Povinné ručení (car liability insurance) for foreigners in Czechia 2026: where to buy, price factors and fines
Updated: 15 November 2026
Short answer: foreigners buy povinné ručení (compulsory motor third-party liability insurance) the same way as Czechs: from any insurer in the Czech Republic — online, through an intermediary or at an office. Without it you can neither register nor drive a car. In Prague you can arrange povinné ručení at Akimov TRUST, usually on the same day, in Ukrainian, Russian, English or Czech — you need photos of the small registration certificate and the owner’s details.
- Who must insure: the provozovatel (the registered operator of the car), not simply the owner — since 1 April 2024.
- Minimum limits: 50 million CZK for each injured person’s health and 50 million CZK for property.
- Green card: no longer needed inside Czechia — police check insurance online. Abroad you need it; a PDF on your phone is fine.
- Driving uninsured: a fine of up to 50,000 CZK plus a ČKP fee for every day — 51–109 CZK a day for cars.
- A parked car must be insured too, unless it has been taken out of operation.
Who must have povinné ručení
The obligation lies with the provozovatel — the person registered as the operator in the vehicle documents. If you drive a friend’s car, the friend must insure it. The law covers all vehicles with a design speed above 25 km/h, and above 14 km/h if they weigh more than 25 kg — including fast e-scooters.
If you buy a car, you need the policy before re-registration — without it the přepis will not go through. Step by step in Buying and registering a car as a foreigner.
What it covers and the limits
Povinné ručení pays for damage you cause to others: treatment of injured people, repairs to their car, damaged property. It does not cover your own car — that is what havarijní pojištění (comprehensive cover) is for.
- The legal minimum is 50 million CZK for each injured person’s health and 50 million CZK for property.
- Insurers also offer higher limits. They cost more but make sense for driving abroad and serious accidents: anything above the limit is paid by the driver at fault.
What affects the price
- engine size or power and type of vehicle;
- the driver’s age and place of registration;
- no-claims bonus or a surcharge after accidents (bonus/malus);
- the limits and extras you choose: assistance, glass, natural hazards, collision with animals.
Insurers look at your claims history. Your previous insurer must issue a statement on request within 15 days. Some insurers accept a no-claims history from abroad — show a statement from your previous insurer (ideally in English) before you buy.
How to buy it: step by step
- Prepare photos of both sides of the small registration certificate (malý technický průkaz), the owner’s name and rodné číslo (or date of birth if you do not have one). For a company car — the IČO.
- Choose the limits and extras and compare offers from several insurers.
- Pay for the policy — the insurer passes the data to the ČKP online database that police use for checks.
- For trips abroad ask the insurer for a green card — since 1 January 2025 a PDF on your phone is enough.
Fines for driving uninsured
- A fine of up to 50,000 CZK in administrative proceedings; on the spot police can fine up to 5,000 CZK and stop you from driving further.
- A contribution to the ČKP guarantee fund for every uninsured day. You cannot buy insurance retroactively — you pay the fee.
- If a car is uninsured for more than 30 days, the authority can take it out of operation.
ČKP daily rates for passenger cars from 1 January 2026:
| Engine size | CZK per day |
|---|---|
| up to 1,000 cm³ | 81 |
| 1,000–1,350 cm³ | 51 |
| 1,350–1,850 cm³ | 61 |
| 1,850–2,500 cm³ | 83 |
| over 2,500 cm³ | 109 |
Motorcycles — 6–32 CZK a day, electric cars — 13–109 CZK depending on power. If the car is just parked and you do not drive, the obligation remains — only vyřazení z provozu (temporary removal from operation) ends it.
Cars with foreign plates and accidents
Cars with Ukrainian or other foreign plates have their own rules — see Cars with Ukrainian plates in Czechia. For vehicles without a valid green card, ČKP sells border insurance (hraniční pojištění). What to do after a crash — see Car accident in Czechia.
FAQ
Where can a foreigner buy povinné ručení in Prague?
From any insurer in Czechia — online, through an intermediary or at an office. At Akimov TRUST (Praha 3, Hartigova 2596/211) the policy is usually arranged on the same day, with consultations in English, Ukrainian, Russian and Czech.
What is the fine for driving without povinné ručení?
Up to 50,000 CZK (up to 5,000 CZK on the spot) plus a ČKP fee for every uninsured day: 51–109 CZK a day for cars.
Do I need a green card in Czechia?
No. Since 1 October 2024 police check insurance online. You only need the green card for trips abroad, and a PDF on your phone is accepted.
Can my no-claims history from another country count?
Some insurers accept it with a statement from your previous insurer. Check before you buy — it affects your bonus.
Povinné ručení arranged in one day
We compare insurers, choose the limits and extras, and arrange the policy and a green card for trips abroad.
Sources
- ČKP — Často kladené dotazy
- ČKP — Denní sazby příspěvku od 1. 1. 2026
- Portál občana — Pojištění motorového vozidla
- Zákon č. 30/2024 Sb., o pojištění odpovědnosti z provozu vozidla
This article is for general information only and is not legal or tax advice. Check the current rules before making a decision, or contact us.