Grants for road transport in Poland in 2026
2026 is an exceptionally demanding year for the transport and logistics sector in financial terms. A higher minimum wage, higher road tolls and the effects of the Mobility Package have pushed the cost of running a transport business to levels that keep many carriers awake at night. Against this background, road transport grants are no longer a nice bonus: more and more often they are a real source of competitive advantage. Well-chosen road transport grants help both people who are just starting out and companies looking for money to modernise their fleet, introduce management tools or improve cost efficiency.
The market is crowded: there are around 102,000 transport companies in Poland, according to the 2026 report by TLP (the Transport and Logistics Poland association), which means fierce competition for orders and margins. That is exactly why it pays to know which transport grants are available, what you can actually finance with them and which mistakes to avoid when you apply.
- What road transport grants are
- Who can apply for a transport grant
- Grant from the district labour office (PUP)
- PFRON grant for people with disabilities
- LGD grant for residents of villages and small towns
- The Wsparcie w Starcie loan
- EU grants for road transport
- Green funding
- De minimis rule change from 1 July 2024
- How to apply for transport funding
- How to write a business plan for a transport grant
- The most common application mistakes
- FAQ: common questions about transport grants
What are road transport grants?
Road transport grants are a broad category of financial support from public funds, both Polish and EU. The programmes are aimed at people setting up a transport business and at existing companies in the transport and logistics sector. Before you submit any application, you need to understand one key distinction: a non-repayable grant and a repayable instrument are two completely different things.
Non-repayable transport grants such as PUP (grants from Polish district labour offices), PFRON (the State Fund for Rehabilitation of Disabled Persons), LGD (Local Action Groups) or selected EU programmes do not have to be paid back, as long as you run the business in line with your application for a set period, usually 12 months. This is the most valuable source of funding, but also the most limited in terms of amounts and eligibility.
Preferential repayable instruments such as the Wsparcie w Starcie (Start-up Support) loan have to be repaid, but on terms no commercial bank offers. A low interest rate, a long repayment period, a grace period on instalments and, in certain cases, the option to have as much as 49,000 PLN written off make them worth considering alongside non-repayable grants.
EU grants
EU grants for road transport (unlike PUP, PFRON and LGD) are paid out only after the investment has been made. This means you need your own capital or a loan to finance the purchase first and only then apply for reimbursement. Without cash or creditworthiness, an EU grant is out of reach.
| Feature | Non-repayable transport grant | Preferential loan |
|---|---|---|
| Repayment | No, if you meet the terms of the agreement | Yes, on preferential terms |
| Availability | Limited, applications only during set windows | More accessible, no application windows |
| Maximum amount | PUP approx. 49,000 PLN / PFRON approx. 122,000 PLN / LGD 150,000 PLN | Up to approx. 163,000 PLN (Wsparcie w Starcie) |
| Vehicle purchase eligible | YES for PUP / PFRON / LGD NO for EU grants | YES |
| Payment model | PUP / PFRON / LGD upfront · EU by reimbursement | Upfront, after signing the agreement |
If you are still at the planning stage, first read How to start a transport company in Poland in 8 steps and Running a transport company: earnings and costs in the industry to judge whether funding will actually close the gap in your start-up budget.
Who can apply for a road transport grant in Poland?
There is no single transport grant programme for everyone. The support available depends on your employment status, where you live and whether your company already exists. The table below is a starting point for further analysis.
| Applicant profile | Available transport funding programmes |
|---|---|
| Unemployed person registered with the PUP | PUP, Wsparcie w Starcie |
| Person with an official disability certificate | PFRON, PUP, Wsparcie w Starcie |
| Employed, not registered as unemployed | LGD only as a non-repayable grant, plus Wsparcie w Starcie |
| Resident of a village or a town of up to 20,000 inhabitants | LGD (priority) |
| Final-year bachelor’s or master’s student | Wsparcie w Starcie |
| Existing transport SME | EU transport grants, Green Deal funding, NFOŚiGW, PFR loans |
| Carer of a person with a disability | PUP, Wsparcie w Starcie with the option of a write-off |
LGD is the only non-repayable transport grant open to people in employment who want to set up a transport company but are not registered as unemployed. All other non-repayable road transport programmes require unemployed status or a disability certificate.
District labour office (PUP) grant for road transport
This is the most widely available form of non-repayable road transport funding for people starting a business. The programme runs on a rolling basis, so you do not have to wait for a call for applications. You can submit your application to your district labour office at any time.
PUP transport grants are open to unemployed people registered with the office, graduates of social integration clubs (KIS) or social integration centres (CIS), and carers of people with disabilities who meet the relevant conditions. The grant is a one-off payment and non-repayable, provided you run the business for at least 12 months.
The maximum PUP transport grant is 6 times the average salary, which in 2025 gives more than 49,000 PLN. In practice, individual districts have their own budgets and ranges, so the real amounts are usually 25,000-40,000 PLN. Bear in mind that a rejected application does not close the door: you can reapply as long as you still meet the programme conditions.
| Expense category | Eligible | Notes |
|---|---|---|
| Vehicle purchase (truck, van) | YES | The main advantage of PUP over EU transport grants |
| TMS software and fleet management | YES | Systems for route planning and order handling |
| Technical equipment and workshop tools | YES | Tools, diagnostic equipment |
| Marketing and promotion of the transport company | Up to 10% | Website, Google Ads, business cards, leaflets |
| Goods and materials for resale | 20-50% | The exact limit depends on the district |
| Legal and accounting advice | 2-5% | Handling the formalities of starting a transport company |
| Fuel, ZUS (Polish social insurance) contributions, leasing, rent | NO | Running costs are not eligible |
PFRON grant for people with disabilities starting a road transport business
People with an officially recognised degree of disability have access to a much higher funding ceiling. PFRON transport funding can reach up to 15 times the average salary, which in 2025 translates into more than 122,000 PLN and makes it realistic to finance a goods vehicle. Applications are submitted to the district family support centre (PCPR) or the district labour office. The range of eligible costs is similar to the PUP grant: vehicle, software, equipment. However, individual calls for applications may set lower limits than the statutory maximum.
| PUP transport grant | PFRON transport grant | |
|---|---|---|
| Who it is for | Unemployed people registered with the PUP | People with a disability certificate |
| Maximum amount | approx. 49,000 PLN | approx. 122,000 PLN |
| Vehicle purchase | YES | YES |
| Application mode | Rolling | Set windows |
| Where to apply | District labour office (PUP) | PCPR or PUP |
LGD transport grant for residents of villages and small towns
Local Action Groups (LGD) are an underrated yet extremely valuable source of road transport funding. The programme stands out in two ways: it is open to people in employment, not just the unemployed, and it has the highest funding ceiling of all non-repayable programmes for individuals. Since the 2024 call, the LGD transport grant has been worth up to 150,000 PLN.
It is open to people registered as residents of a rural municipality or a town of up to 20,000 inhabitants. The grant covers a maximum of 65% of eligible costs, which means that a 35% own contribution is required. The money can be spent on a vehicle with the appropriate type approval, equipment, software, renovation of premises and marketing.
Applications are assessed in two stages: first locally by the LGD, then by the Marshal’s Office (the regional government). The whole process takes 6 to 9 months. Each LGD runs its own schedule of calls, independent of other groups, so you need to track the deadlines of the group covering your municipality yourself. To apply, you must have an EP producer number issued by ARiMR (the Polish Agency for Restructuring and Modernisation of Agriculture).
The Wsparcie w Starcie loan
The government programme Wsparcie w Starcie (Start-up Support) is a repayable instrument, so the loan has to be paid back. Even so, the terms are favourable enough to treat it as a real alternative to transport grants, especially if you do not qualify for non-repayable programmes or need more money than the PUP offers.
| Parameter | Value |
|---|---|
| Maximum amount | Up to approx. 163,000 PLN (20 times the average salary in 2025) |
| Repayment period | Up to 84 months (7 years) |
| Grace period on instalments | Up to 12 months |
| Write-off option | Up to 49,000 PLN for the unemployed and for carers of people with disabilities |
| Who it is for | Unemployed people, jobseekers, final-year students (bachelor’s and master’s), carers of people with disabilities |
The Wsparcie w Starcie loan is a better choice than a PUP grant when you need more than 40,000-49,000 PLN, when PUP calls are temporarily suspended, or when you want faster access to funds without waiting for the office’s committee to fully assess your business plan.
EU grants for road transport
This is where we see the biggest misconception among carriers looking for road transport funding. In standard EU grants, buying a vehicle is not an eligible cost. This is a fundamental difference compared with PUP, PFRON and LGD. EU transport grants work on a reimbursement basis, which means that without your own capital or a bank loan you cannot take part.
The EU funds available to transport companies focus on digitalisation, training and infrastructure. Eligible items include TMS software and fleet management systems, telematics and GPS systems, training for drivers and staff, audits and certifications, and intermodal transport infrastructure.
| Programme | Scope of support for transport companies | Who it is for |
|---|---|---|
| FEnIKS (European Funds for Infrastructure, Climate and Environment) | Intermodal transport, telematics, road safety | Large companies, local authorities |
| ERDF (European Regional Development Fund) | Infrastructure modernisation in less developed regions | SMEs in selected Polish regions (voivodeships) |
| Dig.IT programme | Digitalisation of SMEs, up to 80% of eligible costs | Small and medium-sized transport companies |
| Horizon Europe | Technological innovation, digitalisation of logistics | Companies with R&D capacity |
Green funding for transport
The green transition of the transport and logistics sector is one of the EU’s main policy priorities for 2025-2030, and this translates directly into new road transport funding programmes. The Green Deal fund finances the purchase of electric and hybrid vehicles and charging infrastructure. Priority is given to companies that commit to a fleet decarbonisation plan. NFOŚiGW (the Polish National Fund for Environmental Protection and Water Management) offers grants and loans to companies investing in green logistics solutions, while PFR (the Polish Development Fund) provides preferential loans to companies adopting new transport technologies.
Small transport companies can benefit from tax relief on green investments, while medium-sized companies have access to grants for intermodal logistics and alternative-fuel vehicles: LNG, CNG and hydrogen. An important technical point: many transport funding programmes require the Euro 6 emission standard as the minimum for the financed fleet. Check that a vehicle meets it before you choose a specific model.
De minimis rule change from 1 July 2024
This is one of the most important and most often overlooked legal changes of recent years, and it directly affects how far transport companies using different transport grants can combine public aid.
Before 1 July 2024, road freight transport had a separate, lower de minimis aid ceiling of 100,000 EUR over 3 years. This severely limited the possibility of combining different forms of financial support. From 1 July 2024, under European Commission Regulation (EU) 2023/2831, the separate ceiling for road transport was abolished and the general de minimis ceiling for all sectors now applies: 300,000 EUR over a rolling 3-year period, three times more than before.
| Before 1 July 2024 | From 1 July 2024 | |
|---|---|---|
| De minimis ceiling for road transport | 100,000 EUR / 3 years | 300,000 EUR / 3 years |
| Separate sector ceiling | Yes | No, the same as for other sectors |
| Scope for combining transport grant programmes | Limited | Much greater |
A transport company can now combine different forms of support more freely, for example a PUP grant, a de minimis loan and funding from a regional programme, without the risk of exceeding the ceiling. If you use several programmes at the same time, keep a record of the public aid you have received. Exceeding the de minimis ceiling means you have to repay the excess with interest.
How do you apply for road transport funding?
1. Choosing a programme
Start by working out which route you actually fit. What counts is your status (unemployed, employed, company), where the business will operate (specific municipality/district, village/town) and how much money you need. This determines whether PUP, LGD, PFRON or EU programmes make sense and, above all, whether a given programme can fund what you need in transport, such as a vehicle, equipment, tools, start-up costs or marketing.
2. Application deadlines
Before you start writing your application, check whether the call is open and what the conditions are. PUP offices often accept applications on a rolling basis, but each office has its own rules, limits and requirements. LGDs work to local schedules, so you need to visit the website of the relevant group and check the exact application window and scoring criteria. EU programmes usually have fixed windows and extensive documentation, so if you do not check the rules it is easy to prepare an application that does not fit the call.
3. Business plan
Your business plan should show that the transport business will work in practice, not just on paper. Describe specifically what services you will provide, which clients you want to serve, where your orders will come from and what will set you apart. The numbers matter most: the cost of buying or leasing, fuel, servicing, insurance, road tolls, accounting and any staff, and on the other side realistic revenue and margin. Ideally, include a 12-24 month forecast and show that the company will stay liquid even in a weaker month.
4. Documents and quotes
This is the stage where applications most often fall down on paperwork. You collect price quotes for the vehicle and equipment, documents confirming your status (e.g. unemployment, disability), certificates showing no arrears with ZUS and the tax office, and all the declarations required by the rules. The budget in your cost estimate must match the quotes and the attachments must be up to date, because even minor gaps can stop an application.
5. Submitting the application
Submit the application exactly as the programme requires. Sometimes that means paper at the office, sometimes ePUAP (the Polish e-government platform), sometimes a dedicated portal, and with LGDs the specific format, order of attachments and signatures can matter. Before sending, run a quick completeness check, because one missing attachment, signature or quote can get the application rejected on formal grounds before anyone looks at whether your business makes sense.
6. Purchase and settlement
After a positive decision, you must make the purchases exactly in line with the agreement, schedule and cost estimate. If you want to change something, you usually need the institution’s consent first, not after the fact. You then account for the grant with invoices, proofs of payment and acceptance documents; sometimes there are extra requirements such as photos, handover reports or proof of vehicle registration. What matters most is meeting the deadlines and spending in line with the agreement, because delays or using the money differently from the agreement can mean a correction or having to return the funds.
How do you write a business plan for a road transport grant?
The business plan is the document that decides the outcome of the substantive assessment of a transport funding application. The funding institution assesses it for realistic forecasts, market knowledge and a consistent cost estimate. Below I have listed the elements whose absence or weak preparation most often leads to rejection.
| Business plan element | What it should include |
|---|---|
| Description of the sector and services | Type of transport (domestic / international), specialisation (ADR, refrigerated, oversize), tonnage handled |
| Transport market analysis | Data on local competition, demand for transport services, transport and logistics trends such as e-commerce growth and last-mile logistics |
| Investment rationale | Why you are choosing a particular vehicle or piece of equipment rather than another price or specification option |
| Cost estimate backed by commercial quotes | With price quotes from suppliers, not estimates. Missing commercial quotes mean a poor formal assessment of the application |
| Financial projections | Monthly revenue and costs for 12-24 months, cash flow, break-even point of the transport company |
| Customer acquisition strategy | Freight exchanges, tenders, long-term contracts, marketing and SEO |
If you have no experience writing business plans for transport grants, consider using a grants adviser or a local business support organisation. You can partly finance the cost of advice from the grant itself, because the PUP allows 2-5% of the funding to be spent on legal and accounting advice.
The most common mistakes when applying for a transport grant
Here are seven mistakes that most often lead to a road transport funding application being rejected, or to an obligation to return the money after it has been awarded.
Launch your business and win your first orders with Antrans BiS
Road transport grants can genuinely lower your start-up costs, but what decides a company’s profitability is still a steady flow of orders. Find out how we at Antrans BiS support carriers in their daily work, with regular loads in domestic and international transport, support from experienced freight forwarders, quick contact and clear terms of cooperation. We also help match the truck to the route, plan routes and keep documents moving smoothly, so that you can focus on driving and on-time deliveries.
Frequently asked questions about road transport grants
Below you will find short, specific answers to the questions most often asked by people planning to set up or grow a transport company. They cover the transport grant amounts available as well as eligibility conditions, deadlines and typical formal pitfalls.
Can I get a grant to buy a truck?
Yes, but only from certain road transport funding programmes, not from all of them. Buying a truck or a van is an eligible cost under the PUP grant (up to approx. 49,000 PLN), the PFRON grant for people with disabilities (up to approx. 122,000 PLN) and the LGD grant for residents of villages and small towns (up to 150,000 PLN with a 35% own contribution).
In standard EU transport grants, buying a vehicle is not an eligible cost. EU funds are intended for digitalisation, training and infrastructure. If your goal is to buy a truck with public money, PUP or LGD is the right way to go, not EU grants.
What is the maximum transport grant in 2026?
The highest amounts of road transport funding are available under the Wsparcie w Starcie programme (a loan of up to approx. 163,000 PLN) and the LGD grant (up to 150,000 PLN, non-repayable). For people with a disability certificate, PFRON offers up to approx. 122,000 PLN, non-repayable. The PUP grant is a maximum of approx. 49,000 PLN, although the real amounts in individual districts are usually 25,000-40,000 PLN.
These amounts apply to 2025 and will rise in 2026 in line with the average salary, which is the basis for calculating the limits in all the transport grant programmes mentioned.
Can someone in employment apply for a transport grant?
Yes: the only non-repayable transport grant available to people in employment is the LGD programme, but only for people registered as residents of a rural municipality or a town of up to 20,000 inhabitants. Employed people from outside rural areas can use the preferential Wsparcie w Starcie loan or, once they run an existing business, EU grants.
PUP and PFRON require unemployed status or a disability certificate and are simply not available to employed people living in towns of more than 20,000 inhabitants.
Is an EU transport grant non-repayable?
It depends on the specific transport funding programme and on meeting its conditions. As a rule, EU transport grants are non-repayable if you carry out the investment in line with the application and maintain its results for the required period, usually 3-5 years. The key condition is the reimbursement model: you incur the costs first and get the money back afterwards.
If you do not settle the investment on time, change its scope without the institution’s consent or fail to maintain employment at the declared level, you may be asked to return all or part of the funds. An EU grant is a commitment, not a bonus.
How long does it take to process a road transport funding application?
The waiting time depends on the transport grant programme you choose and ranges from a few weeks to almost a year. The PUP is the fastest: you can get a decision within 2-4 weeks. Wsparcie w Starcie takes a similar time. EU programmes assess applications within 3 months of the call closing.
The longest wait is for LGD grants and results from the two-stage assessment, first by the local action group and then by the Marshal’s Office. The whole process takes 6 to 9 months, so it is worth submitting your transport funding application well in advance.
Can a new transport company get an EU grant?
Yes, but with significant restrictions resulting from programme requirements. Most EU transport grants require confirmation that the company is not in financial difficulty and has been operating for at least 12 or 24 months. Companies that have been trading for less than a year have much narrower access to EU programmes for enterprises.
Start-up programmes are the exception. Wsparcie w Starcie, PUP, PFRON and LGD are designed precisely for people setting up a transport business. Start with these forms of road transport funding and come back to EU grants once your company is established.
Managing Director | Antrans BiS, Olkusz
Sebastian Szklarczyk has led the development of Antrans BiS, a transport company operating throughout Europe, for more than 15 years. He started as Head of the Freight Forwarding Department, gaining practical experience in organising international transport and managing a vehicle fleet on European routes.
As Managing Director, he is responsible for the strategic management of a company handling more than 21,000 transport operations a year on its main routes: Poland-Italy, Poland-Germany, Poland-Austria, Spain, the Benelux countries and Scandinavia. Under his leadership, Antrans BiS has expanded its fleet to 220 vehicles, including its own and partners’ vehicles, and achieved an on-time delivery rate of 98%.
Specialisms: international FTL transport throughout Europe, automotive and FMCG logistics, optimisation of European routes, road traffic regulations and driving bans in the EU, and transport documentation (CMR, VAT-UE, INTRASTAT).
On the Antrans BiS blog, he shares practical knowledge about international freight forwarding, transport regulations and the business aspects of running a transport, freight forwarding and logistics company in different European countries.
