Motorway vignette, buying a car and winter tyres
To drive on Czech motorways you need an electronic vignette, bought only at edalnice.gov.cz. If you buy a used car, the change of owner must be registered within 10 days, and the car must have compulsory insurance.
Cars up to 3.5 tonnes need an electronic vignette (elektronická dálniční známka) to use motorways and most expressways. There is no sticker; it is registered electronically to your car. Buy it only at the official state e-shop, edalnice.gov.cz. Check you are on the .gov.cz address before paying.
2026 prices for a petrol or diesel car are CZK 2,570 for a year, CZK 480 for 30 days, CZK 300 for 10 days and CZK 230 for one day. Cars on natural gas (CNG, LNG) or biomethane pay CZK 1,280 a year. Plug-in hybrids with up to 50 g/km of CO₂ pay CZK 640. Electric and hydrogen cars pay nothing, and this applies automatically if the car is registered in Czechia.
Every car registered in Czechia must have compulsory third-party liability insurance (povinné ručení). Arrange it before you drive the car away, because the registration office checks it. The Czech Insurers' Bureau (ČKP) has a search where you can see which company insures a Czech number plate.
When you buy a used car, the change of owner (zápis změny vlastníka) must be registered within 10 days. Go to any municipal office with extended powers (obecní úřad obce s rozšířenou působností); bring the registration certificate (osvědčení o registraci vozidla). The fee for a car is CZK 800, or CZK 640 if the seller starts the request online in Portál dopravy and you complete it there. You still visit the office to show documents, pay and collect the new papers.
Winter tyres: from 1 November to 31 March you must have winter tyres when there is a continuous layer of snow, ice or frost on the road, or when the weather means it can be expected during your trip. Where a 'Zimní výbava' sign is posted, winter tyres are required for the whole period.
Step by step
- Buy your vignette at edalnice.gov.cz before using the motorway
- Before buying a used car, check the registration certificate matches the car and the seller
- Arrange compulsory insurance (povinné ručení) before you drive the car
- Register the change of owner within 10 days at a municipal office with extended powers
- Fit winter tyres before November if you drive in snow, ice or frost
Last checked 2026-11-11. Open this guide in the app to add the dates to your calendar.