Illegal parking in Poland results in one of three consequences: a fine ranging from 100 to 1200 PLN, penalty points (from 1 to 6 depending on the offense), or towing of the vehicle at the owner's expense. In 2026, the fines will remain the same as in 2022, but towing and guarded parking fees have increased since January 1, 2026. This article will explain the rules of proper parking, the exact costs of specific offenses, and how to avoid fines.
Parking rules in Poland
Every driver should be familiar with proper parking practices even during their driving lessons. The most important thing is finding a suitable parking space. Furthermore, the car should be parked in accordance with road signs and traffic regulations.
Basic road traffic law provisions
However, sometimes we visit a new city and, with the ever-increasing number of vehicles, struggle to find a parking space. In such situations, it's easy to get a parking ticket for illegal parking. Therefore, it's worth familiarizing yourself with road traffic law and remembering that:
- Chapter 5, "Traffic Order and Safety on Roads," Article 46 clearly states that stopping and parking a vehicle is only permitted in a place where it is visible to other road users. The vehicle must not obstruct traffic or pose a hazard. If the vehicle stops on the road, the driver is obliged to stop it as close to the edge as possible, in a parallel position.
- Article 47 of the Road Traffic Act states that a vehicle may be stopped on a sidewalk only with the wheels of one side or front axle. However, only if: there is no stopping prohibition on the roadway, the width of the sidewalk does not impede movement and is not less than 1,5 m, the vehicle does not block traffic on the roadway,
- Article 49 clearly indicates in which situations stopping a vehicle is prohibited. These locations include: railway and tram crossings, intersections, pedestrian crossings, cyclist crossings, tunnels, bridges, viaducts, carriageways along solid lines, carriageways next to broken lines, and roadsides.
It's also worth noting that drivers may not stop their vehicles on highways or expressways in any other place than designated areas. They should also remember to obey road signs that indicate parking and stopping restrictions. These include:
- B-35 — a sign with a diagonal red line on a blue background means no parking,
- B-36 — means no stopping and is two intersecting red lines on a blue background.
Drivers must also pay attention to other signs that indicate who may park in a given space, including spaces reserved for people with disabilities.
How much are parking fines? What are the most common penalties?
Fines for illegal parking are imposed by the police and municipal guards based on a fine schedule, which will remain in force in 2026 at the same level as in 2022. A fine for parking in a prohibited space can range from PLN 100 to PLN 1200, depending on the type of offense and the location where the violation occurred.
Cost of a parking ticket
Parking fines in 2026 could range from 100 to as much as 1200 PLN! Parking fines are issued by the police or municipal guard. The amount of a parking fine depends on the type of offense. How much can a parking fine cost?
The driver will receive a fine of PLN 100 for, among other things:
- parking on the sidewalk,
- violation of the parking ban in places with difficult entry or exit,
- violation of the obligation to stop the vehicle on the road as close as possible to its edge and parallel to it,
- stopping the vehicle on the road along a continuous line or near its end points,
- stopping the vehicle at the left edge of the road and in the lane between the roads,
- stopping a vehicle on a bicycle path,
- stopping the vehicle in a residential area in a place other than the one marked.
A fine from PLN 100 to PLN 300 applies for the following violations:
- stopping the vehicle or parking it in a place that causes traffic obstruction or where a sufficient distance has not been maintained to ensure the vehicle is visible to other drivers,
- stopping a car on a pedestrian crossing or a cyclist crossing (or less than 10 m before the crossing or crossing).
You can expect a fine from 150 to 300 PLN for:
- violation of the obligation to place the car outside the roadway when parked on a road outside a built-up area.
A fine of PLN 200 applies for:
- stopping a vehicle in a tunnel, on a bridge or on a viaduct.
A fine of 200 to 300 PLN can be received for:
- violation of the parking ban in force in built-up areas for a vehicle or vehicle combination with a GVM exceeding 16 t or a length exceeding 12 m.
A 300 PLN fine applies for:
- stopping a car at a railway or tram crossing, intersection or within 10 m of a crossing or intersection.
A fine of PLN 1200 will be given to people who:
- use a parking card without being authorized to do so and for simultaneously parking in a space designated for disabled people.
As the examples above show, parking fines vary depending on the type of offense. However, a monetary fine isn't all drivers receive. In most cases, they also face penalty points for specific offenses.
Penalty points for parking violations
In addition to a fine, drivers who violate parking regulations receive penalty points—from one to six, depending on the type of offense. Many drivers undoubtedly wonder if there are penalty points for parking violations. It turns out there are.
A driver who fails to comply with prohibition signs will receive one penalty point. An additional 5 points will be awarded to anyone who stops their vehicle in a tunnel, on a bridge, viaduct, railway or tram crossing, or at a pedestrian crossing or at an inappropriate distance from a pedestrian crossing or intersection. A maximum of 6 points will be awarded to a driver who parks their vehicle in a space designated for disabled persons.
Additionally, please note that improper parking may result in your vehicle being towed away, and this, mind you, will be at the owner's expense. In such cases, the cost of a tow truck and parking in a designated parking lot must be added to the cost.
Want to avoid fines and penalty points for parking illegally? Download and install the SkyCash app, which will help you park efficiently and conveniently without hidden costs!
Vehicle towing for illegal parking. When and what are the penalties?
Towing a vehicle requires a specific legal basis under Article 130a of the Road Traffic Act and can only be performed by a police officer, municipal police officer, or rescue operation commander. Parking a car illegally can lead to unpleasant consequences. When is this possible? How much does it cost to retrieve a car from a police impound lot?
Conditions for towing a car
Vehicle towing isn't a common occurrence, but there are situations where the city guard or police are forced to remove an illegally parked car. Interestingly, a car can also be impounded after a roadside inspection if the driver is found to be under the influence of drugs or if the vehicle doesn't have valid third-party liability insurance.
Pursuant to Article 130a, paragraph 1 of the Act of 20 June 1997, Road Traffic Law, a vehicle may be towed away when:
- the car is parked in a prohibited place or when the car poses a safety hazard or obstructs road traffic,
- the car does not have compulsory third party liability insurance,
- we are dealing with exceeding the permissible dimensions or weight of the vehicle, which affects the axle load or the dimensions of the vehicle,
- the vehicle will be left in a location with a warning that it may be towed away at the owner's expense,
- the driver is driving under the influence of alcohol,
- a road user drives a vehicle without authorization or with a suspended driving license,
- the car is in poor technical condition and poses a threat to the safety of other road users,
- the vehicle has no license plates,
- the car looks unused and abandoned (e.g. in a public parking lot),
- a parked car blocks access during the rescue operation.
It's worth noting that only a police officer, municipal police officer, or rescue operation commander can, upon request, order a vehicle to be transported to a parking lot. Furthermore, public services can also operate in residential and store parking lots.
As you can see in the above example, a ticket for parking in a prohibited place is one thing that can happen to a driver, and having the car towed is another unpleasant situation.
Vehicle towing and storage costs
The cost of towing the vehicle to the police parking lot is borne by the driver, and the maximum rates are set annually by the Minister of Finance in an announcement. Local governments may lower them, but in practice they apply the maximum rates. From January 1, 2026, new, higher rates apply: the owner of a passenger car (up to 3,5 tons) will pay up to 749 PLN for the towing itself and PLN 65 for each started day storage in a guarded parking lot.
Current maximum rates for 2026 (in accordance with the announcement of the Minister of Finance of August 1, 2025):
- Bicycle, moped, electric scooter, personal transport device — towing PLN 179, storage PLN 35/day.
- Motorcycle — towing PLN 348, storage PLN 48/day.
- Vehicle with a GVM of up to 3,5 t (passenger car) — towing PLN 749, storage PLN 65/day.
- Vehicle with a GVM of 3,5–7,5 t — storage PLN 86/day.
- Vehicle with a GVM of 7,5–16 t — storage PLN 122/day.
- Vehicle with a GVM over 16 t — storage PLN 215/day.
- Vehicle transporting hazardous materials (ADR) — storage PLN 312/day.
For example, a towed passenger car left in a guarded parking lot for a week costs PLN 749 + 7 × PLN 65 = 1204 PLNIn addition, there is a ticket for the violation that resulted in the tow.
What are the procedures for appealing a fine?
Any driver who believes they were wrongly issued a parking ticket may appeal the decision. However, before submitting the necessary documents, please carefully review the notice you receive.
Appealing a fine - deadlines and formalities
Every driver surely knows how to pay a parking ticket. However, filing an appeal is not so simple. As mentioned earlier, before filing an appeal, you should read the instructions you received. This document will indicate to which authority and by what date the appeal should be sent or delivered in person.
As specified by law, a request to waive a fine must be submitted within seven days of the date of issue. What information should be included in the request? Primarily: the fine number, personal information, and a detailed explanation of why the driver disagrees with the fine. Importantly, a fine appeal is reviewed by the district court in the place where the offense occurred.
How to avoid a parking ticket?
Can you avoid a parking ticket? Of course you can! It's crucial to follow a few simple, basic rules.
Avoiding the most common mistakes
Fines for parking violations? Never again, just remember this:
- parking should only take place in permitted places marked with appropriate signs or in designated parking lots,
- avoid leaving the vehicle in places such as intersections, pedestrian crossings or traffic-free zones,
- it is necessary to pay the parking fee in accordance with the applicable rates and time if the vehicle is located in a paid parking zone,
- it is worth getting acquainted with road signs and following their instructions,
- avoid parking in spaces designated for disabled people without authorization to use such spaces,
- the vehicle should be parked in accordance with markings such as lines, arrows or other symbols,
- remember to keep appropriate distances from pedestrian crossings, intersections, railway and tram crossings, among others.
Alternative parking options
The most effective way to avoid a parking ticket is to park in a designated parking lot or paid parking zone, with a paid ticket. Parking in a prohibited space will almost certainly result in a ticket. Therefore, the best solution is to use paid parking lots or paid parking zones.
Another alternative parking option is to use dedicated mobile apps. One such app is SkyCash with the mobiParking service. By choosing mobiParking, you can pay for your parking in just a few clicks—without hidden costs.
Parking fines? This can be avoided. All you need is knowledge of traffic regulations and signs, and an eye for detail. When choosing paid parking, don't forget to purchase a ticket—using a parking meter or a dedicated app. Either choice is a good one to avoid a parking fine.