Car Photo Fine: Deadline Jan 25 | Mandatory Fee

Who has to pay the RTV license fee for the radio in the car?

Fee the cost of using a home or car radio is charged to him owner. Hence, in the case of a leased or rented car, this obligation falls on the company from which we, as a user, rent the vehicle. Entrepreneurs also have to pay a license fee for each registered receiver, including car receivers, if the car is registered for business purposes. Even scrapping the vehicle or a fire cannot prevent this, but more on that later…

Private individualswho pay a radio license fee at home do not have to pay a separate cost for a car receiver (or computers, phones, tablets and other electronic devices). There is one obligation to register at the post office per household and one subscription fee. It is worth remembering that the use of cable, satellite or digital television does not exempt you from this obligation. But if by some miracle controller from Poczta Polska proves that despite the lack of a radio in the apartment, we have a radio in the car, then there is no mercy, you have to pay. How many?

RTV license fee increase: You have less time than you think

New year, new rules. The regulation of the National Broadcasting Council for 2026 states that the car owner must pay a fee for one month of using the radio. fee of PLN 9.50 (in 2025 it was PLN 8.70) – he will pay PLN 114 annually (PLN 9.50 x 12 months). However, if he conscientiously fulfills his obligation, then after taking into account the 10% discount, the fee will come down to PLN 102.60 – as long as he pays in advance by the 25th day of the first month of the settlement period. That is, until January 25.

The fee for using TV (and radio) is PLN 30.50 (was PLN 27.30). The annual amount to be paid is PLN 329.40 (after deducting a 10% discount). Without the discount, the fee for 12 months will be PLN 366.

IMPORTANT: In 2026, January 25 falls on a Sunday. To ensure that the transfer is recorded on time and the discount is applied, the money should be sent no later than Friday, January 23.

What is the penalty for unpaid RTV license fee?

After taking into account the new rates penalty due to failure to pay for the RTV license fee in the case of radio, it is 30 times the monthly fee, i.e PLN 285. Not paying for a TV license costs almost PLN 920. The penalty fee is also added to the rate for overdue months, which can significantly increase the total amount. It is also worth knowing that debts related to subscription fees expire after 5 years from the end of the year in which the payment deadline expired.

People who are in arrears with the payment may receive a notice to settle the debt, and after its delivery they have 7 days to repay arrears. Failure to make timely payments and ignoring notices may result in initiation of enforcement proceedings. As a result, the office may secure funds on the debtor’s account – kara can be downloaded from salary, pension, annuity or real estate owned.

Inspectors take photos of cars

Poczta Polska employees have the right to inspect receivers. They must show ID and authorization. In accordance with the judgment of the Supreme Administrative Court (reference number II GSK 94/20), the controller must confirm the presence of the device and its ability to immediately receive the program.

In the case of carsinspectors increasingly document the fact of having a radio with a photo. Photo of the radio receiver through the car window constitutes evidence in proceedings, almost as much as a photo from the city guard for not having a parking ticket.

Who is exempt from fees?

Not everyone has to pay. Exempt from TV license fee are, among others:

• People who are over 75 years of age,
• People are classified as disabled group I,
• People who are over 60 years of age and are entitled to a pension whose monthly amount does not exceed 50% of the average salary,
• Veterans who are war or military disabled.

Documents must be presented at the Polish Post office entitling you to exemption from the RTV license fee and an ID card. In addition, you must submit a declaration of meeting the conditions for exemption from subscription fees.

Fire and cars for scrap? A true cautionary tale

The owner of a transport company found out that the system does not forgive mistakes. She claimed that her cars were scrapped or sold in 2015, but she did not deregister the receivers at the post office. Moreover, the company’s documentation burned in a fire in 2018. The court (WSA in Gliwice) was inexorable, and the verdict is:

• Scrapping vehicles or selling them does not automatically result in deregistration of receivers. The proof of termination of the obligation to pay license fees is the proof of deregistration of radio receivers, hence the possibility of proving this circumstance using other means of evidence, including evidence from witness testimonies confirming the sale or scrapping of vehicles, is excluded. Meanwhile, the case files show that the Complainant, using the identification number […]which appears on the notification about assigning an individual identification number, it was only on March 17, 2023 that it completed the formalities of deregistering radio receivers. Due to the above allegations, the complaints were considered groundless.

Application? If you are selling a company car or scrapping it, the first step should be to visit the post office and formally deregister the radio.