When we left the States 4 years ago, I knew my driving license would soon expire. “That’s okay, I’ll either get an international driving license or get a local license if I need to.”
I didn’t know it, but I was in for a surprise.
Backstory
For our first year or two here in Prague, found little need for driving. we
In fact, my job position offered a company car and I declined it. (the alternative being ~$500/month additional salary)
In any case, the city transportation is just that good. Buses, trams, the underground metro – schedules are all integrated online. Smart, user-friendly system.
The Need for a License
By our third year, we have flown a lot throughout Europe, but haven’t seen much of the Czech Republic itself. Options are train or renting a car. We enjoy trains, but a car offers more much more freedom to explore. I thought “Time to get that driving license!”
Seeking Help
I called up a few driving schools and got friendly with their managers. My immediate goal was to see “How much schooling can I avoid?” (hey, I’m 20 years older than the average driving school student.)
My logic was, I can save them instruction costs if I can prove how capable a driver I already am.
The Offer…
The “winning school” offered me this: I bypass all in-house classes AND my mandatory on-road practice is cut from 20 hours to 4 (of course, depending on my ability). SOLD.
Legally, of course, they had to document that I completed it all.
Oh, and they’ll throw in a translator for free. (tests are in Czech) Scared? No worries- read on.
Practice driving turned out to be a great idea. I learned “right of way” the Czech/European way. The difference is, for American drivers at an intersection, the car on the right has “right of way” or priority.
That’s not so in Europe. Priority is declared by signs. You learn (quickly) to watch for signs. After a few hours of practice, it became second nature to me.
Three Exams (Written, Oral & Practical)
Yeah, there are three.
After 4 hours spent over 3 days of driving with a Prague city policeman as my co-pilot, I got the green light to take the tests. Yes, tests - a written test and an oral test.
For an actual test question regarding “right of way” — check out the picture of a one of my driving test questions. (first answer is correct)
Written Exam
First came the computerized written exam. All Czech. Remember, my Czech is ‘rough’.
How we did it was this: the translator read and translated all 25 questions and their multiple choice answers to me. Took us just under 30 minutes to do so. We missed none. Proved a great team effort. (wink, wink)
Oral Exam
Then came the dreaded oral exam. This means the district’s magistrate comes to visit and asks each student a few questions, ranging from car maintenance knowledge, first aid, to road regulations.
Again, I relied on the translator for the meeting with the local official. Smart idea.
The magistrate’s asked “What are the 7 mandatory items to be found in every car?”
I responded (unintelligible garbage) and the Translator rattled off “Spare bulbs, spare fuses, spare tire, tire wrench, a jack, first aid kit and a road triangle!” The magistrate replied with a firm nod and an even firmer rubber stamp to my paper. I love Translator guy now.
By the way, I tipped Translator guy a 500 crown note (~$30) at the conclusion of our meeting.
Point of the Post:
Nothing in this world is unobtainable without a little corruptible influence. That and I can drive again.
Good luck to you. If you want to learn more about Czech driving (tips & tricks) and me – put your name and e-mail address in the top right of the page.
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{ 19 comments… read them below or add one }
I got my license a few months ago actually. I’ve since rented a car twice for family trips. It was well worth it!
Lost my dutch driving licence a couple of month ago. Got a job opportunity ion cz thus im planning to move to cz in the end of may.
does anyone know how I can get cz drivinglicence asap?
I’m an eu citizen. will work in cz under a dutch contract….
thanks in advance
Hi Gregory,
Congrats for getting to work in Prague next month.
Sorry to hear your Dutch license expired. But I think you have an advantage as an EU citizen.
Czech Repub has been in the EU since 2004. So, a Dutch license (an EU drivers license) is good for Czech Republic, too.
How I see it, you have 2 options:
1. Start school for Czech license in June. One month later, okay to drive in Prague.
2. Renew your Dutch license now. Then you’re okay to drive in Prague immediately.
Now that your license is expired, wherever you get a new license, you have to go through the same steps, regardless at home or in Prague. However, your advantage to renewing in your home country is you already know the language.
AND, you already have a doctor at home. To get a new license, you need a medical checkup, to get the doctor to sign a form saying you’re okay to drive. Everyone here in Prague needs that, too. Do you think you could do that easier at home, than here? Probably.
Lastly, as EU citizen, you are NOT obliged to exchange your home license for a Czech one. If, however you wanted to, the quick form costs 50 crowns. However, if you want to attend driving school here to get a new Czech license, the cost ranges from 8,000 to 18,000 crowns.
Reconsider renewing your local Dutch license.
Hope this helped,
-Jeff
Jeff, thanks for your quick reply. the problem is that my dutch driving licence has been taken by dutch police. wont get them back before 2012…
Concidering to go to cz in nthe beginning of may just to clear the situation and may be starting getting driving lessons. dont i have to actually live in cz for 6 month before i can get the license?
thanks, Gregory
hi Gregory,
Okay, I didn’t understand the facts about why your Dutch driver’s license is gone. So, no chance for a new one for another ~2 years+.
Not knowing why exactly the police took your Dutch license, I am wondering if you are able to get a Czech license. Maybe consider that. Will the Czech license bureau find out why you cannot have your Dutch license until 2011 – and what impact does that have?
Yes, I do believe there is a residency requirement to get a Czech driver’s license. But as EU citizen, you should have little problem.
Hope that’s helpful,
-Jeff
Hi,
I am now faced with the fact I need to get a Czech drivers license, I am a temp resident and have no issues doing the required work but have no idea how to choose which school is best.
Can you e-mail me with a recommendation?
Hey Matt,
I tried e-mailing you, but GMail came back saying your address doesn’t exist. Hmmm, so I’ll rewrite what I said:
Check out this list here:
http://www.expats.cz/prague/directory/driving-schools/0/
I think your priorities will be this:
1. Do they offer an English language version (translated book, test questions/study guide)?
2. What do they charge? (And what does it include? Med check-up? Interpreter? Study guides?)
3. Will the manager let me drive for fewer than the required 20-25 hours before I’m eligible to take the computer exam?
I won’t recommend just one in particular, because I think due diligence is important here. Prices can vary a lot.
Good luck on your tests!,
-Jeff
Hi ,
Great article !
Quick question I am in the same process of getting my driver license which school did you use ?
Ill be interested in using the same translator as well …
Thanks
X
Ximena,
It’s Ondrej’s school in Zizkov (Prague 3). Like I wrote earlier, he’s real accommodating.
Best of luck to you!
-Jeff
Hi Jeff,
I need some comments and suggestions from those people who already took the exam with improving this http://czech.driving-test.eu/ site.
It’s a site I put up to help English speaking expats pass the Driving Test exam to gain a driving license here in EU. It’s an unofficial translation of the test in mdcr.cz. It is a contribution from different people to help for future takers and current drivers alike.
Thanks!!!
Will do.
At first glance, …
1. I’d cut back on the ads.
2. Give a disclaimer that it’s non-official (disclaimer) and privacy will be kept.
3. The ‘czech.’ subdomain tells me you’ve got other EU tests in mind – smart planning from onset.
I’ll review the questions and e-mail you directly.
Good luck,
-jeff
Thanks for your reply.
I agree that the ads clutter the site a bit. I removed one ad. So now it’s just one at the top and one at the bottom. I still need it to keep the site for free.
I just added new pages at the home page for more information including privacy policy and disclaimer – terms and conditions.
Thanks again!!
The system will change guys (atleast for EU drivers) which will halt the practice of asking for a Czech passport once you lost yours (from your own EU country). Many get their licences revoked or held for a couple of years as a sort of a punishment and since there is a lack of a centralised database, some go across the borders and seek another country’s licence.
There will be a centralized database and once your licence is revoked or you have a drive-ban, then it will pop up and you wont be able to do that. Even now its considered as a faux-pas and dealt with accordingly.
In case you have your licence and live long term, then dont be damn lazy… the rules arent that hard (used to be much much harder when i had my exams in 2003).
Im Czech living in Thailand and the same thing applies. I cant drive with my licence if residing here… its easily exchanged but need a paper from the embassy stating that my licence is real, medical certificate and its a couple of hours process… still need to make simple tests except written exam.
Hi Jeff,
I am Spanish guy living in Prague since a few years… Up to know I have been driving with my Spanish driving license and no issues, even when stopped by the police they have accepted my Spanish form as it is similar to Czech one…
Just a question with regards to exams and stuff… My Spanish driving license is about to expire, May 2012, so I don’t know if renew it in Spain or in Czech Republic. Definitely if I need to do some exam in CZ I would go to Spain, since there you don’t as you already passed all your tests…
Thanks!!
Thanks Emilio for your comment,
So, if I understand correctly, your question is “Will I be able to exchange my current Spanish drivers license for a Czech license?” Right?
Since you have a current EU license, you are fine with driving in Czech Republic. You obviously know your license is an EU license, designed from Spain. It is not exclusive to (only for) driving in Spain.
Feel free to call a local school to be sure, but I’m confident you only need to renew it and pay for a new license. Either in Czech Republic or in Spain, you’ll have to renew it, but you won’t need to be tested more in one EU country than another.
Hope that helps,
- Jeff
Thanks a lot!! That’s right! I checked with the local Authorities and they told me that I just need to go and exchange it for the Czech model and that should be fine…
Thanks very much!!
Excellent Emilio — glad I could help. And thanks for writing back!
-jeff
hi jeff.i m living n france.but i m orgin from srilanka.i m marred in cz republick.i hve alredy srilankan driving licence.its posible my srilankan driving licence change n cz????
Baschy,
You’re living in France, married to a Czech and have a Sri Lankan drivers license. Sounds complicated, but it’s not.
Here’s the bottom line: if you have a drivers license from an EU country, great- you’re all set.
If not, you will need some paperwork and/or testing before you are driving 100% legally in Czech Republic. I can’t think of any exceptions right now, but if someone posts one, I’ll research it.
So, since you’re living in France, can I assume you already have a (France-designated) EU drivers license?
Yes? – great. No? – time to visit a drivers school.
Hope that’s clear,
-Jeff
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