In this study, we investigate the tribological properties of amorphous hydrogenated (a‐C:H) and nitrogenated (a‐C:N:H) carbon coatings deposited on polycarbonate substrates (PC). The a‐C:H and a‐C:N:H coatings of 700‐nm thickness were deposited by radio frequency chemical vapour deposition method (13.56 MHz, 300 W). The chemical composition of the coatings was determined by X‐ray photoelectron spectroscopy and their structure with the use of Fourier transform infrared spectroscopy spectroscopy. A surface roughness was measured by contact method. It was found that the nitrogenated a‐C:N:H coatings have much lower surface roughness in comparison with hydrogenated a‐C:H one. All examined coatings showed very good adhesion to PC substrate in the scratch test. Tribological properties were investigated with the use of ball‐on‐disc tribometer in the contact with 100Cr6 steel ball. The pure PC exhibited higher coefficient of friction (0.38) as compared to those with the coatings. The lowest value of friction coefficient (around 0.17) was found for a‐C:H coating. The wear resistance of the amorphous carbon/substrate system is about 10 times higher than that of PC substrate. Copyright © 2012 John Wiley & Sons, Ltd.