Poland Stops Allowing Cars with Red Turn Signals to Cross the Border? – Auto Online

Messages are increasingly appearing in thematic chats and on forums related to border crossing: Poland has stopped allowing cars with red turn signals into its territory. Owners of “American” cars (especially the Chevrolet Equinox, which is popular with us) try to change these lights to orange ones before traveling.

“RB – RP with red lights are not allowed into Poland, U-turn,” — a user wrote in one of the chats on June 12th. However, a day later, a man named Yuri said that he was driving an “American” through the “Berestovitsa” border checkpoint and “nobody checked” the red turn signals.

And here are more recent messages. From June 22 and 24 respectively:

• “RB – RP “Bruzgi”, drove at 2 am – 06/20/2026, entire border – 1 hour. The Poles had one question: what color are the rear turn signals? We have a Chevrolet Equinox: they, as you know, all have red turn signals, but I changed them to orange before the trip.”
• “Today (06/24) RB – RP at 9:40 registration in the ZO upon arrival, immediately called to the border. Two borders – 1 hour 20 min, the Poles check the turn signals, older cars – lights and washers. One car with red lights was turned around (that’s what they saw from neutral).”

Also, recently, an alleged official response from the Polish police was published in the chat: according to it, the use of cars with red rear direction indicators in Poland is contrary to current regulations.

— According to paragraph 39 of Appendix 5 of the Vienna Convention on Road Traffic, vehicles must be equipped with rear direction indicators of a yellow (orange) color, clearly visible both day and night , — the document is translated in the chat. — Why does the problem occur?

In many cars for the American market, the rear turn signals are red and combined with the brake lights. In EU countries, different requirements apply:

• rear direction indicators must be orange;
• brake lights and turn signals must be separated;
• signals must be clearly perceived by other road users.

Polish police separately notes that red rear turn signals make it difficult to correctly perceive the vehicle’s maneuvers and do not meet the requirements in force in Poland.

Also, in 2025, a petition was sent to the Ministry of Infrastructure of Poland demanding stronger control over vehicles that do not meet technical standards. Among the violations, the following were specifically mentioned:

• red rear turn signals;
• headlights not adapted for right-hand traffic;
• combining parking lights and turn signals in one element;
• other modifications that do not comply with Polish technical inspection requirements.

Even if the car was allowed to cross the border, this does not make its operation in Poland legal. Using a car with red rear turn signals in the country may entail liability. Possible consequences for Belarusian cars:

• denial of entry at the border;
• fine during inspection in Poland;
• in case of an accident, inadequate lighting may be recognized as one of the factors that influenced the incident.

To bring the car into compliance with the requirements, as a rule, it is necessary to:

• replace the taillights;
• separate the functions of the brake light and turn signal;
• install LED modules or perform software modifications.

Did you have or, conversely, did not have problems crossing the border due to red turn signals on your car? Write to us: sv@onliner.by or t.me/veronika_saiko