Which Czech vignette should I buy? A simple guide by travel days
Last checked: 24 October 2026
The right Czech vignette depends on how many calendar days you will drive on tolled motorways, not on how long you stay. One travel day: the 1-day vignette (230 CZK). Two or more travel days within ten days: the 10-day vignette (300 CZK). A longer stay with motorway driving on several days: the 30-day vignette (480 CZK). And if you make six or more trips a year that each need a 30-day vignette, or nine or more 10-day trips, the annual vignette (2,570 CZK) works out cheaper.
Decision table
Prices below are for petrol, diesel, LPG and standard hybrid cars in 2026. Reduced rates for CNG and plug-in hybrids follow the same logic and are listed in our guide to Czech vignette prices.
| Your trip | Best choice | Reasoning |
|---|---|---|
| All motorway driving on one calendar day | 1-day, 230 CZK | Valid until 23:59:59 on the chosen day. |
| Out on one day, back on another (within 10 days) | 10-day, 300 CZK | Two 1-day vignettes would cost 460 CZK. |
| A stay of more than 10 days with motorway driving on several days | 30-day, 480 CZK | Covers 30 calendar days including the start date. |
| Five separate trips a year, each needing a 30-day vignette | 5 × 30-day, 2,400 CZK | Still slightly cheaper than an annual vignette. |
| Six or more such trips a year | Annual, 2,570 CZK | Six 30-day vignettes would cost 2,880 CZK. |
| Regular short visits (10-day each) | Annual from 9 trips | Eight 10-day vignettes cost 2,400 CZK, nine cost 2,700 CZK. |
Count travel days, not nights
Many people assume that a weekend in Prague needs only a 1-day vignette. But if you arrive on Saturday and drive home on Sunday, you use the motorway on two calendar days. Two 1-day vignettes would cost 460 CZK, so the 10-day vignette at 300 CZK is the obvious pick. The same applies to evening arrivals: if your motorway drive starts before midnight and ends after it, you are using two days.
If you stay somewhere for a week and do not use the motorway in between, the 10-day vignette still covers both the outward and the return journey, as long as both fall within the ten calendar days.
How the periods are counted
- 10-day and 30-day vignettes include the start date. A 10-day vignette starting on 10 November 2026 ends at the end of 19 November 2026; a 30-day one ends at the end of 9 December 2026.
- The annual vignette lasts 365 days from the start date you choose, so it does not have to begin on 1 January. Starting on 10 November 2026, it runs until the end of 9 November 2027.
- You can choose a start date up to 30 days after purchase.
Typical mistakes
The wrong start date
The vignette is valid from the date you select, not from the date of purchase. If you buy in advance, check that the start date matches the day you first drive on a tolled motorway. If your plans change, the start date can be changed once before the vignette begins; see our guide on correcting a number plate or start date.
Forgetting about midnight
In 2026 the 1-day vignette ends at 23:59:59, however late you bought it. Under the amendment passed by the Czech Chamber of Deputies on 23 September 2026, it would become a 24-hour vignette (the law has yet to be promulgated; planned effective date 1 January 2027). More details are in our one-day vignette guide.
Choosing the wrong fuel type
LPG cars pay the full price. A plug-in hybrid qualifies for the 25% rate only if its CO₂ emissions are up to 50 g/km, as shown in the registration certificate. Fully electric cars are exempt, but on foreign plates the exemption must be notified before you use a tolled motorway.
Rental cars
If you hire a car, ask the rental company whether it already has a valid vignette. If you buy one yourself, use the exact number plate and registration country of the car you receive, not the one in your booking confirmation.
Quick rule of thumb
- One day of motorway driving: 1-day.
- Two days within ten: 10-day.
- Several motorway days spread over more than ten days: 30-day (if you only drive in and out, two 1-day vignettes at 460 CZK are slightly cheaper).
- Frequent visitor: count your trips and compare with 2,570 CZK.