What is covered by the product charge for cars?

Although the phrase 'product charge for cars' has permanently entered the usage of auto-dealers, the charge actually is charged not for the cars themselves, but for their components: batteries, accumulators, oils and tyres. A detailed catalogue of products covered by the product fee is contained in Annex 4a to the Act of 11 May 2001 on the obligations of entrepreneurs with regard to the management of certain waste and the product fee. According to the legislation, the product fee covers:
  • lubricating oils derived from petroleum, heavy fraction preparations,
  • lubricants, additives, anti-freeze,
  • pneumatic tyres new,
  • used and retreaded,
  • portable batteries,
  • batteries.

Product levy for auto-dealers - who has to pay it?

The obligation to pay the product fee is incumbent on operators who, during the calendar year in question, placed batteries, accumulators, tyres, oils or lubricants on the market. This includes companies introducing individual products (e.g. new batteries, pre-packaged oils, new tyres), as well as those introducing products fitted into equipment or vehicles, such as cars. Among the auto-dealers who should pay the product fee are:
  • car dealerships,
  • importers of second-hand cars (both EU and non-EU),
  • dealers of new cars and motorcycles,
  • companies bringing new or second-hand agricultural machinery to the Polish market.
https://quiz-oplataproduktowa.interzero.pl/quiz

Product fee rates for autotraders

The product fee is charged for each kilogram of products placed on the Polish market. The current rates are as follows:
  • new and retreaded tyres - £2.20/kg,
  • used tyres - PLN 4.20/kg,
  • lubricating oils and preparations - PLN 2.10/kg,
  • batteries and accumulators - PLN 9/kg.
The product fee for cars is only payable if, when an economic operator fails to achieve the minimum recovery and recycling rates waste from the products it has introduced. The minimum recovery and recycling levels for 2024 are:
Pos. Type of products Minimum level of recovery Minimum recycling rate
1 lubricating oils and preparations 50% 35%
2 new and retreaded tyres 75% 15%
3 used tyres 75% 15%
The statutory collection rate for 2024 is:
Pos. Type of products Statutory collection rate
1 batteries and accumulators 45%
What does this mean in practice? If you have placed 30 second-hand cars on the market in a given year with a total weight of 1,000 kg of tyres, you are obliged to collect 750 kg of used tyres and then send 150 kg of these tyres for recycling by obtaining a special confirmation (DPR or EDPR). Otherwise, you will pay a PLN 3780 product fee for the tyres alone!

How much is the average product charge for a car?

The product charge for cars consists not only of a charge for tyres, but also for oil, batteries and accumulators. Assuming that an average combustion car contains:
  • 4 tyres with a total weight of 32 kg,
  • 5 l of lubricating oil,
  • an accumulator weighing 15 kg,
  • 2 button cell batteries in keys weighing 0.004 kg,
then the amount of the product fee due will be as much as PLN 129. If you put 50 of these cars on the market in a year, you will have already paid almost £6500 for them on 15 March of the following year.

Is it possible to avoid the product fee by running an auto-dealer?

Yes. The best way to avoid the product fee is to fulfil the recycling and recovery obligation. Each entrepreneur can do this in 2 ways: by himself or by delegating his obligation to a recovery organisation. From the entrepreneur's point of view, the most favourable solution is to sign a contract and delegate the duty to a professional entity. By choosing to use the services of Interzero:
  • you will avoid having to pay a high product fee for cars,
  • you will only pay a low fixed contract fee,
  • you will not have to organise and finance your own waste collection,
  • Together with the recycling obligation, you will pass on the obligation to carry out public education campaigns,
  • you will gain confidence that your responsibilities have been fulfilled in 100%.

How much can be saved by handing over the duty to the recovery organisation Interzero?

The amount of savings will depend on the size and scale of your business. In the case of auto-dealers, this will be the masses of tyres, oils, batteries and accumulators fitted to all cars placed on the market. https://quiz-oplataproduktowa.interzero.pl/quiz Below you will find an example calculation for an entrepreneur who has marketed 100 combustion cars in one year: As you can see, the product fee for 100 cars is almost £13,000. If you pass on your obligation to Interzero, for importing 100 cars you will pay only PLN 3120, saving almost PLN 10,000..

How to delegate the recovery and recycling duty to Interzero?

You will sign the recovery and recycling transfer agreement in 3 simple steps.
  1. Go to our product fee calculator, select the contract type "Auto dealership" and then enter product weights and vehicle volumes  launched last year.
  2. Complete your company details and review the terms and conditions of the generated agreement.
  3. Sign the contract and send it back to Interzero. You can: sign the contract by hand and send it to us in 2 copies by post or sign electronically with a qualified signature and send it to us by e-mail - fast and convenient.
  4. Once you have signed the contract, we will activate your online account in the My Interzero customer panel, with the help of which you will be able to report to us the weights of the products and packaging you have entered.
Congratulations! You've just saved the time and money you've spent on the product fee so far! Would you like to find out more?
  • Find out the most important information about the product levy.
  • Calculate your product fee with the help of a calculator or formula.