Getting a Czech driving licence as a foreigner: exchange or start again

A licence from home is usually enough for the first weeks in Czechia and then, for many residents, less than they hope. Eventually the question arrives: do I swap it, or do I sit the Czech test? For a surprising number of newcomers the answer is both, in sequence, with a medical form between them.

Driving-licence rules sit with the Ministry of Transport and are applied by the licensing offices of the larger municipalities; check the details with the office that will serve you.

Which door you are at

The first question is whether you already hold a valid licence.

You hold a licence from an EU or EEA state. The licence is valid in Czechia, and residents of the EU may continue to use it until it expires. When it expires, or if it is lost, the Czech authorities handle renewal or replacement. Our guide to exchanging a foreign driving licence covers the details of when and how.

You hold a licence from outside the EU. A resident must apply to exchange it, generally within three months of their long-term or permanent residence taking effect. A licence that matches the model in the Vienna (1968) or Geneva (1949) road traffic conventions is exchanged without a test; one that does not needs a re-examination at a driving school and a medical certificate (as of 2026; check the Ministry of Transport and the licensing office). Our guide to exchanging a foreign licence has the detail.

You have no licence. Then you start from the beginning, and the rest of this guide is your route.

The Czech route, in order

The route to category B, the ordinary car licence, has fixed steps, run partly by driving schools and partly by the licensing office.

1. Check that you qualify to take it. You must be old enough (18 for category B) and normally resident in Czechia, an EU concept that generally means living here for at least 185 days in a calendar year or having personal and occupational ties here. Foreign students and residents with long-term permits are usually in this position; confirm with the licensing office. Applications go to the licensing department of the municipal authority with extended powers; in Prague, that is Prague City Hall.

2. Choose a driving school. Czech driving schools (autoškoly) are private businesses accredited under the law. They run the theory course, the practical lessons and the preparation for the test. Compare the language of instruction, the number of lessons included, the car, the price of additional lessons and what happens if you fail the test. Some schools teach in English or have English-speaking instructors, especially in Prague; check what is actually offered and for which parts, since the exams themselves are in Czech.

3. Get a medical certificate. A doctor must confirm that you are medically fit to drive. The certificate (lékařský posudek) is normally issued by your registered GP, on the prescribed form, and attached to the application. Our guide to registering with a GP helps if you do not yet have one.

4. Apply to the licensing office. You file an application with the documents: ID or residence card, medical certificate, proof of completed driving school training as required, and a fee paid by the schedule in the law. The office registers you and schedules the tests.

5. Pass the theory test. The theory test is computer-based and covers road rules, signs, priority, technical and safety questions. The question bank is published, and driving schools provide practice software. The test is in Czech. Candidates who do not speak Czech may be allowed to use an interpreter at their own cost; ask the office well before the date who is accepted and how to arrange it.

6. Pass the practical test. The driving test takes place on public roads with an examiner. You drive a school car, show control and observe the rules, and are assessed on a defined set of manoeuvres and on general driving. The same language rules apply.

7. Collect the licence. After a pass, the licensing office issues the card. A Czech licence for category B is valid for ten years.

Languages and interpreters

The language of the tests is the main practical barrier for many foreigners. The theory questions are written in Czech, and examiners give instructions in Czech during the driving test. Candidates who do not have enough Czech can ask to use an interpreter; the rules on who qualifies, who pays and whether the interpreter must be approved by the office are set locally and by regulation. Contact the licensing office and the driving school, and get the answer in writing.

If you choose to learn the theory in Czech, driving school materials use a vocabulary that is narrow and repetitive, so learning the terms in a few weeks is realistic for a learner who is already at an elementary level. Our guide to learning Czech as an adult suggests routes that fit around work.

What it costs in time

Fees for the application, the tests and the school differ by school, city and number of lessons, so we quote none. Time matters more than money: the medical appointment, the school course, the waiting list for a test slot and the interval between tests add up to weeks and, in practice, often a few months. If you need to drive for work, plan for the period in which your foreign licence will not suffice.

Take a hypothetical resident from outside the EU whose licence does not match the convention model: she can take the re-examination route through a driving school instead of the full course, but either way the school, the doctor and the test slot take weeks, not a weekend. The sooner the licensing office tells you which applies, the sooner you can plan.

The rules you are tested on

Czech road law has several features that foreign drivers often miss. There is a zero-alcohol rule for drivers, so even a small amount is an offence. Dipped headlights must be on at all times, day and night. Winter tyres are required from 1 November to 31 March when winter conditions exist or a sign applies. Motorways need an electronic vignette bought in advance, with the 2026 annual price of CZK 2,570 (as of 2026; check the national vignette site). A points system applies, and a driver who reaches 12 points loses the licence. Prague has no low-emission zone as of October 2026, but trams, parking zones and the city's traffic rules need their own learning; see driving in Prague and parking zones explained.

Owning a car brings further obligations: registration, compulsory insurance and periodic inspection. See how to register a car in Czechia and the STK inspection.

Frequently asked questions

Do I need to retake the driving test in Czechia?

EU and EEA licences stay valid. A non-EU licence matching the Vienna or Geneva model is exchanged without a test; others need a re-examination. Ask the licensing office.

Are the tests available in English?

The tests are in Czech. Interpreter arrangements exist; ask the licensing office how to use them and who pays.

How long is a Czech licence valid?

For category B, ten years.

How old must I be to take the category B test?

18.

This is a general explainer, not legal or tax advice.