Driving through the Czech Republic: which vignette do you need for transit?
Last checked: 24 October 2026
If you are only driving through the Czech Republic and all your motorway driving falls on one calendar day, a 1-day vignette (230 CZK for a petrol or diesel car in 2026) is enough. If the crossing runs past midnight, or you will come back the same way within ten days, the 10-day vignette (300 CZK) is the better choice. Buy it before you reach the border.
Typical transit routes
The Czech Republic lies between Germany, Poland, Austria and Slovakia, so many journeys pass through it. Common examples include:
- Dresden to Prague on the D8, then on the D1 to Brno and on towards Vienna or Bratislava.
- Nuremberg or Regensburg via Plzeň on the D5, then around Prague and on the D1 towards Brno.
- From Poland on the D1 towards Brno and on to Austria or Slovakia.
On all these routes, much of the journey is on motorways, and the tolled sections may start soon after the border. Some bypass sections, such as the D1 around Brno, the D5 in the Plzeň area and the western part of the Prague ring road, are toll-free. See our guide to Czech toll roads for details.
Which vignette for transit?
| Transit situation (2026) | Vignette | Cost |
|---|---|---|
| Single crossing during the day | 1-day | 230 CZK |
| Crossing that starts in the evening and continues after midnight | 10-day | 300 CZK (instead of 2 × 230 = 460 CZK) |
| Outward and return trip within ten days | 10-day | 300 CZK |
| Return trip after more than ten days | Two separate vignettes, chosen by travel day | From 460 CZK |
| Outward and return trip within 30 days, with motorway driving in between | 30-day | 480 CZK |
Watch out for night crossings
In 2026 the 1-day vignette is valid only on the chosen calendar day, until 23:59:59. Many long-distance drivers cross the country at night to avoid traffic. If you enter the Czech Republic at 10 pm and leave at 2 am, a single 1-day vignette would cover you for only two hours. You would need two 1-day vignettes, one for each date, or simply one 10-day vignette, which is cheaper.
According to the amendment passed by the Czech Chamber of Deputies on 23 September 2026, the 1-day vignette would become valid for 24 hours from its start. The law has yet to be promulgated; the planned effective date is 1 January 2027. Until then the midnight rule applies. More in our one-day vignette guide.
Planning your transit
- Count the dates on which you will drive on Czech tolled motorways, including the return.
- Choose the start date carefully. It can be set up to 30 days in advance, and a 10-day vignette runs for ten calendar days including the start date.
- Enter the number plate and country exactly as registered. For a rental car, use the plate of the car you collect.
- Check the weight and fuel type. Motorhomes and vans up to 3.5 tonnes use the normal vignette; trailers and caravans need no separate one; motorcycles are exempt. See motorhomes, trailers and motorcycles.
- Buy before the border, so you are covered from the first tolled section.
Other things to know on the way
- The limit on motorways is 130 km/h and the alcohol limit is 0.0.
- Dipped headlights must be on all day, all year.
- From 1 November to 31 March, winter tyres are required in winter conditions.
- Driving without a valid vignette can be fined up to 5,000 CZK on the spot, and a vignette cannot be bought retroactively.
You can order the e-vignette online on DalnickaPortal in a few minutes: choose the duration and start date, enter your number plate and pay. The plate is registered in the Czech system and you receive a confirmation by email.