the buyer may require a physical registration certificate and confirmation of third party liability insurance.
Everything about your car in the mObywatel application
The mObywatel application is much more than just a driving license and registration certificate. Among its features you can also find: penalty point counterwhich automatically updates information about fines. This gives drivers quick access to data about their driving offenses, which can help monitor their points count and prevent them from exceeding the limit.
My vehicles this is another useful functionality. Thanks to it, vehicle owners can check information such as:
- Vehicle technical data – make, model, year of production, VIN number.
- Meter status – introduced by diagnostic stations or the police.
- Third party liability policy – insurer’s name, policy number, third party liability insurance validity period.
- Reminders – about the expiring validity of the third party liability insurance policy and the date of the technical inspection.
When do foreign drivers have to have documents with them?
While regulations for Polish drivers have become more liberal, foreign drivers traveling in Poland still must have all traditional documents with them: driving license, registration certificate and third party liability insurance. Otherwise, they may face fines or complications during a roadside check.
For people driving leased, company or rented vehicles, the situation also requires physical documents – digital equivalents are not accepted in the case of vehicles registered to other people or institutions.
sources: Yanosik, gov.pl
