Motorway vignette for a van: the rules up to 3.5 tonnes

Motorway vignette for a van: 3.5 tonnes is what counts

In the Czech Republic, the motorway vignette applies to vehicles with a maximum permitted weight of up to 3.5 tonnes. This category covers the vast majority of vans used for moving house, transporting materials or delivering goods. What counts is the figure in the vehicle registration certificate, not how much the vehicle weighs at the moment.

Why permitted weight is what matters, not the load

The maximum permitted weight is the sum of the empty vehicle's weight and the maximum load it may carry. For a typical van with a payload of around a tonne and a quarter, it comes to exactly 3.5 tonnes. An empty van therefore doesn't fall into a different category from a loaded one, and the rules don't change during the journey.

What applies above the 3.5-tonne limit

Heavier vehicles don't use the motorway vignette. They fall under distance-based charging, i.e. tolls, where you pay according to the kilometres actually driven and the vehicle must have an on-board unit. For a driver with a category B licence, this is theoretical: with a B licence you drive exactly the vehicles up to 3.5 tonnes.

The vignette is electronic these days

Paper stickers on the windscreen haven't been valid for years. The vignette is a record in an electronic register linked to the registration number and validity period. Checks are made by cameras, so don't look for a sticker on the glass. Anyone can check validity by entering the registration number in the official system.

In a rented van you don't need to worry about it

All our vans have a valid Czech motorway vignette included in the rental price. You don't buy anything extra, you don't keep track of anything and you don't have to budget for anything additional. The vehicles may only be driven within the Czech Republic — trips abroad are not permitted — so you don't have to deal with any foreign vignette either. You'll find an overview of the vans and their dimensions in our fleet.

Mileage doesn't force you onto the motorway

You have unlimited kilometres within the Czech Republic. So you don't have to choose your route to make it as short as possible, and you can happily take a detour on a minor road if that suits you better. We don't charge for extra kilometres, so a longer route costs you nothing extra.

A short stretch counts the same as a whole day

The vignette is valid for a period, not for a number of kilometres. Whether you drive two kilometres on the motorway or across the whole country makes no difference to the charge. With your own vehicle, it sometimes pays to avoid a toll section for a single short trip; with a rented van carrying our vignette, there's no need for that calculation.

Where you need a motorway vignette and where you don't

Motorways are charged, not lower-class roads

The charge applies to designated motorway sections. First-, second- and third-class roads aren't charged, so a detour along them doesn't require a vignette. It does usually cost you more time and fuel, though. The start and end of a toll section are always marked with a road sign — just look out for it.

Exempt sections

Part of the motorway network is exempt from the charge. These are typically feeder roads and stretches around large cities where drivers wouldn't have a reasonable alternative. The list is adjusted from time to time, so follow the roadside signs and the current official map, not what applied a few years ago.

Prague and crossing the city

When moving within Prague, you can often avoid the motorway entirely. But if you have to cross the whole city, the ring road tends to be faster than going through the centre with its traffic lights and no-entry zones. With a van, also watch out for height restrictions at underpasses, garages and shopping centres, because they affect you much more than in a car.

When you drive your own van

Validity periods and buying one

The vignette is sold for periods of different lengths, from one day to a year. You can buy it in the official e-shop or at selected points of sale, and it becomes valid immediately or from a date you choose. Always buy from a verified source. Imitations of the official website appear online and charge an unnecessary extra fee.

Double-check your registration number

The most common mistake is a typo in the registration number. The vignette is then valid for a non-existent vehicle and you don't know until someone points it out. After buying, double-check the details and save the confirmation on your phone.

Liability for an unpaid vignette

The operator of a vehicle is liable for it if it has no valid vignette. Driving on a toll section without paying is treated as an offence under the road traffic rules. With a rented vehicle, that's the main reason to ask in advance whether the vignette is included in the rental, rather than assuming it automatically will be.

Clear up any other questions about driving in advance. You'll find what's included in the rental price in the FAQ section, and more practical guides on the blog.