Explore Czech Republic
The Czech Republic is excellent motorhome territory: good motorways, dramatic castles, forested hills, and some of the best beer in the world. It is also one of the cheaper countries in the EU for fuel, food, and campsites. Two things to get right before you cross the border: buy an e-vignette for the motorway network, and remember the strict zero drink-drive limit. Get those sorted and the rest is straightforward.
Last verified: 21 April 2026
Got a specific question?
Got a question about driving, kit, or campsites in the Czech Republic? Ask here without going through the full trip planner.
Driving rules
Zero drink-drive limit is not a rounding error - Czech police will prosecute for any reading above 0.0 g/l. Even the residual alcohol from mouthwash or a large dessert trifle has caught drivers out. Do not drink and drive.
Driving tips
- Dipped headlights must be on at all times, day and night, year-round.
- Winter tyres are compulsory from 1 November to 31 March if there is snow, ice, or slush on the road. In practice, fit them for any Czech winter trip.
- Police can issue on-the-spot fines for speeding, non-payment of the vignette, and illegal parking. Fines are normally payable by card.
- Rural roads can be narrow and twisty - factor in slower average speeds away from the motorway network.
- Parking in Prague, Brno, and other historic city centres is difficult for large vehicles. Use a park-and-ride or a campsite on the outskirts and take public transport in.
- Trams in Prague and Brno have absolute priority. Never block tracks and watch for stops where passengers cross the road.
Required kit
Vehicles over 3,500 kg
Motorhomes over 3.5 tonnes cannot use the e-vignette. You must register your vehicle and fit a MytoCZ on-board unit before entering tolled roads. Details at mytocz.eu.
Towing a caravan
Tolls and vignettes
Tolls
Buy your e-vignette online at edalnice.cz before you enter a Czech motorway. Paper vignettes have been phased out. The system checks your number plate automatically via ANPR cameras. Tolls outside the motorway network are rare.
Vignette
Prices shown are for 2026 for vehicles under 3.5 tonnes. The vignette is digital and linked to your number plate - nothing to stick on the windscreen. If you plan to stick to non-motorway roads you can skip the vignette, but most Czech routes will end up on a D-numbered motorway at some point.
Low emission zones
Prague has announced a Low Emission Zone but it is not yet operational. Check the situation before you travel if you plan to drive into central Prague in a motorhome. For now, the main restriction in historic centres is weight and size rather than emissions.
Supermarkets and shopping
Budget
Mid-range
Premium
Opening hours
Czech Sunday trading law limits large stores to a 6-hour opening on certain public holidays. Small shops and petrol-station convenience stores are exempt. On ordinary Sundays, supermarkets are open as usual.
Alcohol
Czech beer and wine is excellent value at supermarkets. A supermarket Pilsner Urquell costs a fraction of what it does back home.
Local tips
- Pay by card wherever possible. Contactless is universal, even in small shops and pubs.
- Carry some CZK for small markets, public toilets, and tipping. Use an ATM on arrival for the best rate.
- Petrol stations often have a Billa or Lukoil convenience section that stocks basics late at night and on Sundays.
- Czech pharmacies (lekarna) are helpful and most pharmacists speak some English.
Motorhome LPG and gas in Czech Republic
The Czech Republic has a strong LPG network of around 800 stations, widely available at Benzina (state network), MOL, Shell, and OMV forecourts. The Czech standard is the ACME fitting, which matches most refillable UK systems.
Local bottle brands are Primagaz and Flaga. Both are sold at petrol stations and hardware stores. You will need a matching regulator pigtail to connect them to a UK motorhome.
UK Calor bottles cannot be swapped or exchanged anywhere in Europe. Carry a 3-piece adapter kit or fit a refillable system before you leave. Read our complete guide to motorhome gas and LPG in Europe.
Motorhome electric hook-ups in Czech Republic
Most Czech campsites offer 16A hook-ups via the standard CEE blue plug, giving you around 3,600 watts. Voltage is stable at 230V.
Older municipal sites and some rural stopovers may use a lower amperage (6-10A) with a European Schuko socket rather than CEE. Carry both adapters and a socket tester to check polarity before plugging in anything sensitive.
Read our complete guide to motorhome electric hook-ups in Europe.
Documents you need
Your own vehicle
- Passport
- UK Photocard Driving Licence
- Vehicle Log Book (V5C)
- Insurance Certificate
- Travel Insurance Proof
Rental or hire vehicle
- VE103 Certificate
- Driving Licence Check Code
- International Driving Permit (if you still hold a paper licence)
Travelling with dogs
What to pack
- Dog lead
- Water bowl
- Vaccination records
- AHC
Food import rules
Meat, milk, and products containing either cannot be brought into the Czech Republic from the UK. The main exceptions are powdered baby milk and medically prescribed pet food.
Border and entry
Useful links
Common questions
How do I buy a motorway vignette for the Czech Republic?
Buy an e-vignette online at edalnice.cz before you travel. Paper vignettes were phased out. For a vehicle under 3.5 tonnes in 2026, a 10-day vignette costs CZK 290, monthly CZK 440, and annual CZK 2300 (roughly EUR 12, 18, and 94). The vignette is linked to your number plate - no sticker to display. Vehicles over 3.5 tonnes use the distance-based MytoCZ system with an on-board unit.
Is the drink-drive limit really zero in the Czech Republic?
Yes. The Czech Republic has a strict zero-tolerance policy on alcohol for drivers. Even a small glass of wine with lunch is enough to trigger a positive breath test, and penalties can include substantial fines and a driving ban. Drink nothing if you are driving.
Can I pay in euros in the Czech Republic?
Usually not. The official currency is the Czech Koruna (CZK). Tourist hotspots in Prague and at some fuel stations on main border routes will accept euros, but exchange rates are poor. Card payment (contactless and chip-and-pin) is widespread and is the easiest way to pay. Use an ATM on arrival for small amounts of cash for markets and small shops.
Can I take my dog to the Czech Republic in a motorhome?
Yes. Your dog needs a microchip, a rabies vaccination at least 21 days old, and an Animal Health Certificate (AHC) from your vet issued within 10 days of travel. For the return to the UK, a vet must administer a tapeworm treatment between 24 hours and 120 hours before you arrive back.