Do you need a vignette for the Czech Republic?
Picture this: you’re on your way to Prague, cruising the motorway when a toll camera flashes. Without a valid vignette, that carefree trip could quickly become very expensive.
Most vehicles need a digital vignette (e-vignette) to use the Czech Republic’s motorways and expressways. The old paper sticker is gone, the system is now electronic, linking your license plate directly to the toll database.
In this guide, you’ll find everything you need to know: who must buy a vignette, which vehicles are exempt, special reduced tariffs for hybrids and CNG/biomethane cars, how validity periods work, and what fines to expect if you drive without one. By the end, you’ll know exactly how to stay compliant and avoid costly mistakes.
Who needs a vignette in the Czech Republic?
Driving in the Czech Republic can feel straightforward, but the rules on vignettes are not always obvious to visitors. Think of the vignette as your invisible motorway ticket. Without it, you’re not authorised to use most highways, and your license plate will be flagged automatically.
If your vehicle weighs up to 3,500 kg (that’s the majority of passenger cars, SUVs and smaller vans), you almost certainly need a vignette to use the motorway and expressway network. Unlike in the past, there is no sticker to place on your windscreen. Everything is digital now: your license plate is registered in the national toll database at the moment of purchase, and that’s what roadside checks will look for.
Standard passenger vehicles
Most foreign travellers arrive in the Czech Republic by car, whether it’s their own, a rental, or a company vehicle. If that car weighs less than 3,500 kg, it must have a vignette to drive on motorways such as the D1 (Prague–Brno), D5 (towards Germany) or D8 (towards Dresden).
Failing to register means your plate will be flagged by cameras at gantries or checked by police patrols. Fines can go up to CZK 20,000, which is many times more than the vignette itself.
💡 Example: A family from Munich heading to Prague for a weekend break will need at least a 10-day vignette. Even if their trip only lasts three days, the vignette is still required the moment they drive onto the motorway.
Exempt vehicles
Some vehicles don’t need a vignette at all, but drivers often get confused about this. Here’s the breakdown:
Motorcycles, trikes and trailers → always exempt.
Fully electric vehicles → exempt from payment, but registration is still mandatory. Enforcement cameras don’t know your car is electric, they only know if the plate is in the database. The full rules are published at edalnice.cz.
Certain motorway stretches → shorter bypasses and selected city approaches are toll-free. For example, some segments around Brno and Ústí nad Labem can be driven without a vignette. However, the official list changes, so always check the Czech vignette product page for the latest overview.
💡 Tip: Don’t assume “short” means “free.” Many short motorway hops are tolled, and if you skip the vignette for just one exit, you could still be fined.
Vehicles with reduced tariffs
Not every car pays the full vignette price. Discounts are available for more eco-friendly vehicles:
Plug-in hybrid vehicles with CO₂ emissions ≤ 50 g/km
Cars running on compressed natural gas (CNG) or biomethane
These vehicles still need to register a vignette, but they pay a lower rate than petrol or diesel cars. The difference can be significant, especially for an annual vignette.
💡 Tip: Make sure you know your car’s category before purchase. If you’re driving a plug-in hybrid and accidentally buy the full-price vignette, you won’t be refunded later.
Heavy vehicles over 3,500 kg
If your vehicle, for example, a coach, a large van or a truck, weighs more than 3,500 kg, the vignette system doesn’t apply at all. Instead, you must use the distance-based electronic toll system, which charges you per kilometre driven.
Registration and payment are handled via a different platform: Myto CZ. Driving a heavy vehicle without proper registration is taken very seriously and can lead to high fines and even vehicle immobilisation.
💡 Example: A delivery company van weighing 4,000 kg cannot use the vignette system. Even though it looks like a standard van, it is charged under the heavy-vehicle toll rules.
Travel tip
Even if you think you’ll only drive on local roads, it’s easy to slip onto a tolled motorway by mistake, especially when following a satnav. One wrong turn onto the D1 without a vignette can cost more than your whole holiday budget.
For most travellers, the safest choice is to buy the right vignette in advance, register your plate properly, and enjoy the trip without worry.
How the digital vignette works (and how checks happen)
The Czech vignette system is 100% electronic. When you buy online, your license plate and country of registration are stored instantly in the national toll database. From that moment on, your compliance is checked automatically. No stickers, no queues, no stress at the border.
But don’t assume you can slip through unnoticed. Enforcement is frequent and highly automated:
Mobile patrol cars with cameras continuously scan license plates while driving alongside you.
Fixed control gates and overhead cameras monitor every passing vehicle on major motorways.
Random spot checks take place at motorway exits, rest areas and border approaches.
If your license plate isn’t linked to a valid vignette (or the details are wrong), the system flags you immediately.
💡 Even small errors, like a wrong letter in your plate number or a start date set one day too late, will show up. And that peaceful road trip playlist? It could be interrupted by a fine of up to CZK 20,000.
Czech vignette validity periods
Not every journey is the same. A quick weekend in Prague is very different from a two-week ski trip or a summer road trip across Central Europe. That’s why the Czech digital vignette offers several validity options, so you only pay for the time you actually need.
1-day vignette
Perfect if you’re just passing through.
10-day vignette
Ideal for city breaks or a ski holiday.
30-day vignette
Great for longer visits or business trips.
1-year vignette
Best value if you drive through the Czech Republic regularly.
Czech vignette prices in 2025
The cost of a Czech vignette depends on the validity period you choose and, in some cases, the type of vehicle you drive. Standard petrol and diesel cars pay the full tariff, while plug-in hybrids, CNG and biomethane vehicles benefit from reduced rates. Fully electric vehicles are exempt, but must still be registered.
Here’s an overview of the vignette prices for 2025:
| Standard fuel | ||
|---|---|---|
| Duration | CZK | EUR |
| 1 day | CZK 390.00 | €15.99 |
| 10 days | CZK 540.00 | €21.99 |
| 30 days | CZK 760.00 | €29.99 |
| 1 year | CZK 2,800.00 | €114.99 |
| Natural gas | ||
|---|---|---|
| Duration | CZK | EUR |
| 1 day | CZK 280.00 | €10.99 |
| 10 days | CZK 380.00 | €14.99 |
| 30 days | CZK 510.00 | €19.99 |
| 1 year | CZK 1,650.00 | €63.99 |
| Biomethane | ||
|---|---|---|
| Duration | CZK | EUR |
| 1 day | CZK 280.00 | €10.99 |
| 10 days | CZK 380.00 | €14.99 |
| 30 days | CZK 510.00 | €19.99 |
| 1 year | CZK 1,650.00 | €63.99 |
| Plug-in hybrid (CO₂ max 50 g/km) | ||
|---|---|---|
| Duration | CZK | EUR |
| 1 day | CZK 230.00 | €8.99 |
| 10 days | CZK 300.00 | €11.99 |
| 30 days | CZK 410.00 | €15.99 |
| 1 year | CZK 990.00 | €38.99 |
All listed prices already include both the toll fee and the registration fee. One total amount, no hidden extras.
How to buy a Czech vignette online
By the time you get to the border, the last thing you want is waiting in line at a petrol station. Buying your vignette online before you travel is faster, safer and stress-free. The whole process takes just a few minutes, and your plate is active in the database right away.
Here’s how it works on Tollvignettes.com:
Select your vignette type and start date → 1 day, 10 days, 30 days or annual.
Enter your license plate and country of registration → exactly as they appear on your registration papers.
Pay securely → with credit card, PayPal, or another available method.
Receive instant confirmation → your vignette is valid the moment the email arrives.
💡 Tip: Always double-check your license plate and start date before confirming payment. Even the smallest mistake can make your vignette invalid, and fines are far higher than the vignette price.
Fines and common mistakes
Nobody wants their holiday photos to come with a CZK 20,000 fine (around €750). Yet that’s exactly what can happen if you drive on Czech motorways without a valid vignette. Enforcement is taken seriously: police patrols, customs officers, mobile cameras and fixed gantries all work together to spot non-compliant vehicles. Checks are especially common near border crossings, busy motorway sections and major rest areas.
The mistakes travellers most often make (and how to avoid them):
Typos in the license plate or country code → even a single wrong digit or letter makes the vignette invalid. Double-check before you hit “pay.”
Wrong start date → if your vignette begins tomorrow but you enter today, you’ll be fined. Always set the start date to the day you actually arrive.
Assuming EVs don’t need registration → electric cars may not pay the fee, but the plate still has to be registered in the system.
Forgetting multi-country trips → if you’re driving through Austria or Slovakia afterwards, you’ll need additional vignettes for those roads too.
💡 Think of the vignette as your “peace-of-mind ticket.” Double-check the details once, and you won’t have to think about it again during your trip.
Where the vignette applies
Not every road in the Czech Republic is tolled, but the main motorway network is. These roads are marked with D numbers:
D0 (E50, E65) between Prague city ring road.
D1 (E65, E462, E50, E55, E59) between Prague and Ostrava via Brno.
D2 (E65) between Brno and the Slovak border (towards Bratislava).
D3 (E55) between Prague and the Austrian border (towards Linz).
D4 between Prague and Nová Hospoda (near Písek).
D5 (E50) between Prague and the German border (towards Nuremberg).
D6 (E48, E49) between Prague and Cheb (towards Germany).
D7 between Prague and Chomutov (towards Germany).
D8 (E55) between Prague and the German border (towards Dresden).
D10 (E65) between Prague and Turnov (towards Liberec).
D11 (E67) between Prague and Hradec Králové.
D35 (E442, E462) between Mohelnice and Lipník nad Bečvou, and between Opatovice nad Labem and Časy.
D46 (E462) between Vyškov and Olomouc.
D48 (E462) between Bělotín and Český Těšín (towards Poland).
D49 planned, not yet in operation.
D52 (E461) between Brno and Pohořelice.
D55 between Hulín and Otrokovice, and around Staré Město.
D56 between Ostrava and Frýdek-Místek.
There are some exceptions: short stretches around big cities and certain bypasses are toll-free:
D0 between Prague city ring road (partially toll-free).
D1 between Prague and Brno (exits 182–210).
D1 between Brno and Ostrava to the Polish border (exit 354).
D3 between Veselí nad Lužnicí Nord and Bošilec (exits 104–109).
D5 between Pilsen and Prague (exits 89–67).
D6 between Cheb and Karlovy Vary (exits 162–131).
D7 between Chomutov and Louny (exits 18–78).
D11 between Sedlice and Kukleny (exits 84–90).
D35 between Sedlice and Opatovice (exits 126–129).
D35 between Mohelnice and Olomouc (exits 261–276).
D46 between Hněvotín and Olomouc, Slavonín (exits 37–39).
D48 between Frýdek-Místek and Dobrá (exits 47–54).
D52 around Pohořelice (exits 23–26).
D55 around Otrokovice (exits 30–32).
💡 Tip: Even if you’re planning to “stick to the backroads,” it’s easy to end up on a tolled section without realising it. Having a vignette in place is the safer option.
Payment methods & documents you’ll need
Buying your vignette online is quick, but preparation helps. Here’s what to have ready:
Your license plate number and country of registration → exactly as they appear on your registration papers.
A valid payment method → accepted options include credit card, PayPal, and other secure payment systems.
Once you’ve paid, your vignette is activated within minutes. You’ll receive a confirmation email immediately. Keep it safe, either stored in your inbox, saved as a PDF, or screenshotted on your phone. This is your proof if you’re ever stopped for a roadside check.
💡 Tip: If you’re renting a car, forward the confirmation email to yourself in advance. That way you can show it instantly if an officer asks.
Vignettes in neighbouring countries
Many travellers don’t just stop in the Czech Republic, they continue their journey through Central Europe. If that’s your plan, remember that Austria, Slovakia, Hungary, Slovenia and Switzerland also operate vignette systems. Each country sets its own prices, validity periods and exemptions.
Buying them all in advance means:
No waiting in queues at border petrol stations
No risk of driving “just a few kilometres” without a vignette
Peace of mind that your entire trip is covered
💡 Example: Driving from Germany through the Czech Republic to Croatia? You’ll likely need vignettes for the Czech Republic, Austria and Slovenia. Buying all three before you set off makes the whole trip smoother.
Frequently asked questions about the Czech Republic vignette
Yes, if you’re driving on Czech motorways, a vignette is mandatory even for rental cars. Some rental companies include it in the price, but not all. Always check the rental agreement or ask when you pick up the car.
If it’s not included, you can easily buy and register one yourself online. All you need is the license plate number of the rental car. Once registered, the vignette is valid just like it would be for your own vehicle.
💡 Tip: Take a quick photo of the license plate and rental papers at pickup. That way you’ll have the details ready when purchasing your vignette online.
Yes, in most cases you can. But be prepared for queues, limited payment options, and unnecessary stress right before your trip really begins. Petrol stations and border shops often get busy, especially during holiday seasons.
Buying online at Tollvignettes.com is a faster and safer choice: your license plate is activated immediately in the toll system, and you’re compliant before you even enter the Czech motorway network.
💡 Tip: Order your vignette the night before you travel. It only takes a few minutes and saves you from last-minute delays at the border.
Yes, fully electric vehicles are generally exempt from paying the Czech motorway toll. But exemption doesn’t mean you can skip the process altogether. Your license plate must still be registered in the system so that cameras and patrols can see you’re compliant.
If you don’t register, the enforcement system will flag your car as missing a vignette, and you could still face a fine.
💡 Tip: Register your EV online before travelling. It only takes a minute and ensures you can drive through every checkpoint with peace of mind.
Fines in the Czech Republic are enforced through a mix of mobile patrols, customs officers, fixed control gates, and motorway cameras. These systems continuously scan license plates and check them against the national vignette database.
If your vehicle isn’t linked to a valid vignette, or if the details are incorrect, the system flags you immediately. The fine can be as high as CZK 20,000 (around €750), and roadside checks mean you may have to pay on the spot.
💡 Tip: A vignette costs far less than a fine. Registering your plate online before you travel is the simplest way to avoid unpleasant surprises.
Yes, when you purchase online, you can set the start date up to 30 days in advance. That means your vignette will be ready and waiting for the exact day you plan to enter the Czech Republic.
This is especially useful if you’re preparing a longer trip through multiple countries, as you can arrange all your vignettes at once and avoid last-minute stress.
💡 Tip: If your journey includes Hungary, Slovakia, or Slovenia, buy those vignettes at the same time. It saves time and ensures you won’t forget one along the way.
Conclusion
Yes, you do need a vignette to drive on Czech motorways and expressways (unless your vehicle qualifies for an exemption). The rules are clear, enforcement is strict, and fines are high.
The simplest way to stay compliant? Buy your vignette online before you travel. It only takes a few minutes, your license plate is registered instantly, and you can cross the border knowing you’re fully covered.
That means no queues at petrol stations, no guesswork about validity, and no stress about roadside checks. Just smooth, worry-free driving, whether you’re heading to Prague for the weekend or crossing the country on your way to another destination.