17-Year-Olds Behind the Wheel – When Can They Drive Alone and When Must They Be Accompanied?
As of 3 March 2026, it is possible to obtain a Category B driving licence at the age of 17, provided that the requirements set out in the relevant regulations are met.
However, this does not mean that a 17-year-old can immediately drive a car entirely independently. Obtaining a driving licence before reaching the age of 18 involves additional restrictions on driving alone.
The regulations provide for a period during which a young driver must drive in the presence of an accompanying person who meets specific requirements. However, this restriction does not necessarily last for the full six months. The date on which the driver turns 18 is also important.
Can a 17-year-old with a driving licence drive alone?
Not immediately.
A person who obtains a Category B driving licence after turning 17 but before turning 18 may drive a motor vehicle other than a quadricycle only in the presence of an accompanying person for:
- Six months from the date the driving licence is obtained, but no longer than until the driver turns 18.
In practice, this means that the requirement to drive with an accompanying person may end before the six-month period has elapsed.
Example 1
If a driver obtains a driving licence on their 17th birthday, the requirement to drive with an accompanying person will remain in force for six months.
Example 2
If a driver obtains a driving licence at the age of 17 years and 10 months, the requirement to drive with an accompanying person will end when they turn 18. In this case, it will therefore last approximately two months rather than the full six months.
Who can accompany a 17-year-old driver?
It is not enough for any person holding a driving licence to sit next to the young driver.
The accompanying person must meet all of the following requirements:
- Be at least 25 years old.
- Have held a Category B driving licence continuously for at least five years.
- Not be subject to a driving ban and not have been subject to such a ban during the previous five years.
- Not be intoxicated or under the influence of alcohol.
- Not be under the influence of a substance that acts similarly to alcohol.
Exception: The age requirement of 25 and the requirement to have held a Category B driving licence for at least five years do not apply to driving instructors or examiners in situations specified by law.
Before setting off, it is advisable to make sure that the accompanying person meets all the requirements. If even one requirement is not met, that person cannot act as an accompanying person during a journey for which accompaniment is mandatory.
Does the accompanying person have to be a parent?
No. The regulations do not require the accompanying person to be related to the young driver.
For example, the accompanying person may be:
- A parent.
- An older sibling.
- Another family member.
- An acquaintance.
However, each of these individuals must meet all the statutory requirements concerning, among other things, age, length of time holding a driving licence, driving bans and sobriety.
Therefore, being the parent of a 17-year-old driver does not automatically mean that a person is eligible to act as an accompanying person.
Where must the accompanying person sit?
In a passenger car, the accompanying person must sit in the front passenger seat.
It is therefore not sufficient for an eligible person to be travelling in the same car while sitting in the back.
This requirement is important because the regulations explicitly make a 17-year-old’s right to drive conditional on the presence of an eligible passenger seated in the front.
How long must a young driver drive with an accompanying person?
The requirement to drive with an accompanying person applies for six months from the date the Category B driving licence is obtained, but no longer than until the driver turns 18.
It is worth paying particular attention to the second part of this rule.
If a young driver obtains a driving licence a few months before their 18th birthday, they do not have to wait for the full six months to elapse before driving without an accompanying person. Once they turn 18, the requirement to have an accompanying person no longer applies.
Can a 17-year-old drive abroad?
No. A Category B driving licence obtained after turning 17 but before turning 18 authorises the holder to drive vehicles only within the territory of the Republic of Poland until they turn 18.
This means that simply holding a Polish driving licence does not entitle a 17-year-old to drive a car abroad.
Once the driver turns 18, this specific territorial restriction no longer applies.
What changes when the driver turns 18?
Turning 18 has two important consequences for a young driver.
First, the requirement to drive in the presence of an accompanying person ceases to apply, even if the full six months have not elapsed since the driving licence was obtained.
Second, the restriction limiting the use of a Category B driving licence to the territory of Poland before the age of 18 no longer applies.
However, this does not mean that all special rules for novice drivers end on their 18th birthday. A probationary period may still apply.
Obtaining a driving licence at 17 and the probationary period
The requirement to drive with an accompanying person and the probationary period are two separate matters.
The first applies to young drivers who have not yet turned 18 and remains in force no longer than until they reach the age of 18.
The probationary period, on the other hand, is associated with obtaining a Category B driving licence for the first time and may last longer. For a person who obtains a driving licence at the age of 17, it lasts three years, but no longer than until they turn 20. For a driver who obtains a driving licence after turning 18, the probationary period lasts two years.
Therefore, the end of the requirement to drive with an accompanying person should not be confused with the end of all restrictions applicable to novice drivers. Turning 18 and no longer being required to drive with an accompanying person do not mean that the probationary period has ended. Young drivers must continue to comply with the rules applicable during this period, including the requirement to maintain absolute sobriety.
The new probationary-period rules apply to people who obtained a Category B driving licence for the first time on or after 4 September 2026. Therefore, the date on which the driving licence was obtained is important when interpreting the regulations.
Does a parent have to give consent for a person under 18 to obtain a driving licence?
A person under 18 must meet additional formal requirements when obtaining a driving licence, including obtaining written consent from a parent or legal guardian. This stage is described in detail in our guide to the requirements that must be met before starting a Category B driving course.
However, the key point in this article is the rule that applies after the driving licence has been obtained: until the conditions allowing independent driving are met, a 17-year-old must drive in the presence of an eligible accompanying person.
17-Year-Olds Behind the Wheel – Key Rules
A Category B driving licence can be obtained from the age of 17.
However, this does not mean that the driver can drive entirely independently from the first day.
A 17-year-old driver:
- Must drive with an accompanying person for six months from the date the driving licence is obtained, but no longer than until turning 18.
- May drive before turning 18 only within Poland.
- Must be accompanied by a person who meets the requirements concerning age, length of time holding a driving licence, driving bans and sobriety.
- Must ensure that the accompanying person occupies the front passenger seat.
After the driver turns 18, both the requirement to drive with an accompanying person and the territorial restriction cease to apply.
FAQ
Can a 17-year-old drive alone after passing the driving test?
Not immediately. For six months from the date the driving licence is obtained, but no longer than until turning 18, the driver must be accompanied by a person who meets the requirements specified by law.
Does the accompanying person have to be a parent?
No. It can be another person, provided they meet the requirements concerning age, length of time holding a driving licence, driving bans and sobriety.
Can a 17-year-old drive a car abroad?
Not before turning 18. Until then, a Category B driving licence obtained by a person under 18 authorises them to drive only within Poland.
Must a driver continue to drive with an accompanying person after turning 18?
No. This requirement ends no later than the driver’s 18th birthday.
