Registration certificate - no obligation. The police have been checking the data in the Central Register of Vehicles and Drivers since October.…
Registration certificate – what do the markings tell us? Practical legend for the registration certificate
(photo, Moje Auto)
Every vehicle admitted to traffic must have a registration certificate – regardless of whether it is a passenger car, moped or agricultural tractor. This document confirms the right to use the vehicle and must meet the requirements of EU Directive 1999/37/EC. The new version of the registration certificate has been in force since 1 October 2004, and its issuance is subject to specific procedures. What are the differences between a temporary and permanent certificate? What does the vehicle registration process look like in practice? Check out our guide and learn everything about it!
- What does a vehicle registration certificate look like?
- Temporary and permanent registration certificate – how to decipher vehicle information?
- Vehicle registration number, details about the registration certificate holder… that's not all!
- Most frequently searched markings in the registration certificate
- Owner details, engine power or fuel type in the registration certificate
What does a vehicle registration certificate look like?
The registration certificate is a document confirming that the vehicle has been registered. It has the form of a three-winged document in blue and yellow. It is secured with foil, which protects it from damage. The dimensions of the registration certificate are 105 mm x 218 mm (±0,7 mm), and after folding - 73 mm x 105 mm. Each registration certificate contains personalized data of the vehicle owner and the registration number.
The most important information about the registration certificate:
- Date of issue of registration certificate – you will find it at the top of the document.
- Vehicle owner details – name, surname and address of the owner.
- Registration number – an individual number assigned to the vehicle.
- Vehicle Identification Number (VIN) – a code consisting of letters and numbers that identifies the vehicle.
- Gross vehicle weight – maximum permitted vehicle weight.
As of October 1, 2018, you do not have to carry your registration certificate with you during a road check. If you lose or damage your document, you can apply for a duplicate at the Department of Communications. You will receive a temporary registration certificate immediately - it is valid for 30 days. The full vehicle document will be ready for collection after the vehicle registration process is complete.
Remember that no evidence at road check is no longer a problem, in other words, the driver does not have to show it during the check. However, he must show his driving license.
The Central Vehicle Register can verify the technical status of the car and its legal status based on the data from the registration certificate. Remember also that each technical inspection of the vehicle must be entered in the registration certificate. This is the responsibility of the diagnostician conducting the inspection at the vehicle inspection station.
Temporary and permanent registration certificate – how to decipher vehicle information?
The registration certificate is a small document. Despite its compact size, it quickly provides us with a lot of information. How to decipher it? You will need knowledge of the markings in the registration certificate, or more precisely, what the individual letters mean, and where to look for them.
The registration certificate, both temporary and permanent, contains key information about the vehicle and its owner. You will find there, among other things, the date of issue of the registration certificate, the owner's data and the technical details of the vehicle.
The most important markings on the registration certificate:
- A – Vehicle registration number.
- B – Date of first registration of the vehicle.
- C.1 – Vehicle owner details (name, surname, address).
- D.1 – Vehicle make.
- D.2 – Vehicle model.
- D.3 – Vehicle type.
- E – Vehicle Identification Number (VIN).
- F.1 – Maximum gross vehicle weight.
- J – Vehicle category.
- P.1 – Engine capacity.
- P.2 – Engine power.
- R – Vehicle color.
- S.1 – Number of seats in the vehicle.
Vehicle registration number, details about the registration certificate holder… that's not all!
There are three letters on the legalization sticker – A, B and C. markings in the registration certificate designed for the legalization of the license plate. The legalization sticker is in the form of a self-adhesive homologation label, which is effectively protected against data falsification and counterfeiting. If we peel it off from the substrate, it cannot be reused, it is also then delaminated.
On permanent registration plates we will find the designations A and B, while the designation C is stuck into the registration certificate. There is also a code on the sticker, which consists of the designation NL, followed by three letters and seven numbers.
What does A in a registration certificate mean? The letter A denotes the vehicle registration number. The letter B denotes the date of the first registration of the vehicle, and C contains data relating to the owner of the registered vehicle and the owner of the registration certificate.
Most frequently searched markings in the registration certificate
In the registration certificate you will find markings related to the vehicle owner's data. Markings from the group C they mainly concern information about the owner and keeper of the vehicle. Thanks to them, you can quickly verify who formally owns the car.
In the section C.1 there are basic data of the owner of the registration certificate:
- C.1.1 – Name or surname of the owner.
- C.1.2 – PESEL or REGON number of the owner.
- C.1.3 – Address of the owner of the registration certificate.
- C.2.1 – Name or business name of the vehicle owner.
- C.2.2 – PESEL or REGON number of the vehicle owner.
- C.2.3 – Address of the vehicle owner.
Section markings C reveal both the details of the vehicle owner and the owner of the registration certificate. In the case of leasing, in field C.2 you will find the details of the bank or leasing company that formally owns the vehicle. J
If the vehicle is privately owned, you will find the vehicle owner's details there. Basic vehicle details - VIN number and other vehicle details
Owner details, engine power or fuel type in the registration certificate
You have probably noticed that there are many more symbols in your vehicle registration certificate. It is also worth knowing their meaning. What else data in the registration certificate can you decode? E is the vehicle identification number (VIN or body, chassis or frame number). F.1 and F.2 are the maximum gross vehicle weight and the permissible gross vehicle weight, respectively, both values expressed in kilograms.
The vehicle's curb weight is G. H is the validity period of the document, I is the date of issue of the document, and J is the vehicle category. The letter K indicates the number of the vehicle type approval certificate, but it is not always present. The L marking indicates the number of axles, O.1 the maximum total weight of the trailer with a brake and O.2 the maximum total weight of the trailer without a brake. Analyzing further, we have the symbols P.1, P.2 and P.3, which respectively mean the engine capacity expressed in ccm, the maximum engine power in kW and the type of fuel. The H marking can only be found on motorcycles and mopeds and refers to the power to weight ratio. We will learn about the number of seats from the symbol S.1, and in the case of buses, about the number of standing places from S.2.
Summary
Every car owner and driver must have a registration certificate. It is blue-yellow in color and measures 105 mm x 218 mm (±0,7 mm). From October 1, 2018, there is no obligation to carry it with you while driving.
Under the letter A is the vehicle registration number, under B the date of the first registration of the vehicle, and under C the data regarding the owner of the registered vehicle and the owner of the registration certificate. Data about the vehicle can be found in section D. The remaining information about the vehicle are symbols, which are subsequent letters of the alphabet.
Remember that the certificate will always contain the vehicle registration number, as well as the registration certificate holder's data. This is basic information that both the classic and electronic registration certificates contain.
See also:
- Re-registering a car – how long? What is the penalty for missing?
- Driving License Exchange – When is it needed and what do you need to do?
- Calculate your car's fuel consumption, use our fuel consumption calculator!
FAQ
Where can you find the technical inspection date on the registration certificate?
The date of the next technical inspection of the vehicle is noted in the registration certificate. In the "Notes" field you will find the diagnostician's stamp with the inspection expiry date. If you do not have access to the registration certificate, you can use the mObywatel application, which contains information about your vehicle, including the expiry date of the technical inspection.
How long does it take to obtain a new registration certificate?
The waiting time for a new registration certificate is up to 30 days from the moment of submitting the application. During this period, you can receive a temporary permit, which entitles you to drive a vehicle until the proper document is received.
What is the fee for replacing a damaged car registration certificate?
The fee for issuing a new registration certificate is PLN 54,50. If it is necessary to issue a temporary permit, the total cost is PLN 73,50. In practice, replacing the registration certificate is not expensive, but as the owner of the vehicle you have to bear the costs associated with such an operation. In the event of a damaged document, it is necessary to submit the registration certificate to the office and then submit an application for a new one.
Where to report a lost registration certificate?
If you lose your registration certificate, you should immediately report to the communication department appropriate for your place of residence. There you submit an application for a duplicate registration certificate and a statement about the loss of the document.
What is a duplicate registration certificate?
A duplicate registration certificate is a duplicate of the original document issued in the event of its loss, theft or destruction. It contains the same data as the lost document and confirms the vehicle's roadworthiness. This is a registration certificate that entitles you to drive a vehicle in the country and abroad.
Do you need to have a registration certificate when driving a car? What is the purpose of a car registration certificate?
Since 1 October 2018, there is no obligation to carry a registration certificate with you when driving in Poland. However, the registration certificate is an important document confirming the vehicle's roadworthiness and contains information about the owner and the vehicle's technical parameters. It is necessary when completing many formalities, such as technical inspections or selling a car.
What are the consequences of not collecting the registration certificate from the office?
Failure to collect the registration certificate from the office may result in problems during a road check, especially if the temporary permit has expired. This may lead to a fine and the vehicle being impounded.
How to complete an application for a registration certificate?
To complete the application for a registration certificate, please provide:
- Registration certificate holder details, such as name, surname, residential address and PESEL number.
- Vehicle details including registration number, VIN number, make, model and year of manufacture.
- Reason for applying for a new ID card, e.g. loss, destruction or lack of space for stamps.
The application must be accompanied by the required documents, such as confirmation of payment, current technical inspection and third party liability insurance. This is necessary to receive a registration certificate entitling the car to legally drive on public roads.
