Re-registering a car in Czechia (přepis) to a new owner must be done within 10 working days of the vehicle's transfer — at any registr vozidel (the obecní úřad of an ORP) or online via the Portál dopravy. The standard administrative fee for a passenger car is 800 Kč (640 Kč online), and missing the deadline can mean a fine of up to 50,000 Kč for both buyer and seller.
Here's a step-by-step breakdown of the documents you'll need, the costs involved, when an evidenční kontrola is required, and how to complete the change of ownership in a single visit in 2026.
Přepis vozidla is the process of recording a change of owner (majitel) and operator (provozovatel) in the vehicle register. Under Act 56/2001 Sb., the application must be filed within 10 working days of the transfer of ownership — in practice, from the day the car changes hands and the kupní smlouva (purchase agreement) is signed.
One important detail: until the přepis goes through, the previous owner listed in the register remains liable for camera-issued fines (odpovědnost provozovatele, §125f) and for mandatory insurance. So don't put it off — file right after the deal is done. If you're still shopping for a car, start by checking its history via VIN through Cebia and our general guide to buying a used car in Czechia.
Přepis isn't tied to your place of residence: any obecní úřad obce s rozšířenou působností (ORP) can accept your application — there are about 206 such offices across Czechia. Book an appointment online in advance, as walk-in queues in bigger cities tend to be long.
An alternative is to file online via Portál dopravy (see the section below). Inheritance cases and cars imported from abroad can't be handled online — only in person.
You'll need a minimal but strictly required set of documents. Gather them together with the seller ahead of time.
| Document | Comment |
|---|---|
| Joint application (žádost) | Signed by both the previous and new owner/operator |
| Osvědčení o registraci vozidla (ORV, the "small vehicle certificate") | Part II — the vehicle's registration certificate |
| Velký techničák (velký TP) | Only if you still have one on hand: it's no longer issued as of 1.1.2024, and any old copy is surrendered during přepis |
| Doklad totožnosti (ID document) | Passport or občanský průkaz — original required |
| Doklad o nabytí (proof of acquisition) | Kupní smlouva, deed of gift, or inheritance decision |
| Protokol o evidenční kontrole | Not required if the car passed STK within the last 2 years (see below) |
| Valid povinné ručení (POV, third-party liability insurance) | You don't need to bring proof yourself — the úřad checks the policy directly with Česká kancelář pojistitelů, but the insurance must be active |
Legal entities and sole traders also need a výpis z obchodního rejstříku or a živnostenský list. If you're acting on someone's behalf, you'll need a plná moc (power of attorney) with a notarized signature.
The law allows exactly 10 working days to file the application. Missing this deadline counts as a správní delikt (administrative offense), with a fine of up to 50,000 Kč — and both parties to the deal can be held liable. In practice, minor delays are often met with just a warning, but it's not worth the risk: until the přepis is completed, the car remains registered to the previous owner, with all the consequences that brings for fines and insurance.
The administrative fee is fixed and depends on the type of vehicle.
| Vehicle | Fee at the úřad | Online (Portál dopravy) |
|---|---|---|
| Passenger car (4+ wheels) | 800 Kč | 640 Kč |
| Trailer over 750 kg | 700 Kč | — |
| Trailer up to 750 kg; motorcycle over 50 cc | 500 Kč | — |
| Motorcycle up to 50 cc | 300 Kč | — |
| Inheritance | free | — |
For older cars with a low emissions class, a one-off ekologický poplatek (environmental fee) applies: 3,000 Kč (Euro 2), 5,000 Kč (Euro 1), and 10,000 Kč (no emissions standard or below Euro 1); Euro 3 and above are exempt. Check the exact amount and your car's class at the úřad — it depends on the data in the registration certificate.
Since 2024, you can submit a change of ownership online — and more cheaply, at 640 Kč instead of 800 Kč (a 20% discount on the správní poplatek for individuals). Here's how it works:
For fully remote processing, both parties must have Identita občana. Inheritance cases and imported vehicles can't be handled through the portal.
Since July 1, 2025 (novela 130/2025 Sb.), the rules have been relaxed. An evidenční kontrola is not required if the car has passed STK technical inspection within the last 2 years — the úřad will verify this itself. If there's no valid STK, you'll need to have an evidenční kontrola done at an inspection station; its certificate is now valid for 2 years (up from 1 year previously). The inspection checks the VIN, body color, engine type, number of seats, tire size, and other details.
Today, přepis is a single-step process (jednorázový převod): the old and new owner file one joint application, and everything is completed in a single visit. Both can attend in person, or one can attend with a notarized power of attorney from the other. A convenient option is to have both parties appoint the same representative (for example, a car dealership or a lawyer) via two separate plné moci with certified signatures. The old two-step system — where the seller would first deregister the car "into limbo" — no longer exists.
If a car isn't being sold but simply isn't in use for a while, you can arrange dočasné vyřazení z provozu (temporary deregistration, or "deposit"): the plates are handed in to the úřad, and there's no need to pay POV. Note that starting March 1, 2026, úřady are entitled to begin skartace (destruction) of plates that have been in deposit for more than 3 years; an application to keep the plates costs 200 Kč.
Trvalý zánik (permanent deregistration) cannot be completed without a protokol o ekologické likvidaci — the car must first go through certified disposal, and only then, based on that protocol, will the úřad process the zánik.
Yes. Povinné ručení must be active for the new operator — the úřad will check the policy with Česká kancelář pojistitelů. Arrange insurance on the day of the deal, before filing your application.
The law doesn't specify this; it's up to the parties to agree. Usually, the buyer pays the fee as the new owner.
If you visit in person with a complete set of documents, the change of ownership is processed in a single appointment. If you file online via Portál dopravy, the new ORV arrives by post within 5 working days.
Yes, but then you'll need a fresh evidenční kontrola: if there's no technical inspection younger than 2 years, the úřad won't find the data in the system and will require an evidenční kontrola certificate from an inspection station. Přepis itself doesn't require a valid STK.
That's a separate procedure: customs clearance and registration in the Czech register come first, not přepis. For details, see our guide on cars with Ukrainian plates in Czechia.
Get a notarized plná moc from them in advance — then the buyer can handle everything alone. If the seller has disappeared, consult a lawyer: the úřad may be able to record the change based on a court decision or other proof of the transfer of ownership.
All rates and deadlines are current as of 2026. Fees and the rules around evidenční kontrola change from time to time — check the Ministerstvo dopravy website (md.gov.cz) or confirm with your local registr vozidel before your visit.
Comments (0)
Please be polite. Spam and insults will be removed.