Guide · Warsaw
Ticket inspection in Warsaw: what happens, how much the fine is and how to appeal
Correct as of , checked
In short
- Riding without a valid ticket costs 266 PLN plus the fare; 159.60 PLN if paid to the inspector, 186.20 PLN within 7 days.
- A reduced ticket without the document that entitles you to it costs 196 PLN.
- A personal season ticket left at home can be shown within 7 days at a ZTM Passenger Service Point for a 21 PLN fee.
- Complaints go to ZTM in writing within 3 months; the answer comes within 30 days.
- Validators are blocked during an inspection, and a ticket validated then is not valid.
Riding without a valid ticket in Warsaw costs an additional fee of 266 PLN (zł) plus the price of a single ticket (4.40 PLN in zone 1). Pay quickly and the amount drops: 159.60 PLN if you pay the inspector on the spot, 186.20 PLN if you pay within 7 days. Amounts as of October 2026.
How much is the fine
Officially this is not a police fine but an additional fee (opłata dodatkowa) under your contract of carriage with ZTM, Warsaw's transport authority, collected as a civil debt. The amounts below come from the Warszawa 19115 fee table, updated 4 March 2026:
| Situation | Full amount (within 14 days) | Paid on the spot | Paid within 7 days |
|---|---|---|---|
| No valid ticket | 266.00 PLN | 159.60 PLN | 186.20 PLN |
| Reduced ticket without the entitling document, or no document for free travel | 196.00 PLN | 117.60 PLN | 137.20 PLN |
| Stopping or diverting a vehicle without reason | 700.00 PLN | no reduction | no reduction |
| Luggage and animals | no fee | ||
| Handling fee for cancellation | 21.00 PLN |
On top of the fee you always pay the fare for the ride (a single ticket for your zone), and that part is never reduced.
What a ticket inspection looks like
- Only people authorised by ZTM may check tickets. An inspector wears a visible ID with the ZTM name, a photo, a number, a validity date and a hologram, but does not have to tell you their name.
- Inspectors usually start once the vehicle has pulled away from a stop. From then on the validators are blocked, and a ticket validated during the check is not valid.
- The inspector checks your ticket (on a phone, by scanning the QR code) and any document for a reduced or free fare.
- If you have no ticket and do not pay on the spot, the inspector may ask for ID (for a visitor, a passport or national ID card) to issue a request for payment (wezwanie do zapłaty).
- If you refuse to pay and show no ID, the inspector may hold you until the police arrive.
- A request for payment issued on board covers the rest of your ride, but only in that vehicle.
Season ticket left at home
If you have a personal (named) ticket, such as a 30-day ticket on a city card or in mobiWAWA, that was valid at the time of the inspection, show it at a ZTM Passenger Service Point (Punkt Obsługi Pasażerów) within 7 days. The fee is then cancelled and you pay a 21 PLN handling charge instead. The same applies if you forgot your reduced-fare document. Sundays and holidays count towards the 7 days; if day 7 is a Saturday or a day off, the deadline moves to the next working day. Miss it and the fee stands.
Bearer tickets, such as single or 24-hour tickets, have to be on you during the ride. A text message, a receipt or a printed purchase confirmation is not a ticket.
How to pay
- Where: at a ZTM Passenger Service Point, at a post office or by bank transfer.
- Account: use the individual account number printed on your request for payment.
- Deadline: the full amount within 14 days of the request being issued.
- Instalments: apply through e-POP, ZTM's online Passenger Service Point.
If you do not pay, ZTM may take the case to court after 3 months, which adds court costs.
How to appeal
You can file a complaint (reklamacja) if you can prove that you had a valid ticket, or a valid document for a reduced or free fare, at the time of the inspection.
- Deadline: 3 months from receiving the request for payment, in writing.
- Where: online through e-POP, at a Passenger Service Point, or by post to: Zarząd Transportu Miejskiego, Dział Windykacji, ul. Grochowska 316/320, 03-839 Warszawa.
- What to include: the date, your name and address, the request number, what happened (line, direction, stops, time), what you ask for and why, a list of attachments and your signature.
- Attach: original tickets or entitlement documents, or certified copies; a power of attorney if someone files for you.
- Answer: within 30 days. Missing details must be added within 14 days. A complaint is free.
- Questions: ZTM Debt Collection Department, phone 22 278 49 10, Monday to Friday 8:00 to 16:00.
How to avoid it
Buy and validate a ticket before every ride: a 75-minute ticket costs 4.40 PLN and a 24-hour pass 15 PLN (see Warsaw tickets). A reduced ticket only counts if you also carry the document that entitles you to it.
The Gdzie Jest Kanar app shows live departures and is available in English (about the app). Passenger reports in the app are there to keep you informed, not to help you skip the fare.
Frequently asked questions
How much is the fine for no ticket in Warsaw?
The additional fee is 266 PLN plus the fare. Paid to the inspector on the spot it is 159.60 PLN, and paid within 7 days it is 186.20 PLN.
Do I have to show my passport to a ticket inspector?
Yes, if you have no valid ticket and do not pay on the spot. Polish transport law allows the inspector to ask for an identity document to issue the request for payment. Without one, the inspector may call the police.
I forgot my monthly ticket. What can I do?
If it is a personal ticket that was valid at the time of the check, show it at a ZTM Passenger Service Point within 7 days. The fee is then cancelled for a 21 PLN handling charge. Bearer tickets cannot be fixed this way.
What happens if I keep riding without a ticket?
A third ride within a year with no intention of paying, after two fees left unpaid, is a petty offence under Polish law (art. 121 of the Code of Petty Offences). It can lead to detention, restriction of liberty or a fine.
Sources
- Warszawa 19115: Additional fees
- Warszawa 19115: Ticket inspectors in ZTM vehicles
- Warszawa 19115: Complaints about a request for payment
- WTP: Ticket inspection
- WTP: Complaints against requests for payment
- WTP: Tariff rules
- WTP: Carriage regulations
- ISAP: Transport Law
- ISAP: Code of Petty Offences
Ride with a ticket.
Ride with a ticket
Live departures, inspections reported by passengers and what is happening on your route: the Gdzie Jest Kanar app, in English.