In Czechia, a passenger car goes through its first STK roadworthiness inspection 4 years after initial registration, then every 2 years after that. In 2026, a full inspection including emissions testing costs roughly 2,000–2,700 CZK and takes 30–45 minutes.
STK stands for stanice technické kontroly — the network of licensed inspection stations. You can get inspected at any station in the country, regardless of where your car is registered. Below you'll find the deadlines, prices, required documents, what happens if a station finds category A, B or C defects, and what fines apply for driving with an expired inspection.
The basic rule for passenger cars is "4 + 2 + 2": the first inspection comes 4 years after initial registration, then every 2 years after that.
| Vehicle type | First inspection | After that |
|---|---|---|
| Passenger car up to 3.5 t | after 4 years | every 2 years |
| Motorcycles, trikes, quads (category L) | after 6 years | every 4 years |
| Light trailer without brakes, up to 750 kg | after 6 years | every 4 years |
| Trucks over 3.5 t, buses | after 1 year | annually |
| Taxis and vehicles with special signals | after 1 year | annually |
For motorcycles, this is a new arrangement: amendment 130/2025 Sb., effective July 1, 2025, extended the intervals from "4 + 2" to "6 + 4" — and retroactively, meaning the validity of already-issued inspections was automatically extended. At the same time, category L vehicles were exempted from emissions testing.
An important detail: the new validity period is counted from the day the inspection actually takes place, not from the expiry date of the previous one. If you show up at the station six months early, those six months are simply lost. So the smart move is to get your STK done just a few days before your current one expires.
The sticker on the rear license plate only shows the month and year — the exact expiry date is stored in the central register, and that's what the police check during a roadside stop. You can look up your exact date on the Portál dopravy or in the eTechničák app, both accessible via Identita občana or BankID. No registration needed if you use the government's free dataovozidlech.cz service — just enter the VIN or license plate number.
The inspection covers more than 100 checkpoints. The main areas are:
For cars with an internal combustion engine, emissions testing is a mandatory part of the STK visit. It's usually done at the same station as the first step and billed as a separate line item. Electric vehicles don't need emissions testing. If your car has LPG/CNG gas equipment installed, you'll need a valid inspection report for it.
Inspection prices in Czechia aren't regulated by the state — each station sets its own, so prices vary noticeably.
| Service | Approximate price |
|---|---|
| Passenger car inspection (no emissions test) | 1,100 – 1,800 CZK |
| Emissions test (petrol/diesel) | from 800 CZK |
| Total STK + emissions | 2,000 – 2,700 CZK |
| Re-inspection (within 30 days) | from 300 CZK |
| Motorcycle | 700 – 1,100 CZK |
| Evidenční kontrola (data verification during re-registration) | 400 – 800 CZK |
Electric vehicles cost about 800–1,200 CZK less, since there's no emissions line on the bill. Outside Prague, inspections are often cheaper than in the capital. Check the current price list on the specific station's website.
The "large technical certificate" (velký technický průkaz) has not been issued since January 1, 2024, and inspection records are no longer entered into it — everything is now kept in the electronic register. If you still have an old paper document, there's no need to bring it to the STK.
Before your visit, check the most common trouble spots yourself: all lights, fluid levels and any leaks, tire tread, wipers, and the horn. This alone eliminates most of the frustrating fails.
Every issue found is assigned a category, which determines the outcome of the inspection.
| Category | What it means | Consequence |
|---|---|---|
| A — minor | A small defect with no impact on safety | Inspection passed; fix the defect yourself |
| B — serious | Affects safety or emissions | Inspection failed. The car may be driven for 30 days on a conditional basis: fix the defect within that time and return for a re-inspection |
| C — dangerous | Immediate safety hazard | The car is declared unfit for road use and can't be driven away — it must be towed, then repaired and re-inspected |
A re-inspection within 30 days costs from 300 CZK and takes about 15 minutes — only the problem items are re-checked. If the 30 days run out, you'll need a full inspection at full price. To fix any issues before your return visit, check out our list of trusted car repair shops with Russian-speaking service.
There's no grace period after expiry — starting the very next day, driving is considered a violation, even if you're just on your way to the inspection station. Police can see the exact expiry date in the register during any stop.
The exact amounts depend on the circumstances and can change — check the current penalties under Act 361/2000 Sb. or on the Portál dopravy. There's another risk to consider: insurance. In the event of an accident, povinné ručení (mandatory liability insurance) will cover the damage to the other party, but if your car was technically unfit for the road, the insurer can seek reimbursement from you afterward.
Since July 1, 2025, a separate evidenční kontrola (verification of the car's actual condition against the register) is no longer required for re-registration, provided the car has a valid STK inspection completed within the last 2 years. The evidenční kontrola itself is now valid for 2 years, and this rule was applied retroactively to previously completed checks too. In practice, it's still mainly needed for new cars that haven't yet had their first STK, and for cars with an expired inspection; it costs roughly 400–800 CZK.
Before buying a used car, always check its inspection history and odometer records — this can be done for free using the VIN. We've covered exactly how in our guides on checking a car by VIN via Cebia and on buying a used car in Czechia. Cars still running on foreign registration are subject to their own rules — see our article on cars with Ukrainian plates in Czechia for details.
Yes, at any time and at any station. But the new two-year period will start counting from the day of that inspection — whatever remained of your old validity period is lost.
On the Portál dopravy or in the eTechničák app, after logging in via Identita občana. The sticker on your plate only shows the month and year, so don't rely on it.
Use dataovozidlech.cz, an open service run by the Ministry of Transport. Enter the VIN or plate number and you'll see the inspection expiry date and odometer records for free.
No. Electric vehicles only go through the technical part of the inspection, so their final price is lower — there's no emissions line item.
The discounted re-inspection is no longer available — you'll have to go through a full inspection again and pay the full price.
Not necessarily: most stations take walk-ins on a first-come, first-served basis. Booking online saves time though, especially toward the end of the month when demand tends to spike.
Such a bill is in the works: the Ministry of Transport plans to drop the stickers sometime around mid-2027, alongside the introduction of transferable license plates. It hasn't been passed yet, though — in 2026, stickers are still applied as usual, and the exact date remains stored in the register regardless.
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