Driving in Czech Republic | Mandatory Equipment 2025

Police in Czech Republic often check vehicles for required safety equipment. Missing a vest or fire extinguisher may result in a fine. Here's what your car must contain for legal and safe travel.

Mandatory Vehicle Equipment | Czech Republic 2025

Drivers in Czech Republic must carry:

First-aid kit

(DIN 13164 standard recommended)

Warning triangle

(type-approved)

Reflective vest

(kept inside the cabin)

fire extinguisher

(for vehicles with 8+ passengers)

Motorcycles

Motorcycles are only required to carry a first-aid kit. Reflective vests are not compulsory but recommended for safety.

First-aid Kit

Use a kit that meets DIN 13164 standard. From 2018, expiry dates are no longer legally binding, as long as contents are in good condition.

Reflective Vest Colour

The vest must be yellow or orange-red, with reflective stripes and compliant with EN ISO 20471:2013.

Child Seats

Required for children under 150 cm and 36 kg. If 3 children are travelling, and two child seats occupy the rear seat, the third (over age 3) may travel without one.

Trailers

Ensure trailer lighting includes:

• indicators, brake lights, rear fog light, rear reflectors (triangle-shaped),
• rear position lights, license plate lighting, front and side reflectors (non-triangular).

If the trailer is wider than your car, extra side mirrors may be required.

Recommended Equipment

• reflective vests for passengers,
• spare bulbs & fuses,
• jumper cables, tow rope, flashlight,
• snow chains (in winter),
• ice scraper, utility knife, accident report form.

Are spare bulbs required?

No. Czech law no longer mandates carrying spare bulbs or fuses, due to advances in vehicle technology and difficulty of self-replacement.

Fines

Missing mandatory equipment may result in a fine of up to 2000 CZK (~€80), or technical inspection failure.

Mandatory Documents

• ID card or passport (valid at least 6 months),
• third-party liability insurance (EU-issued is accepted),
• registration certificate with valid technical inspection,
• valid driving licence.

If you're driving a rental vehicle, carry authorisation in Czech language.

Key Traffic Rules | Czech Republic

• Low beam headlights required year-round,
• Seatbelts mandatory for all passengers,
• Winter tyres required from 1 Nov–31 Mar in snowy/icy/frosty conditions,
• Hands-free required for mobile use,
• Emergency corridor (3m) must be created in traffic jams,
• Report accidents involving injury or major damage,
• Yield to pedestrians at crossings,
• Radar detectors are banned,
• Alcohol limit: 0.0‰ (zero tolerance),
• Studded tyres are prohibited, even for foreign vehicles. Snow chains allowed only when sufficient snow covers the road.