The Czech vignette in 2026 is required for vehicles up to 3.5 t on most Czech motorways and expressways. The safest way to buy it is online through the official eDalnice.cz system, up to 30 days before the start date. Standard prices from January 1, 2026: 230 CZK for 1 day, 300 CZK for 10 days, 480 CZK for 30 days, and 2570 CZK for one year.
Since 2021, the Czech Republic has been using electronic vignettes, so no sticker is affixed to the windshield. The fee is assigned to the vehicle's registration number, country of registration, and selected validity period. Regardless of whether you are planning a short trip or a longer car rental for holidays abroad, before entering a Czech toll road, check if the e-vignette is active.
Is a vignette needed for the Czech Republic in 2026?
Yes - there are vignettes in the Czech Republic, and for most passenger cars, they are mandatory on toll sections of motorways and parts of expressways. The obligation applies to vehicles with a permissible total weight of up to 3.5 t.
A Czech vignette is needed if:
- you are driving a passenger car up to 3.5 t,
- you are using toll sections designated as motorways, usually with the number "D",
- you are passing through the Czech Republic in transit, e.g., towards Austria, Germany, Slovakia, or Croatia,
- the car has Polish license plates - the country of registration does not exempt from the fee.
You do not buy a separate vignette for a trailer towed by a vehicle up to 3.5 t. Motorcycles are exempt from vignette fees.
The price change from 2026 results from a decision by the Czech Ministry of Transport; the Embassy of the Republic of Poland in Prague informs that the new rates apply from January 1, 2026.
How much does a vignette for the Czech Republic cost in 2026?
For a standard passenger car up to 3.5 t, the vignette price depends on the validity period. In 2026, the available vignettes are: 1-day, 10-day, 30-day, and annual.
The amounts in PLN and EUR below are approximate, converted for travel planning purposes. Always check the final price in the payment system when purchasing.
| Vignette type | Validity period | Standard price CZK | Approx. PLN | Approx. EUR | ECO CNG/biomethane price CZK | Plug-in hybrid CO₂ ≤ 50 g/km price CZK |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 1-day | 1 day | 230 CZK | approx. 41 PLN | approx. 9 EUR | 115 CZK | approx. 58 CZK |
| 10-day | 10 days | 300 CZK | approx. 53 PLN | approx. 12 EUR | 150 CZK | 75 CZK |
| 30-day | 30 days | 480 CZK | approx. 85 PLN | approx. 19 EUR | 240 CZK | 120 CZK |
| Annual | 1 year | 2570 CZK | approx. 455 PLN | approx. 103 EUR | 1285 CZK | approx. 643 CZK |
In practice, the question "how much does a motorway in the Czech Republic cost?" for a passenger car most often means the cost of the vignette itself, not a fee for each kilometer driven. You buy temporary access to the network of toll roads, not a ticket for a specific section.
Discounts for ecological vehicles
The Czech Republic provides lower rates or exemptions for selected powertrains:
- vehicles running on CNG natural gas or biomethane pay 50% of the standard price,
- plug-in hybrids with COâ‚‚ emissions up to 50 g/km pay 25% of the standard price,
- electric and hydrogen vehicles are exempt from the fee.
For a car registered outside the Czech Republic, simply having an electric or hybrid powertrain may not be enough for automatic exemption. Before entering a toll section, you should check the procedure for reporting an exemption in the Czech system.
Where to buy a Czech vignette in 2026?
The simplest answer to the question "e-vignettes Czech Republic where to buy?" is: online in the official system. Vignettes can also be purchased at selected stationary points, but buying online reduces the risk of rushing at the border.
Available purchase options:
| Place of purchase | Best for whom | What to watch out for |
|---|---|---|
| Official eDalnice.cz portal | For most drivers planning their route in advance | Check the registration number, country of registration, and start date before payment |
| Authorized online sellers | For people who use intermediaries | Additional service fees may apply |
| Fuel stations in the Czech Republic | For drivers buying a vignette after crossing the border | Do not enter a toll section without an active vignette beforehand |
| Self-service kiosks, e.g., at border routes | For drivers without the option to buy online | Vehicle data must be entered correctly on site |
The safest channel is the official Czech e-vignette system, as it allows you to buy a vignette directly, check current prices, and access information about the map of toll roads and exemptions.
How to buy an e-vignette for the Czech Republic step by step?
The purchase usually takes a few minutes, but one error in the registration number can lead to problems during inspection. Before payment, prepare your vehicle registration document or vehicle data.
- Go to the official system or an authorized point.
- Select the country of vehicle registration, e.g., Poland.
- Enter the registration number exactly as it appears in the documents.
- Select the vehicle type and any discount category.
- Specify the validity period: 1 day, 10 days, 30 days, or one year.
- Set the start date. A vignette can be purchased up to 30 days in advance.
- Check all data before payment.
- Keep the purchase confirmation, preferably on your phone and in your email.
It is not possible to buy a vignette with a retroactive date. If you have already entered a toll motorway without an active vignette, a later purchase does not legalize the previous journey.
When does the Czech vignette become active and how long is it valid?
The Czech e-vignette can become active in two ways:
- if you choose a future date - from 00:00 on the indicated day,
- if you choose "today" - from the moment of payment and activation in the system.
The end of validity is at 23:59 on the last day of the period. Example: a 10-day vignette starting on July 5 is valid from July 5 to July 14 until 23:59.
This is important for night routes. If you plan to enter the Czech Republic just after midnight, set the correct start date. If you are traveling the evening before, do not assume that a "for tomorrow" vignette will protect you from inspection.
Who is exempt from vignettes in the Czech Republic?
Exempt from vignette fees are:
- motorcycles,
- trailers towed by vehicles up to 3.5 t - without a separate vignette,
- electric vehicles,
- hydrogen vehicles,
- certain vehicles meeting specific statutory criteria.
Lower fees apply to:
- cars running on CNG or biomethane - 50% of the price,
- plug-in hybrids with COâ‚‚ emissions up to 50 g/km - 25% of the price.
If an electric, hydrogen, or plug-in hybrid car has Polish license plates, before traveling, check if an exemption application form needs to be submitted. For vehicles from outside the Czech Republic, the exemption does not always work automatically simply by reading the license plate.
Fine for no vignette in the Czech Republic
The fine for no vignette in the Czech Republic can be severe. For driving on a toll road without a valid e-vignette, the penalty can be up to 20,000 CZK, which is approximately 3540 PLN or 800 EUR. In practice, encountered fines may be lower, often around several hundred PLN, but the upper limit is significantly higher.
Misuse of exemptions is treated even more strictly, e.g., providing false information about the powertrain or using an exemption without the required notification. In such situations, the penalty can reach up to 100,000 CZK.
Control does not require stopping the vehicle at toll gates. The Czech system operates electronically:
- cameras read license plates on toll sections,
- data are compared with the database of active e-vignettes,
- mobile patrols of police and road services also conduct checks.
The simplest way to avoid a fine: buy a vignette before entering a toll section, do not enter data from memory, and keep the purchase confirmation.
Editing and refund of a Czech e-vignette
Editing rules depend on whether the vignette has already become valid.
Before the start of validity, you can usually correct:
- start date,
- registration number,
- country of registration.
After the start of validity, the possibilities are very limited. According to the system rules, a maximum of two characters in the registration number can be corrected, provided that the length of the number remains the same. This is therefore not a way to transfer a vignette to a completely different vehicle.
A refund is only possible before the start of the validity period. After the vignette is activated, a refund is generally not granted. Therefore, when purchasing for "today," you must check the data particularly carefully before payment.
On which roads in the Czech Republic is a vignette mandatory?
The vignette is mandatory on most Czech motorways and selected expressways covered by the toll system. Most often, these will be routes marked with the letter D, e.g., roads leading towards Prague, Brno, Ostrava, Pilsen, or the border with Austria and Germany. If you continue into Austria, you will need a vignette there too - see our guide to Austria vignette prices for 2026.
There are also free sections, usually marked as "Bez poplatku" (Without toll). This applies, among others, to selected short border and access sections. In practice, however, one should not assume that every section from the border is free. Before departure, check the current map in the eDalnice.cz system, especially if you only want to pass through the Czech Republic in transit.
If, after paying for the vignette, you plan a short tourist trip, a list of places along the route may be useful: attractions in the Czech Republic near the border.
Rental car and Czech vignettes - what to check before departure?
If you are going to the Czech Republic in a rental or company car, before purchasing a vignette, make sure you know the exact vehicle registration number. The e-vignette is assigned to the license plates, not to the driver. If the car is changed before departure, you must buy a vignette for the correct vehicle or correct the data if the rules allow it and the vignette is not yet active.
For people starting from southern Poland, car rental in Krakow can be a practical option, especially when the Czech Republic is the destination for a short weekend trip. If you only need a car for a few days, check short-term car rental. For more frequent international trips, a flexible car subscription will work better, and for business trips - car rental for companies.
Before your trip, also check the scope of protection in case of damage abroad. For international trips, it is helpful to familiarize yourself with information about comprehensive insurance. If you plan to visit other countries after the Czech Republic, compare road tolls in other European countries beforehand, as billing systems differ even between neighboring countries.
Quick checklist before entering the Czech Republic
- Check if your route passes through a toll motorway.
- Buy a vignette before entering a toll section.
- Enter the correct registration number and country of registration.
- Select the correct start date - it's not possible to buy a vignette retroactively.
- For an electric, hydrogen, or plug-in car, check the exemption or discount procedure.
- Keep the purchase confirmation.
- If you are driving a rental car, buy the vignette only when you know the final registration number.
FAQ
Is the Czech vignette active immediately after purchase?
Yes, if you choose "today" as the start date during purchase, the vignette becomes active from the moment of payment and activation. If you set a future date, it will be valid from 00:00 on the indicated day.
Can I buy a Czech vignette in Poland before departure?
Yes. It is most convenient to buy it online before departure, up to 30 days before the planned start of validity. This is the best way to avoid searching for a point of sale at the border.
How much does a Czech vignette cost for a plug-in hybrid?
A plug-in hybrid with COâ‚‚ emissions up to 50 g/km pays 25% of the standard price. In 2026, this means approximately: approx. 58 CZK for 1 day, 75 CZK for 10 days, 120 CZK for 30 days, and approx. 643 CZK for one year. Check the final amount in the purchase system.
Does an electric car need a vignette in the Czech Republic?
Electric and hydrogen cars are exempt from vignette fees. However, for a vehicle registered outside the Czech Republic, it is necessary to check whether reporting an exemption in the Czech system is required before entering a toll road.
Can I buy a Czech vignette at the border?
Yes, in practice, you can use self-service kiosks or points of sale at entry routes, but it is safer to buy an e-vignette online beforehand. One should not enter a toll motorway before the vignette is activated.
What is the fine for driving without a vignette in the Czech Republic?
The penalty for not having a valid vignette can be up to 20,000 CZK. Misuse of an exemption, e.g., incorrect use of a discount for an ecological vehicle, can result in a penalty of up to 100,000 CZK.
Does a trailer require a separate vignette in the Czech Republic?
No. A trailer towed by a vehicle up to 3.5 t does not require a separate vignette. The fee applies to the vehicle whose registration number you enter when purchasing the e-vignette.