Car accident in Czechia: when to call the police, how to fill in the accident report and what about povinné ručení

Updated: 13 November 2026

Even a minor crash abroad is stressful: a foreign language, forms, insurance. The rules for handling accidents in Czechia changed on 1 July 2025. Here is what to do step by step.

First steps at the scene

1. Stop, switch on the hazard lights, put on a reflective vest and place the warning triangle.
2. If someone is hurt, give first aid and call 155 or 112.
3. Photograph the scene, the position of the cars and the damage from several angles.
4. If the cars can be driven and police are not needed, move them off the road.

When you must call the police

• Someone is killed or injured.
• Damage to any of the vehicles (including cargo) exceeds CZK 200,000 — before 1 July 2025 the threshold was CZK 100,000.
• Third-party property is damaged — a fence, a parked car without its driver, a building.
• Road infrastructure is damaged — a crash barrier, sign, lamp post or road surface.
• You cannot restore traffic flow yourselves.

Failing to call the police in these cases is an offence. Leaving the scene is a serious violation, and if someone is injured it becomes a criminal matter. It is also wise to call the police if the other driver refuses to give their details or appears to be intoxicated.

The joint accident report

• Every insurer has the “Záznam o dopravní nehodě” form; each participant keeps a copy.
• Fill in the place, time, participants, vehicles (plate, VIN), insurers and policy numbers, and what happened.
• Photos can replace the sketch.
• You do not have to fill it in on the road — you can move to a safe place.
• Do not sign text you do not understand, especially an admission of fault.

You can check the other car’s insurance online on the ČKP website by its number plate. For a foreign car, write down the green card number and its validity.

Where to claim

• Your damage is paid by the at-fault driver’s povinné ručení. Notify your insurer and the at-fault driver’s insurer without undue delay.
• The insurer must decide on the claim within 3 months.
• If the at-fault driver is unknown or uninsured, claim from the ČKP guarantee fund (driver helpline 1224).
• If the at-fault driver is from abroad, contact their insurer’s claims representative in Czechia or ČKP.

The cost of driving without povinné ručení

• A daily contribution to the ČKP guarantee fund — rates for passenger cars rose on 1 January 2026 and depend on engine size.
• An on-the-spot fine of up to CZK 5,000, and up to CZK 50,000 in administrative proceedings.
• If you cause an accident uninsured, ČKP pays the victims and then recovers the full amount from you.
• Late premium payments are no longer accepted retroactively — pay before the renewal date.

Sources

• Policie ČR — změny v řešení dopravních nehod od 1. 7. 2025
• Portál veřejné správy — informace pro účastníky dopravní nehody
• CNN Prima News — změny pro řidiče od ledna 2026 (příspěvek ČKP)

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.