The Czech Republic Raised Its Vignette Prices In 2026

The Czech Republic has increased its motorway vignette prices for 2026, with rises of up to 9.5%. Having recently driven the route myself, I found that while the price increase is noticeable, the bigger challenge can be purchasing the vignette smoothly.

Below, you’ll find the updated prices, official sales channels, practical insights from my January 2026 test drive, and important information for drivers of electric and hybrid vehicles.

Motorways and expressways in the Czech Republic are toll roads for vehicles up to 3.5 tonnes (motorcycles are excluded). A digital vignette is required.

Prices were adjusted at the start of 2026:

Since 2021, the Czech vignette has been fully digital. The traditional windshield sticker is gone, replaced by an entirely digital process.

There are five ways to buy your vignette:

• ✔ Online at Czechvignette.cz
• ✔ Online via the Czech motorway authority’s official e-shop (edalnice.cz)
• ✔ Self-service machines at border crossings
• ✔ Euro Oil petrol stations within the Czech Republic
• ✔ Czech post offices

In January and February 2026, I drove from Prague to the German border specifically to test the vignette purchasing process

My clear recommendation is to buy your vignette online before departure.

After crossing the border, I stopped at several Euro Oil petrol stations to purchase a vignette in person. In multiple cases, staff were either unaware that they were expected to sell vignettes or had not been trained in the sales process. At one station, the attendant stated he had “never heard of it.” At another, a cashier pointed to an information leaflet but was unable to complete the transaction in the system.

This does not appear to be an isolated issue, as similar experiences have been reported on traveller forums.

Don’t rely on purchasing a vignette at a petrol station after crossing the border. Based on our January 2026 experience, staff at several Euro Oil locations were unfamiliar with the process.

Purchasing online before departure is the most reliable option. The vignette can become valid immediately after payment.

Self-service machines at border crossings were operational, but queues may occur during peak travel times, and card payment is required.

By contrast, the online portal worked without issue. I was able to register my licence plate number, pay by credit card, and receive confirmation within minutes. According to the Czech motorway operator SFDI, the vignette becomes valid immediately upon purchase because it is legally classified as a toll fee rather than a physical product.

One important detail to note: When purchasing through us, you can pay in your own currency, and we handle the conversion. This reduces the risk of incorrect payment amounts that could otherwise result in a reversal or an invalid vignette.

When you purchase a vignette, your vehicle’s registration number is recorded in a central database. Cameras installed on motorway gantries automatically scan number plates and verify them against this database.

Police patrol vehicles are also equipped with scanning systems and may check plates, including at petrol stations.

Penalties for driving without a valid vignette are significant:

• ✔ On-the-spot fines of up to 5,000 CZK (approximately €205)
• ✔ Up to 20,000 CZK (approximately €821) in formal administrative proceedings

Fines issued to foreign drivers can also be enforced in other EU countries, including the Netherlands and Germany, so ignoring a penalty is not an option.

Fully electric vehicles (BEVs) are exempt from the Czech motorway toll. However, the vehicle must be registered with the Czech authorities before the journey.

Plug-in hybrids with combined CO₂ emissions below 50 g/km pay 25% of the standard vignette price:

Don’t want to deal with the paperwork yourself? We can take care of the full registration process for your electric vehicle with the Czech authorities for a small charge of €9.95. Simply provide your vehicle registration details before your trip, and we’ll handle the form submission so your vehicle is recognised as exempt upon entry. Contact us for more information.

Unlike the previous sticker system, the electronic annual vignette is no longer tied to the calendar year. You choose your own 365-day validity window when you purchase it, which makes it far better value for anyone whose travel does not align neatly with January to December.

The 2026 price increases are moderate, amounting to only a few euros depending on the vignette type. The bigger issue, as I found out first-hand, is ensuring you actually have a valid vignette before you hit the motorway. Buy it online, double-check your number plate entry, and keep your confirmation email handy. If you drive an electric vehicle, take the time to pre-register with the Czech authorities and enjoy a toll-free trip.