Car Rental in Gdansk (2026) - Driving Guide & Best Rates
Rent a car in Gdansk to explore top attractions and beaches at your own pace. Find the best deals on reliable car rentals for a smooth Polish getaway.
Driving Requirements
Poland legally recognizes foreign driving licenses from EU/EEA countries without restriction. Visitors from outside the EU can generally drive on their home license for up to six months. But an International Driving Permit (IDP) is strongly recommended, and effectively required if your license is not in the Latin alphabet, as Polish police may not accept a license they cannot read. Rental companies typically require an IDP alongside non-EU licenses regardless of legal requirements, so check with your provider before arrival.
The legal minimum driving age in Poland is 18. Rental company policies vary significantly: some rent to drivers aged 18 or 19, while others require 21 or even 25, and younger drivers frequently face surcharges. There is no single standard, always confirm the age policy and any young-driver fees with the specific rental provider before booking.
Polish law mandates third-party liability insurance (OC, odpowiedzialność cywilna) on every vehicle, and rentals include this by default. Beyond the legal minimum, rental companies typically offer optional Collision Damage Waiver (CDW) and theft protection, often with an excess that can be reduced for an additional fee. Review the excess amount and exclusions carefully, damage to tyres, windscreen, and undercarriage is commonly excluded from basic CDW packages.
Most rental companies in Gdansk require a credit card in the driver's name at pickup, with a hold placed for the security deposit. The deposit amount varies by provider and vehicle class. Debit cards are generally not accepted for the deposit, though some companies may allow them for payment after the hold is placed on a credit card, confirm directly with your provider.
Poland drives on the right side of the road. Headlights must be on at all times, day and night, this is a legal requirement, not optional. Turning right on a red light is prohibited unless a dedicated green arrow signal permits it. Trams have priority in most situations, which is relevant in central Gdańsk where tram lines are frequent. Speed limits are typically 50 km/h in built-up areas during the day, reduced to 50 km/h at night as well, with lower limits in residential zones.
Helpful Tips
Gdansk's Lech Wałęsa Airport (GDN) is roughly 12 km west of the city center, and most major rental companies have desks in the arrivals hall, making airport pickup convenient. But compare rates with city-center branches, as airport surcharges can apply and availability sometimes differs between locations.
Before driving off, photograph every scratch and dent on the car and confirm they match the rental agreement's damage sheet, CDW (Collision Damage Waiver) is typically included in Poland but often carries a high excess, so check whether your credit card or a third-party policy can reduce it before paying the rental desk's excess-reduction upsell.
Google Maps works reliably throughout Gdansk and the Tri-City area (Gdańsk, Sopot, Gdynia), including real-time traffic. Download the offline map for the Pomeranian Voivodeship before you set out, since mobile data gaps can occur on rural roads heading toward the Kashubian Lake District or Malbork.
Most rental cars in Poland run on petrol (benzyna) or diesel (ON, olej napędowy), and fuel stations from chains like Orlen and Shell are plentiful along main roads. Choose full-to-full fueling at pickup so you only pay for what you use, and refuel near the airport before returning since station prices in the terminal zone tend to be higher.
Gdansk's Old Town and Main City (Główne Miasto) have a paid parking zone on weekdays, look for parkometers and pay by coin or a mobile app like mobiParking, while large shopping centers such as those along Grunwaldzka typically offer free or validated parking. For overnight stays, confirm whether your hotel has its own lot or a partner garage, as street parking in the historic core fills quickly in summer.
Driving Warnings
Poland requires dipped headlights on at all times, even in broad daylight and perfect weather, this is a legal requirement year-round, and police routinely issue fines to visiting drivers who forget.
Gdansk has an extensive tram network, and trams always have absolute right of way. You must also come to a complete stop when a tram halts at a platform without a raised passenger island, as passengers will step directly into the roadway to board, tram tracks themselves become dangerously slippery in rain, so avoid braking or turning sharply while crossing them.
Poland enforces a 0.02% blood alcohol limit, which is effectively zero tolerance, even a single beer can put you over, and exceeding it carries severe penalties including criminal charges, immediate license confiscation, and potential imprisonment, not just a fine.
Turning right on a red light is strictly illegal in Poland unless a separate green filter arrow is illuminated. There is no equivalent of the North American right-on-red rule, and running it is treated the same as running a red light, with points and a fine.