Driving rules, and the ones that bite.
- Drive onRight
- Motorway limit130 km/h
- Drink drive0.0 g/L · zero tolerance
- Emergency112
Czechia drives on the right. The motorway speed limit is 130 km/h. The emergency number is 112 (general), 158 (police), 155 (ambulance), 150 (fire).
0.0 g/l - zero tolerance for all drivers
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.
Worth knowing before you go.
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.
The toll system, and the city emissions rules.
- TollsMixed
- VignetteRequired
- Emission zoneYes
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.
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.
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.
Read our complete guide to motorhome tolls and vignettes in Europe, and our guide to low emission zones.
What to carry, and what to bring.
- Required kit3 items
- Over 3,500 kgspeed stickers, blind-spot stickers
- Documents4 items
Czechia requires a set of kit to be carried in the vehicle. Most of it is cheap and worth having anyway, so pack it before you leave rather than buy it at a roadside price.
- UK Sticker.
- E-vignette.
- Warning Triangle.
- First Aid Kit.
- Reflective Jacket. Carry 1 per occupant.
- Headlight Converters. Carry 1 set.
- Tow Rope.
- Spare Bulbs. Carry 1 set.
- Towing Mirrors.
Towing a caravan or trailer.
MytoCZ on-board unit required (distance-based), not e-vignette
Towing a caravan or trailer.
From August 2025, UK trailers over 750 kg must be registered with the DVLA before travelling internationally. Check the current DVLA guidance before your trip.
Read this before you go.
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.
Documents to bring
For your own vehicle, carry your Passport, UK Photocard Driving Licence, Vehicle Log Book (V5C), Insurance Certificate and Travel Insurance Proof.
For a rental or hire vehicle, you also need your VE103 Certificate, Driving Licence Check Code and International Driving Permit (if you still hold a paper licence).
Gas, electric, and the weekly shop.
- LPG fittingDish
- CurrencyCZK
- Emergency112
- Sunday shoppingLimited, larger shops restricted by...
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.
Electric hook-ups
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.
Where to shop
Supermarkets here: budget chains are Lidl, Penny, Kaufland; mid-range chains are Albert, Tesco, Billa; premium chains are Globus, Marks & Spencer Food.
Typical opening hours: weekday 07:00-20:00; saturday 08:00-20:00; sunday Most supermarkets open 08:00-18:00; where to buy Supermarkets.
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.
Czech beer and wine is excellent value at supermarkets. A supermarket Pilsner Urquell costs a fraction of what it does back home.
- 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.
More detail in our guides to gas and LPG and electric hook-ups across Europe.
Taking a dog, and crossing the border.
- SchengenYes
- AHC requiredwithin 10 days
- Tapeworm on UK returnYes
- Dog leadRequired
To take a dog to Czechia, the standard pet travel rules apply. The detail below covers what your dog needs.
- AHC required. Yes, issued by your vet within 10 days before entry
- Rabies vaccination. Yes, must be at least 21 days old at the time of travel
- Tapeworm treatment for UK return. Required between 24 hours and 120 hours before you arrive back in the UK, administered by a vet
- Breed restrictions. No national breed-specific ban, though muzzling rules apply in public in some municipalities. Check locally.
Pack the dog's Dog lead, Water bowl, Vaccination records and AHC.
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.
Czechia is in the Schengen area.
Schengen area: Yes. EES biometric checks: Yes. You will need to register fingerprints and a photo on entry and exit once the system goes live. Trailer registration (UK): UK trailers over 750 kg require DVLA registration for international travel from August 2025. Mobile roaming: Charges vary by provider since the UK left the EU. Check with yours before you travel.
Useful links
- edalnice.cz (E-vignette)
- Dopravni Info (Traffic and road conditions)
- UAMK (Czech automobile club, breakdown)
See also our complete guides to the Schengen 90-day rule and taking a dog to Europe.
The questions people ask most.
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.