A driving school (autoškola) is the only route to a category B licence from scratch in Czechia: the full course takes 2–3 months on average and costs roughly 15,000–32,000 CZK in Prague, plus a 700 CZK administrative fee for the exam. The exam itself has a computer-based theory test and a practical driving test with an examiner, and as of 1 January 2026 you can get behind the wheel as soon as you pass and are entered into the driver registry — no need to wait for the plastic card.
This guide walks through the whole process: who's eligible to enrol, what documents a foreigner needs, how the training and exams work, how much retakes cost, and what's changed in 2026. Note that this is specifically about full training from scratch. Exchanging a foreign driving licence is a separate procedure, and in most cases doesn't require a driving school at all.
Anyone with legal residence in Czechia can enrol in a driving school. You can sign up for a category B course in advance, but you're only allowed to sit the exam once you turn 18 (see the L17 exception below). To enrol, you'll need two documents:
The key condition for non-EU citizens is the so-called habitual residence (obvyklé bydliště): to get a Czech driving licence, you need either permanent residence in Czechia or proof that you actually live here for at least 185 days a calendar year for personal or work reasons. Acceptable evidence includes a lease or property purchase agreement, an employment contract, a živnostenský list (trade licence), a confirmation from your children's school, or insurance documents. The exact set of documents varies by authority — check in advance with the transport department of your local magistrát. If you've just moved to Czechia, take a look at our first-steps checklist for newcomers.
You can complete the driving school in any city in the country — there's no requirement to enrol where you live. The application for the licence after the exam can likewise be filed with any authorised municipal office (úřad obce s rozšířenou působností) — in Prague, that's the magistrát.
At a typical pace of 2–3 lessons a week, the course takes 2–3 months. Many schools also offer intensive courses that are faster but pricier — check timelines when you enrol.
The state exam is administered by a magistrát examiner and consists of two parts: theory first, then the practical driving test.
| Exam Part | Format | Passing Threshold | Duration |
|---|---|---|---|
| Theory (eTesty) | Computer-based test: 25 questions, 50 points max, each question worth 1–4 points | Minimum 43 out of 50 points | 30 minutes |
| Driving, Part 1 | Basic manoeuvres: starting, stopping, reversing, parking, driving up to 30 km/h | "Prospěl" (Pass) rating | Minimum 10 minutes |
| Driving, Part 2 | Driving in real traffic on various road types | "Prospěl" (Pass) rating | Minimum 20 minutes |
Both parts of the practical driving test must be passed — failing either one means a retake. You can practise the theory for free on the Ministry of Transport's official portal, etesty.md.gov.cz; demo questions translated into Russian are also available on some driving school websites.
The state test is conducted in Czech. If you trained in another language, the exam takes place in the presence of a certified court interpreter (soudní tlumočník) — the driving school arranges the interpreter, but the student pays: roughly 3,000–4,000 CZK for the theory part and about 500 CZK for accompanying the driving test, though exact amounts vary by school. For more on how certified interpreters work, see our article on certified translation of documents in Czechia, and you can find a specialist in our directory of translators and interpreters.
| Expense | 2026 Estimate |
|---|---|
| Category B course in Prague | 15,000–32,000 CZK (budget schools from 15,000–20,000; full packages 27,000–32,000) |
| Course at a school teaching in Russian or Ukrainian | Usually 20,000–25,000 CZK in Prague |
| Medical certificate | 500–1,000 CZK |
| Exam administrative fee (to the magistrát) | 700 CZK |
| Theory retake (fee) | 100 CZK |
| Driving retake (fee) | 400 CZK |
| Court interpreter for the exam | Roughly 3,000–4,500 CZK total |
| Issuing the driving licence | 200 CZK (up to 20 days) or 700 CZK (express, up to 5 business days) |
All told, a realistic "turnkey" budget in Prague runs about 20,000–35,000 CZK, depending on the school, the language of instruction, and how many retakes you need. Courses in smaller towns are usually noticeably cheaper than in Prague — compare local prices. Read the fine print carefully: some schools charge separately for textbooks, track time, and providing a car for the exam and retakes.
On top of the state fee, the driving school may charge its own fee for the instructor and car during a retake — check the rates before signing the contract.
After passing, you submit an application for the driving licence itself — in person at any authorised office or online via the Portál dopravy. Applying online gets you a 20 percent discount on the fee, and the finished card can even be picked up from a Balíkovna parcel box for an extra 100 CZK.
The main changes for 2026:
Next come the practical steps of car ownership: arranging mandatory povinné ručení insurance (see our guide on car insurance in Czechia) and choosing a car. If you're planning to buy a used car, check out our articles on buying a used car in Czechia and checking a car's VIN via Cebia, and you can find trusted garages in our directory of auto repair shops.
Since 2024, Czechia has had an L17 programme: you can start driving school training as early as 15.5 years old, then take the exam and start driving at 17. Until turning 18, the teenager can only drive accompanied by a mentor — an experienced driver who has held a category B licence for more than 10 years and hasn't had it revoked in the last 5 years. The mentor sits in the front passenger seat; up to four mentors can be registered via the Portál dopravy.
The test itself is conducted in Czech, but if you trained in a foreign language, the exam takes place with a certified court interpreter who translates the questions. You can train entirely in Russian or Ukrainian — such driving schools exist in Prague, Brno, and other cities.
A standard category B course takes 2–3 months at a pace of 2–3 lessons a week. The law requires a minimum of 28 driving lessons of 45 minutes each, which can't be shortened. Intensive courses let you finish faster.
Three attempts each for theory and driving, spaced at least 5 business days apart. All parts must be passed within 12 months of your first attempt, or you'll have to redo the training.
Yes, the Czech driving licence follows the standard EU format and is recognised throughout the EU, as well as in many countries outside it.
Yes. You can train at any driving school in Czechia and file your licence application with any authorised office — there's no requirement tied to your registered address.
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