Much like in other countries, individual speed limits in the Czech Republic vary depending on road category. The purpose of the system is to discipline drivers who do not comply with the regulations, putting both themselves and other traffic users at danger.
Today’s article will explain the workings of tickets in the Czech Republic, namely provide the specific rates of penalties the Czech police may impose for speeding. We will also discuss the new regulations that entered into force in the Czech Republic in 2024. Read on!
Speeding ticket rates in the Czech Republic in 2024
Speeding in the Czech Republic results in fines that can be imposed as a ticket or the more costly one – in administrative mode.
However, financial sanctions do not mean your troubles are over – exceeding the speed limit by 10 km/h or more results in receiving penalty points and if you drive more than 40 km/h above the limit in an urban area or by 50 km/h outside urban areas, the driver shall be banned from driving vehicles for 6 to 18 months.
According to the above-mentioned rules, amounts of speeding tickets in the Czech Republic vary depending on whether the violation was recorded in an urban area or outside of it. In 2024 the fines range from CZK 1500 to CZK 3500 in ticket proceedings and from CZK 2000 up to as much as CZK 25,000 in administrative proceedings.
Tickets in the Czech Republic – violations tariff in urban areas:
| Speeding | Ticket proceedings | Administrative proceedings | Penalty points |
| by less than 10 km/h | up to CZK 1500 | CZK 2000–5000 | – |
| between 10 and 19 km/h | CZK 1500–2000 | CZK 2000–5000 | 2 |
| between 20 and 39 km/h | CZK 2500–3500 | CZK 4000–10,000 | 4 |
| 40 km/h or more | – | CZK 7000–25,000 | 6 |
Penalties for speeding outside of urban areas:
| Speeding | Ticket proceedings | Administrative proceedings | Penalty points |
| by less than 10 km/h | up to CZK 1500 | CZK 2000–5000 | – |
| between 10 and 29 km/h | CZK 1500–2000 | CZK 2000–5000 | 2 |
| between 30 and 49 km/h | CZK 2500–3500 | CZK 4000–10,000 | 4 |
| 50 km/h or more | – | CZK 7000–25,000 | 6 |
What changes were introduced in traffic regulations in the Czech Republic?
This year’s amendment to the Czech Traffic Law Act has brought about significant changes and important changes included, but were not limited to simplifying the penalty points system. The previously applicable five categories were replaced with three penalty point rates: 6, 4 and 2.
Pursuant to the new regulations, penalties for violations posing the biggest threat on the road were increased – e.g. driving under the influence of alcohol or other intoxicants, significantly exceeding the speed limit or running a red light. More severe consequences also await drivers committing the same violations multiple times as repeat offenders. At the same time, sanctions for minor violations have been decreased (e.g. incorrect parking, driving with the lights off).
Moreover, the Czech government has decided to extend the duration of suspending a driving license in case of determining major violations. The amended Act also raises the permissible speed limit on selected motorway sections – from 130 km/h to 150 km/h. Currently the Ministry of Transport has designated three such sections that are planned to be made available to the drivers in 2026.
Procedure for receiving a speeding ticket in the Czech Republic
Speeding in the Czech Republic is most usually determined based on direct measurements, performed by authorized officers. Violations are also detected using stationary speed cameras and section speed control system. In this context it should be noted, that in the Czech Republic it is prohibited to use popular applications that warn drivers about speed camera locations.
In case of automatic systems, the Czech police sends a speeding ticket by means of a registered letter that is usually delivered within several weeks, although in some cases this process can take up to several months. The notification contains the necessary information on how to pay the ticket issued in the Czech Republic, as well as a payment deadline, which is 15 days.
Czech ticket appeal options
Administrative proceedings regulations apply – a driver who received a ticket in the Czech Republic has the right to participate fully in the proceedings at its every stage, which includes submitting applications, explanations and appealing against the decision.
If the driver believes the penalty imposed by the Czech police is unjustified, they should refuse accepting and signing the ticket. In the course of the proceedings it is possible to submit an appeal against the decisions issued, provided that the established deadlines are met. In case of a negative judgment in the second instance, the case may be taken to court. A judgment passed by the Supreme Administrative Court is legally binding.
Speed limits in the Czech Republic and associated penalties
Depending on the type of proceedings and by how much the speed limit was exceeded, tickets in the Czech Republic in 2024 range from CZK 1500 to 25,000.
The driver of a vehicle with a permissible total weight of up to 3.5 tons can drive outside urban areas with a maximum speed of 90 km/h, 110 km/h on an expressway and 130 km/h on a motorway. The driver of another mechanical vehicle, such as a truck, can drive with the maximum speed of 80 km/h. What are the regulations regarding driving in urban areas? The speed limit in such case is 50 km/h.
It should also be noted that it is prohibited to exceed the construction speed o the vehicle and in case of a combination of vehicles, the speed of any vehicle constituting this combination.
Regulations also include specific conditions under which other speed limits than the above apply in the Czech Republic. The authorities may, for example, decide to decrease the permissible limit for mechanical vehicles to 90 km/h on a motorway or a road without designated traffic lanes.
Limits on motorways and trunk roads in the Czech Republic
Here are the speed limits applicable in the Czech Republic in 2024:
- in urban areas: speed limit 50 km/h;
- outside urban areas: speed limit 90 km/h;
- on expressways: speed limit 110 km/h;
- on motorways: speed limit 130 km/h (and 150 km/h on designated sections).
If an expressway or motorway runs through an urban area, the maximum permissible speed is limited to 90 km/h. Moreover, only vehicles whose construction (type) allows them to reach at least 80 km/h are allowed to use the motorways.
Other consequences of exceeding the speed limit in urban areas in the Czech Republic
Aside from the above-mentioned sanctions, in some cases exceeding the permissible speed limit in the Czech Republic results in losing the driver’s license.
From the year 2006, a penalty point system is in force in the Czech Republic. Pursuant to the provisions of the Act, every driver may be assigned up to 12 penalty points. After reaching this limit, their driver’s license is suspended for at least a year. In order to have it reinstated, the driver must re-take an exam at a driving school and a traffic psychology exam.
The package of changes, which led to introducing new tickets in the Czech Republic in 2024, also stipulates additional requirements for less experienced drivers. The “probationary period” lasts for two years from obtaining the driver’s license. During that time, a limit of 6 penalty points applies and committing a major violation may result in losing the previously awarded license.
Comparison of tickets imposed in the Czech Republic and neighboring countries
Speed limits in Europe are mostly similar, although the penalties for exceeding them vary significantly between individual countries. Countries with the strictest sanctions in this scope include Norway, Denmark, Switzerland, Italy and Portugal.
In the context of countries neighboring the Czech Republic, the German regulations are worth mentioning – speeding fines range from EUR 10 to EUR 680 (plus driving ban). There are no speed limits on German motorways for vehicles with a permissible total weight of up to 3.5 tons. The motorway limits, however, do apply to trucks – the maximum speed for trucks is 80 km/h (60 km/h when driving in a convoy). A similar distinction also applies on expressways – the permissible speed for vehicles with a permissible total weight of up to 3.5 tons is 100 km/h and 60 km/h for heavier vehicles.
Compared with neighboring countries, tickets in the Czech Republic should also be put in reference against speeding fines applicable imposed in Poland:
- up to 10 km/h – PLN 50;
- between 11 and 15 km/h – PLN 100;
- between 16 and 20 km/h – PLN 200;
- between 21 and 25 km/h – PLN 300;
- between 26 and 30 km/h – PLN 400;
- between 31 and 40 km/h – PLN 800;
- between 41 and 50 km/h – PLN 1000;
- between 51 and 60 km/h – PLN 1500;
- between 61 and 70 km/h – PLN 2000;
- over 71 km/h – PLN 2,500.
Mutual recognition of tickets in the European Union
Every country has its own criteria regarding imposition of sanctions for traffic violations. International collaboration in terms of exchanging information on vehicle owners allows for effective enforcement of receivables resulting from issued tickets.
The topic of additional consequences, such as penalty points for speeding, remains unresolved. There are ongoing works in the European Union to create a digital European driver’s license, which will result in penalty points issued in one country also being transferred to the country issuing the authorizations. This subject has been discussed for a long time and the need to introduce legal changes has already been signaled in the Directive 2006/126/EC drafted by the European Transport Safety Council.
Currently penalty points for traffic violations are only applicable in the country that imposed them; however, the need to increase safety on European roads makes the changes of regulations in this area inevitable. Propositions of the European Commission regarding this issue will soon be considered by the European Parliament and the Council as part of the legislative procedure.
