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Czech Republic

Truck driving restrictions

Basic information


on Sundays and public holidays from 13:00 to 22:00

Vehicles


heavy goods vehicles or combined vehicles of over 7.5t maximum permitted weight (MPW)

Applies to roads


motorways, expressways and 1st class roads

Detailed information


Holiday restrictions:

from 1st July to 31st August

  • on Fridays from 17:00 to 21:00
  • on Saturdays from 7:00 to 13:00
  • on Sundays and public holidays from 13:00 to 22:00

Special restrictions:

Special vehicles and motor trucks whose total width exceeds 0,60 m. On 1st class roads outside the built-up area.

from 15th April to 30th September

  • on Fridays and the eve of a holiday, from 15:00 to 21:00
  • on Saturdays and the first day of a series of holidays, from 7:00 to 11:00
  • on Sundays and the last day of a series of holidays, from 15:00 to 21:00

Exceptions:

  • Vehicles engaged in combined transport operations, from the shipper to the nearest loading point or from the nearest unloading point to the consignee
  • Vehicles used for essential seasonal agricultural transport
  • Vehicles used in the construction, maintenance or repair of roads
  • Vehicles transporting perishable goods according to ATP regulations (the Agreement on the International Carriage of Perishable Foodstuffs and on the Special Equipment used for such Carriage), provided the goods take up more than half of the loading capacity of the vehicle
  • Vehicles transporting livestock
  • Vehicles transporting fuel for the continuous operation of service stations
  • Vehicles used for the loading or unloading of aircraft, ship or trains up to a distance of 100 km
  • Vehicles carrying postal cargo
  • Empty vehicles traveling in connection with any of the transport operations mentioned in the preceding points
  • Vehicles needed in cases of natural disaster
  • Vehicles belonging to the armed forces, police and fire brigade
  • Vehicles carrying chemical substances susceptible to temperature change or crystallization
  • Vehicles used for driving training

Holidays


Public holidays 2026


  • 1st January - New Year's Day
  • 1st January - Restoration of the Czech Independence Day
  • 18th April - Good Friday
  • 21st April - Easter Monday
  • 1st May - Labor Day / May Day
  • 8th May - Victory in Europe Day
  • 5th July - Day of Saints Cyril and Methodius
  • 6th July - Jan Hus Day
  • 28th September - St. Wenceslas Day
  • 28th October - Independent Czechoslovak State Day
  • 17th November - Struggle for Freedom and Democracy Day
  • 24th December - Christmas Eve
  • 25th December - Christmas Day
  • 26th December - St. Stephen's Day

Tires


Winter tires are mandatory from 1st November to 31st March if on the road there is a dense layer of snow, ice or hoarfrost or if, due to the weather conditions, the presence of a dense layer of snow, ice or hoarfrost on road may be expected while driving. The regulation is in effect for both motor vehicles of under 3.5t MPW and for motor vehicles of over 3.5t MPW. The tread depth in winter tires must be of minimum 4 mm with reference to vehicles under 3.5t MPW and minimum 6 mm in vehicles of over 3.5t MPW. The regulation does not apply to a situation in which a spare wheel (with a summer tire) must have been used.


Not fitting winter tires in the aforementioned weather conditions is punishable by a fine of 2000 CZK. Moreover, if one causes a road accident while driving with summer tires, the police will take the circumstance into account.

According to the new regulations, if the police decides that the further drive on inadequate tires may cause risk to road safety and mobility on road, the driver may be banned from further driving.

Good to know


Note:Between 1st November and 30th April on roads where there is a ban to use salt, the following vehicle equipment is obligatory: vehicles of over 3.5t MPW: winter tires (the tread depth of 6 mm) or snow chains.


Do you know that...?


Dipped headlights: All motor vehicles are obliged to use dipped headlights 24h all year round. The non-compliance is punishable by a fine of 2000 CZK.


The maximum blood- alcohol content is 0,00‰.


Driving a vehicle under the influence of alcohol or drugs is treated as an offense. It is punishable by a fine of 25 000 – 50 000 CZK + 7 penalty points and a withdrawal of the driving license for the period of one to two years.


Examples of fines collected on the spot for traffic offenses:

  • using radar detectors – up to 100 000 CZK
  • not using safety belts –2 000 CZK + 2 penalty points
  • talking on the mobile phone without a hands-free set – 1 000 CZK + 3 penalty points
  • speeding – from 1 000 CZK up to 10 000 CZK + 5 penalty points.

The system of penalty points in 1-7 scale: on receiving 12 points the driver – a Czech citizen – loses his/her driving license. If a foreigner gets 12 points, he/ she cannot drive in Czech for a period of one year (breaching the ban is punishable by a fine of 25 000 CZK up to 30 000 CZK).


Note: A police officer may withdraw one’s driving license in certain cases provided by law (e.g. when death or injury in a road accident is caused at the driver’s fault, hit-and-run accident, driving under the influence of alcohol or intoxicants, refusing a breath test or a blood test – if the previous testing was positive; driving without due driving rights). The withdrawn driving license is sent to the authority by which the document was issued, together with information on the causes of the withdrawal. In specific situations (subject to a fine of 5 000 CZK), e.g. when refusing the fine, the policeman is allowed to demand from the driver a deposit of 5 000 CZK up to 50 000 CZK on account of the imposed fine.

In case of the lack of bailing, the policeman is allowed to prevent further driving. Not appearing for the trial causes the loss of the bail.


Note: The issue of obeying the speed limit is of major concern to the Czech police. Municipal police (MSZ) is also entitled to measure the speed and stop vehicles.


Measures in case of an accident:


One is obliged to report a road accident as a result of which the damage made to a single vehicle exceeds 50 000 CZK or the accident resulted in injury or death of the participant/s.

The fine is 5 000 CZK, yet in administrative enquiry it is 7 000 CZK. However, if the accident was caused by a driver of a bus or any other vehicle meant for transporting people, the cost of the fee is 10 000 CZK.


IMPORTANT TELEPHONE NUMBERS


Assistance breakdown service - Czech Automobilclub UAMK - +420 1230 or +420 2 611 04 123, open 24 h

the police -158

the emergency ambulance service – 155

the fire brigade - 150

or the unified number – 112