According to the currently available data from the Czech Statistical Office, at the end of 2022 there will be more than one million foreigners residing on our territory. Six out of ten foreigners living in the Czech Republic come from Ukraine. Hundreds of thousands of people from the country plagued by Russian aggression have found a new home in the Czech Republic. And they have brought their cars, which are subject to compulsory registration, with them.
What you can read in this article:
How to register a car from Ukraine in the Czech Republic
What is the best way to register a Ukrainian car in the Czech Republic? There is a risk of a heavy fine
Cars with Ukrainian registration plates are registered in the Czech Republic by the authorities of municipalities with extended jurisdiction. And since the beginning of this year, if drivers fail to register their cars, they can be fined up to CZK 30,000 in administrative proceedings. Nevertheless, according to estimates by the Czech Insurance Office, thousands of unregistered Ukrainian cars are still driving on Czech roads.
Domestic authorities require (not necessarily the owners, but those who use the cars) to report cars from Ukraine within a week of receipt:
- temporary protection
- a visa for the purpose of tolerating
- a residence permit for more than 90 days
Do not change the registration plate of the vehicle. It remains and is therefore still Ukrainian. Czech police officers have an overview of the addresses of Ukrainian drivers in the Czech Republic through the register and can contact them if necessary. For example, with fines for traffic offences.
To register with the Czech authorities you need:
- an identity document
- vehicle registration certificate or technical licence
- a completed operator’s form
Compulsory third party insurance even with quality car insurance
With a Ukrainian registration plate, drivers keep the compulsory liability insurance they have arranged in Ukraine. They prove its validity with a green card. It is not possible to insure a car with a Ukrainian registration plate with an insurance company operating in the Czech Republic. However, it is possible to re-register the car and thus obtain a Czech compulsory liability insurance together with the Czech registration plate. This is both convenient and feasible if you are in the Czech Republic on a long-term, temporary or permanent basis. The re-registration is carried out by the aforementioned municipal authorities with extended competence and usually includes an import inspection of the car at a technical inspection station.
Compulsory third-party liability insurance taken out in the Czech Republic covers insurance events occurring on its territory and on the territories of the countries of the European Economic Area. The Czech Insurers’ Bureau adds to these other countries as determined by the assembly of its members.
At the same time, you can take out an auto insurance policy in addition to the compulsory liability insurance, which will save you worries and, as a result, money. Because if you need to repair your car, tow it away or even arrange a replacement car, the insurance company will take care of everything. Of course, it depends on the scope of the service you choose. Insurance companies also help with interpretation and provide legal services. We would also like to remind you that the Czech Insurers’ Bureau will reimburse victims for damages caused by an uninsured car from its guarantee fund. However, the amount paid will be recovered from the driver and the operator of the vehicle that caused the damage. If police officers encounter an uninsured car during a road check, the administrative authority may impose a fine of up to CZK 50,000 on the operator.
