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Driving a Car

In this part you will learn information about driving motor vehicles in the Czech Republic, driving licences and vehicle registration.

 

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Motor Vehicle Driving in the CR and Driving Licences

To drive a motor vehicle in the CR you need a driving licence, which serves as a proof of your entitlement to drive. You can get a driving licence if you successfully complete a driving school and pass the exam. Usually, it is possible to do the exam in English, German or Russian. However, you have to arrange an interpreter. As a foreigner, you need to have permanent or temporary residence in the CR, so that you could get a Czech driving licence. As for the temporary residence, you have to have spent at least 185 days of the calendar year in the CR

Driving licences are issued by municipal offices with extended powers.
The responsible office in Prague is the register of drivers of the Prague City Hall. When driving a car, drivers are obliged to have their driving licence, ID and vehicle documents, which all have to be presented if there is an inspection.

 

Driving licences issued in the EU, Norway, Iceland and Liechtenstein

If you have a driving licence issued in an EU country or Iceland, Norway or Liechtenstein, you are entitled to drive a car in the Czech Republic. If you have normal residence in the Czech Republic (permanent residence or a stay over 185 days in a year), you may but do not have to exchange your driving licence for a Czech one.

 

Driving licences from third countries (other than stated above)

If you have a driving licence issued in another country, you need to find out whether it meets the conditions of international conventions – the 1968 Vienna Convention on Road Traffic and the 1949 Geneva Convention on Road Traffic. These conventions stipulate the essential elements of driving permits.

If you come to the CR based on a short-term or long-term visa or a permanent residence permit for up to 1 year, you may (but do not have to) replace your driving licence for a Czech one, if your normal residence is in the CR.

 

International Driving Licence

Holders of the International Driving Licence are allowed to drive a car in the Czech Republic. International Driving Licences issued by foreign states under the 1968 Vienna Convention on Road Traffic are usually valid for three years from the date of their issuance.

International Driving Licences issued by foreign states under the 1949 Geneva Convention on Road Traffic are usually valid for one year from the date of their issuance.

 

If you are a member of the staff of a foreign diplomatic mission with a valid driving licence, you are also allowed to drive a car in the CR.

Driving Licence Exchange

Everyone who is not a citizen of an EU member state and does not have permanent residence in the CR or temporary residence based on a long-term visa valid for more than 1 year is required to apply for the exchange of their foreign driving licence (issued by a non-EU country) for a Czech one. Foreign nationals must submit the application within 3 months from the day on which their permanent residence permit or the temporary residence permit based on a long-term visa entered into legal force.

You can exchange a valid foreign driving licence for a Czech one only if it was issued by a foreign state that is a party to the Convention on Road Traffic (Vienna 1968) or the Convention on Road Traffic (Geneva 1949), or if it is a valid European driving licence. It is necessary to ask at the register of drivers of the Prague City Hall, whether it is possible to exchange your driving licence for a Czech one or whether you are required to pass an additional driving test.

If you apply for the exchange of a driving licence, you are obliged to submit the following documents in person at the office (representation is not possible):

  • An application for the issuance of a driving licence – you will receive a form with pre-printed personal data at the check-in counter of the register of drivers (the application is a unique form created with a personal registration number and a barcode, therefore it cannot be copied or downloaded from the website; it becomes an official application only after personal and other data have been printed by computer at the register of drivers and the driver has signed the form, which serves as confirmation of the accuracy of the printed data).
  • A valid identity document of the applicant (foreign nationals also have to present their residence permit and other documents proving their habitual residence in the territory of the CR. Habitual residence is the place of permanent residence of an individual in the territory of the Czech Republic or a place where they usually reside.
  • One photograph sized 35 × 45mm
  • A foreign driving licence
  • You will be issued a new driving licence within 20 days.

 

You may use on-line registration to collect your driving licence. Do not waste your time waiting at the office, make an appointment in advance. 

Register of Vehicles

Cars in the CR must be registered at a relevant municipality office. Registration has to be arranged for newly purchased cars and cars whose owners have changed has to be re-registered.

On 1 June 2017 an amendment of the Act on Conditions of the Road Traffic Operation entered into effect. This means it is now possible to go to any municipal office with extended powers to arrange the change of the owner or the operator of a registered vehicle, to register a new or an imported vehicle, to take a vehicle out of operation (“deposit”), to report the disposal of a vehicle, to apply for a personalised number on a registration plate, a registration plate for a bike carrier or registration of coupling devices and trailers.

The Ministry of Transport has created a simple map for motorists which includes all municipal offices with extended powers, their addresses and contacts. On the Ministry website you can easily look up the closest register of vehicles and plan your visit. The map is available here.

To arrange the re-registration of a used car to a new owner, the previous owner and the new owner have to come to the office in person and submit an application for a change of the owner in a single application form together with:

  • A log book and a vehicle registration ID,
  • A certificate of vehicle identity check no older than 30 days,
  • A green card (proof of insurance).

If one of the persons is represented by someone else based on written power of attorney, the power of attorney must be signed by officially verified signatures.

 

To re-register a vehicle, i.e. to register a used car to a new owner, it is necessary for the new owner as well as the previous owner to go to the office together or for one of them to have power of attorney with an officially verified signature from the other party. If the previous owner refuses to cooperate with the re-registration, based on the amendment effective since 1 June 2017, it is possible to apply for a change of owner by a single party after the expiration of a ten-day period.

 

The change of the operator or the owner will be stated in part II of the vehicle registration ID (log book) and a new part I of the vehicle registration ID will be issued for the vehicle.

You can make an appointment at the register of vehicles of the Prague City Hall in advance by making an online reservation for a particular date and time at the relevant department.

 

All motor vehicles in the CR have to be insured by liability insurance for operation of a vehicle (also known as compulsory third party liability insurance or a green card). Vehicles are subject to regular inspections and emission measurement. To use Czech motorways it is necessary to buy a motorway sticker and attach it to the inside of the windscreen.

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Last update: 4 March 2025