Expat Relocation website
Expat Success
Intro and basic traffic rules

Driving license

Parking in Pargue

Erika's attic

Offenses

Car safety seats

Useful phone numbers

Motorway

New Yugo Name

Efficiency drive

Imagine yourself as a foreign citizen new to the Czech Republic, suddenly thrust into the melée of Prague's busy streets.

Prague traffic

And there you are, dodging trams, screeching to a stop as a girl with a dog steps off a corner, praying you haven't turned the wrong way on a one-way street ... and in the middle of it all you realize you have no idea what the speed limit is.
Or whether your car is properly registered.
Or what will happen if you get a speeding ticket.
There's so much information to juggle when you're new to a country, and many of it revolves around driving and vehicles.
To help you, we've devoted this issue of Expat Success to the issues a foreigner can face when driving in the Czech Republic. We'll deal with such topics as speed limits, parking tickets, and highway tolls.

To get you started, here are some basic traffic regulations in the Czech Republic:

  • Drive on the right side of the road.
  • Seatbelts are required for drivers and all passengers.
  • Speed limits for passenger vehicles are:
    • 130 km/h on motorways
    • 90 km/h on major roads
    • 50 km/h in the city
    • Or else as noted
Major Czech roads are generally good. There are some 500km of European-style motorways, the main ones being the D1 and E50/E65 between Prague and Brno. The traffic on motorways and country roads tends to be light.

It is illegal to speak on a mobile phone while driving unless you have a hands-free set installed in your vehicle.
In Winter, driving lights must be on while driving outside cities, even during the daytime.
Helmets are mandatory for motorcyclists.
A driver flashing lights is offering you the right of way or trying to let you know of something (perhaps that the police are checking for speeders on the road ahead).

Taking licenses

You may know how to drive - but, as an expatriate living in the Czech Republic, do you have the right papers to prove it?

ERC can help with obtaining the right documents for expatriates who need them. That means every foreigner who plans to drive here, unless they hold a driver's license issued by an EU country, in which case you can drive in the Czech Republic without any further documents.
Not quite so lucky are people from the Vienna Convention countries. That includes most European countries not in the EU, as well as several countries in Africa and the Middle East. Licenses from these countries can be converted into a Hungarian license, but first, the holder must take a Hungarian medical test and go through a series of bureaucratic hoops - all of which ERC can assist you with.

With all the things you have to worry about as an expat motorist, you might think you are better off - and less likely to be fined large amounts - if you just try to live without your trusty internal combustion engine.
The bad news is that there are strict rules on the use of bicycles, too, including specifications on wearing helmets and keeping to cycle lanes. Be careful leaving your bike on the street, too, as these are often stolen.
And if you walk, don't jaywalk. You could face a substantial fine if you are caught crossing the road on a red pedestrian light.
ERC's staff can fill you in on the details.

All other expatriates - including, for example, North Americans, Australians and New Zealanders - need to take two examinations, in addition to the medical exam, before they can get their hands on a Czech license.
ERC can provide full assistance for people going through this whole process, including a bilingual tutor who will teach clients the things they have to know for the test and interpret for them during the test itself. Remember: expats can only drive for 90 days in the Czech Republic without the right license - and it is advisable to convert your license long before that time expires, just in case you are stopped by an unsympathetic cop who does not understand your language. Failing that, it is a very good idea to have a translation of the document ready to hand. ERC can arrange these, along with full details of the relevant regulations.
For more information, contact info@erceurope.com.


Can't stop now

One of the biggest headaches when driving in Prague is what to do when you have finished driving.

Parking spaces are hard to find, even in the zones where you have to pay for the privilege. And each district has its own rules and tolls regulating those zones. Prices can quickly mount up, and you have to top up your parking meter regularly. Things are even more costly and inconvenient if you violate parking rules. Your car can be chained or towed away, or your windshield might be decorated with a parking ticket. The fine is relatively modest if you pay it promptly, but if you don't, it increases as the days pass. To get the latest regulations on parking, contact info@erceurope.com.

Erika's attic

Did you know that you can use the ERC website to buy used electronics, furniture, baby accessories and other items? And you can often get excellent prices!
We have a feature called Erika's Attic, where people post advertisements to buy and sell different household goods. The site is regularly updated, so many people visit it frequently to find great bargains.
To get to the Attic, go to www.erceurope.com, click on the Hungary flag, and then click on Erika's Attic on the pull-down menu on the left. You do not need an internet password to get on our website.

No offense intended

The Czech Republic's regulations on dealing with driving offenses are a subject of confusion even among police officers - providing all the more reason for drivers, especially foreign ones, to be wary. There is a point system, which can cause a driver to have their license suspended for one year if they amass a certain number of points. However, police can also fine offending motorists. Often it can be difficult to know whether, in a given situation, a driver will get points, a fine - or both. We will do our best to help you navigate this confusing area. Contact info@erceurope.com with any questions you may have.

Keeping children safe on the roads

For anybody driving with children in a foreign country, it is essential to have the right equipment to keep the little ones safe - and to observe the local laws.
For example, in the Czech Republic, small children must be properly secured in car safety seats during motoring.
ERC is happy to provide full details of the regulations. We can also tell you where to purchase child safety seats or, for larger children, cushions that will raise them enough for the regular seat belt to be fastened round them securely.

Casualty figures

If you break down or have an accident, you might find the following numbers useful.

  • Fire brigade: 150
  • Emergency medical aid: 155
  • Police emergency: 158
  • Nonstop service: 1240
  • UAMK (Road Assistance): 1230
  • AAA-Nonstop technical service: 233 373 337

Freeways aren't free

Motorways in the Czech Republic are subject to a toll.

Paying the fee takes the form of buying a sticker, available at border crossings, filling stations and post offices, and displaying in the windshield. The sticker is known as the Dalnici Znamka.
The prices for stickers vary depending on the weight of the vehicle - but none of them is as expensive as the maximum fine for being caught without a sticker, which is 15,000 CZK (almost 500 euros).
Stickers are available for varying durations.
Our staff can provide more information on this topic.

Yugo-where?

Our country manager in Belgrade, Petar Visekruna, would like to point out that there is no longer a country called Yugoslavia.

Map
Map
Both chambers of the country's Parliament adopted a new Constitutional Charter and Implementation Law in February, under which the new State Union of Serbia and Montenegro - the only two remaining states in the once six-state federation - replaces the Federal Republic of Yugoslavia.
The new state will still have one chair in the UN and most international organizations and retain a joint defense and foreign policy. However, after a three-year period, Serbia and Montenegro are each entitled to conduct a referendum for independence.
Founded after World War I as the Kingdom of Serbs, Croats and Slovenes, Yugoslavia went through numerous incarnations and name changes during the 20th century and, most famously, underwent an explosive shrinking process in the early '90s.
Kosovo remains under UN/KFOR administration.

Expat Success is published by the Expat Relocation Center for our expat customers and the international community of Prague.
Send comments, questions, and ideas for this publication to editor@erceurope.com
for other assistance, contact the ERC headquarters at:
Millennium Center Building
Pesti Barnabás u. 4, 3rd floor
1052 Budapest
Tel.: +36-1-266-0181
Fax: +36-1-266-3280
info@erceurope.com
www.erceurope.com
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