The Czech one-day vignette: how it works and when it pays off
Last checked: 24 October 2026
The Czech one-day vignette costs 230 CZK for a petrol, diesel, LPG or standard hybrid car in 2026 and is valid on one calendar day, until 23:59:59. It is not a 24-hour pass: if you buy it at 10 pm for the same day, you get just two hours of motorway driving. For two separate travel days, the 10-day vignette at 300 CZK is cheaper than two one-day vignettes.
How the one-day vignette works today
When you buy the vignette, you choose the day it applies to. It covers the tolled motorway sections in the Czech Republic from the start of that day until 23:59:59. Buying late in the day does not extend it. In practice:
- Bought in the morning for today: valid all day until 23:59:59.
- Bought at 10 pm for today: valid for only two hours.
- Bought in advance for a later date: valid for the whole of that calendar day. You can set the start date up to 30 days ahead.
The vignette is linked to the number plate and checked by cameras, so there is nothing to display. It is not valid retroactively, and it is never valid before you have paid.
Reduced prices apply to some vehicles: 110 CZK for CNG, LNG or biomethane and 50 CZK for a plug-in hybrid with CO₂ emissions up to 50 g/km. Fully electric and hydrogen cars are exempt. All rates are in our guide to Czech vignette prices.
What may change from 2027
According to the amendment passed by the Czech Chamber of Deputies on 23 September 2026, the one-day vignette would become a 24-hour vignette: valid for 24 hours from the moment it starts, not until midnight. The price would remain 230 CZK. The law has yet to be promulgated; the planned effective date is 1 January 2027. For any trip in 2026, the calendar-day rule applies.
If it takes effect as passed, a vignette started at 10 pm would cover you until 10 pm the following day. That would make the one-day vignette far more useful for evening and overnight drives.
Examples
| Situation (2026 rules) | Good choice | Why |
|---|---|---|
| Day trip from Dresden to Prague and back on the same day | 1-day, 230 CZK | Both journeys fall on one calendar day. |
| Entering the country at 9 pm and driving on the motorway until 1 am | 10-day, 300 CZK | The motorway drive crosses midnight, so you would need two one-day vignettes (460 CZK). |
| Arrive on Friday, return on Sunday | 10-day, 300 CZK | Two travel days would cost 2 × 230 = 460 CZK. |
| Rental car picked up in Prague, one motorway trip to Brno and back that day | 1-day, 230 CZK | One calendar day, one vignette. |
When the 10-day vignette is the better deal
The arithmetic is simple: two one-day vignettes cost 460 CZK, while a 10-day vignette costs 300 CZK. As soon as you will use tolled motorways on two different calendar days within ten days, the 10-day option is cheaper. This includes return trips where you go out and come back on different days, and night drives that cross midnight.
The one-day vignette makes sense when all your motorway driving really happens on a single day, such as a day trip, a short visit or a quick transit in daylight. It is also increasingly popular: in 2025, sales of one-day vignettes rose by 50%. For a fuller comparison, read which Czech vignette to choose, and if you are only passing through, see our transit guide.
Tips to avoid mistakes
- Check the start date before you pay. A vignette set for the wrong day does not cover today.
- Choose the right fuel type. A plug-in hybrid only qualifies for the reduced rate with CO₂ up to 50 g/km.
- Buy before you reach the border, so you are covered from the first tolled section.
- Double-check the number plate and the country of registration.