In 2026, a car with Ukrainian plates can only be legally driven in Czechia if it has been entered into the special evidence vozidel s ukrajinskou SPZ (register of Ukrainian vehicles, IS UA). This has been a legal requirement since January 1, 2024: if you hold temporary protection (dočasná ochrana) or a visa, you must register the car within 7 days, or you risk a fine for a traffic offense. That said, the car itself stays on Ukrainian plates for now. Below we break down the deadlines, paperwork, roadworthiness checks, insurance, and what changes when the switch to Czech plates happens in 2027-2028.
This is a hot topic: according to the Ministerstvo dopravy (Ministry of Transport), the special register for 2026 lists more than 28,000 Ukrainian vehicles (the real number on Czech roads is thought to be considerably higher). Other guides often mix up two separate regimes, so let's untangle them right away.
To avoid confusion, it helps to understand the difference between what applies today and what's coming:
Yes. Since January 1, 2024, drivers are only permitted to operate a car with Ukrainian plates on Czech territory if the vehicle has been entered into the register (§ 7h of Act No. 65/2022 Sb.). This obligation applies to anyone who has been granted temporary protection or a visa in Czechia and actually uses the car here. The exception is international transport (transit, cross-border freight, etc.).
If you've just arrived, you don't have much time: the car must be registered within 7 days of receiving temporary protection or a visa.
Registration is handled by any obecní úřad obce s rozšířenou působností (municipal authority with extended powers, ORP) that has a vehicle registry department (registr vozidel). The process is free — no administrative fee is charged.
| What you need | Details |
|---|---|
| Vehicle documents | The original Ukrainian vehicle registration certificate (technical passport) |
| ID document | Passport or ID of the person listed as the provozovatel (vehicle operator) |
| Power of attorney | With an officially certified signature — required if someone other than the owner is filing |
| Application form | The completed Oznámení provozovatele silničního motorového vozidla form (notification of vehicle operator) |
Once you submit the application, the municipality enters the car and its operator into the Ukrainian vehicle register and issues confirmation of registration. The plates remain Ukrainian. Forms in Czech are available on the Ministerstvo dopravy website (md.gov.cz), along with explanations in Ukrainian.
For the current registration, a Czech roadworthiness inspection is not required. Since the car stays on Ukrainian plates, its technical fitness is confirmed by a valid Ukrainian inspection — just make sure it stays current under the rules of the country of registration. The Czech evidenční kontrola and the regular STK inspection only become mandatory once the car undergoes full registration with Czech plates (see below). Don't confuse the two: registration (evidence) and roadworthiness inspection are separate procedures.
This is a key point where people often go wrong. Under current law, a car with Ukrainian plates cannot be insured with Czech povinné ručení — the standard Czech policy is only issued for vehicles with Czech registration. That's why a Ukrainian vehicle needs a valid Ukrainian green card (zelená karta).
For a detailed breakdown of rates, coverage limits, and how to get insured, see our separate guide on povinné ručení car insurance in Czechia.
The government has approved an amendment (part of the Lex Ukrajina legislative package) that will end the current preferential regime and move Ukrainian cars onto full Czech registration. The projected timeline:
| Stage | What happens |
|---|---|
| 2027 | Transition period: Ukrainian cars can be entered into the standard Czech register and issued Czech plates |
| By December 31, 2027 | Deadline to register cars already present in Czechia |
| From January 1, 2028 | Registration becomes mandatory: without Czech plates, a car listed in the IS UA register can no longer be legally driven |
| New arrivals after 2028 | A separate 6-month deadline to register |
Once fully registered, Ukrainian cars will be subject to the same rules as Czech ones: mandatory Czech STK inspection, Czech povinné ručení, and all the usual registration requirements. This bill is still going through the legislative process, so check the official md.gov.cz website for the exact effective dates — the timeline may still shift as the legislation moves forward.
The current registration (evidence) is NOT customs clearance: no duties are paid when registering, and the car keeps its Ukrainian plates. Full registration with Czech plates, however, is effectively an import of a vehicle from a third country (Ukraine is not an EU member), and under general rules such an import may involve customs procedures (clo and DPH/VAT), an evidenční kontrola at an STK station, and proof of technical compliance (a COC certificate or individual approval). Exemptions and simplified procedures may be available for holders of temporary protection and under the new regime.
Since real money — and the cost of a mistake — is at stake, don't rely on rumors: check the specific duties and exemptions that apply to your case with the Celní správa ČR (Czech Customs Administration) and a qualified specialist. Auto repair shops can help with the paperwork and technical condition of the vehicle, while immigration lawyers can advise on the legal side of import and status. If needed, a sworn translator from our directory of translators can handle your Ukrainian vehicle documents.
Driving a Ukrainian car that isn't entered into the register has been an offense (přestupek) since January 1, 2024. Policie ČR can issue an on-the-spot fine (příkazem na místě) of up to 10,000 Kč, and in administrative proceedings the fine can reach up to 30,000 Kč. Police also separately check for a valid green card: driving without insurance carries steep penalties.
Once mandatory registration takes effect (from 2028), the fines will increase: up to 30,000 Kč for the driver and up to 50,000 Kč for the vehicle operator (provozovatel), with the possibility of the plates and even the vehicle itself being seized.
Yes, but only if the car is entered into the special evidence (register of Ukrainian vehicles) and you have a valid, printed green card. Without registration, this counts as an offense.
No. For the current registration, a Czech STK inspection isn't required — a valid Ukrainian inspection is enough. The Czech STK will become mandatory once the car undergoes full registration with Czech plates.
No, standard Czech povinné ručení is only available for cars with Czech registration. For Ukrainian plates, you need a valid green card with CZ and SK not crossed out; if you don't have one, you'll need border insurance (hraniční pojištění) instead.
Within 7 days of receiving temporary protection or a visa. The process at the municipal office (ORP) is free of charge.
Policie ČR can issue an on-the-spot fine of up to 10,000 Kč, and in administrative proceedings, up to 30,000 Kč. Once mandatory Czech registration takes effect (from 2028), penalties will rise to up to 30,000 Kč for the driver and up to 50,000 Kč for the vehicle operator.
Under the approved plan, during the transition year of 2027, with a final deadline of December 31, 2027; from January 1, 2028, registration with Czech plates becomes mandatory. Check md.gov.cz for the exact dates.
If you're still getting settled in the country, fit this step into your broader plan — see our checklist of first steps after moving to Czechia.
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