Many countries employ some type of toll system for the use of certain roadways, and the Czech Republic is no exception. There are more than 2,400 kilometers of motorways and 1st category roads in the Czech Republic which are currently subject to the toll payment system. Like in several other countries, toll fees and requirements are determined by factors such as vehicle weight, number of axles, emission class, and distance traveled.
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Staying up to date with current toll requirements in the Czech Republic can be difficult, as these requirements are often subject to change. With this in mind, let us examine the Czech toll system, including current requirements and regulations, before discussing how drivers can simplify the process of navigating these roads.
Tolls are a type of tax charged by governments or private entities for the use of certain roads, bridges or tunnels.The fees collected from tolls are used to pay for the cost of constructing new roads, or maintaining and improving existing ones.
A toll system is the term used to describe the various methods of collection for specific tolls. In Europe, multiple toll systems are currently in use, depending on the country or governing body. Generally speaking, these systems fall into one of four categories: Free Flow, Open, Vignette, and EuroVignette. Each system has slightly different regulations, payment options, and calculation methods, which can make it difficult for drivers to stay informed on the most current standards for each country in which they travel.
In the Czech Republic, all vehicles with at least four wheels which weigh less than 3.5 tons must purchase a vignette for the use of toll roads. These vignettes (eDalnice) are completely electronic, and require a vehicle to be registered and paid for in advance through the edalnice.cz website, a self-service kiosk, or one of the physical sales points.
Drivers can choose from three options for the length of time for which the eDalnice vignette is valid - 10 days, 30 days, or one year. Enforcement of these vignettes is handled through scanning a vehicle’s license plate to make sure that a valid eDalnice has been purchased, with a heavy fine levied for anyone caught driving on toll roads without one.
For vehicles with at least four wheels which weigh more than 3.5 tons, the Czech Republic uses a separate toll system known as the Electronic Toll Collection system (ETC). This system uses satellite technology to monitor toll roads. It is used in conjunction with the European Electronic Toll Service (EETS), and requires all vehicles that meet the requirements mentioned above to be equipped with an On-Board Unit (OBU).
A vehicle’s OBU will store data regarding the distance traveled on toll roads, and communicate this information to a central information system. The toll fee is then determined using this distance, and accounts for factors like a vehicle’s emission class, type, number of axles, time of day, and time of year when calculating the amount owed. Drivers can use a truck toll calculator (such as this one) to get an approximate idea of the toll they would incur for driving a particular route.
Some restrictions to the use of Czech toll roads apply for vehicles weighing over 7.5 tons on Sundays and public holidays from 13:00 to 20:00. Additionally, during the period of July 1st through August 31st, these vehicles are prohibited on Fridays from 17:00 to 21:00, and Saturdays from 7:00 to 13:00. Exceptions are allowed for emergency or essential vehicles, road construction and maintenance vehicles, or transport vehicles carrying specific cargo such as livestock.
Toll roads have existed in the Czech Republic since the medieval period, with tolls imposed on bridges and certain sections of road to help finance their construction and maintenance. Under Austro-Hungarian rule, collection points were set up along toll roads, where tollkeepers would collect fees from travelers.
After the establishment of Czechoslovakia in 1918, toll roads continued to play a major role in financing the construction of new road networks. During this period, toll booths were placed at strategic points along major roadways, and tolls would be collected manually.
In 2007, the Czech Republic implemented the ETC system currently in use. This electronic system replaced traditional toll booths by utilizing OBUs and vignettes to track vehicle usage and calculate toll fees automatically. The ETC system resulted in improved efficiency, reduced congestion, and more accurate toll collection.
The next major innovation on Czech toll roads came in December of 2019, when SkyToll satellite technology was implemented. This system allowed for even more efficient roadways by completely replacing the use of gantries to monitor toll roads. It was made even more convenient for drivers through integration with the EETS system, allowing the use of a single OBU to pay tolls in multiple European countries.
Rates, regulations, and specific details of toll roads in the Czech Republic continue to evolve over time. These are all subject to national legislation and policies which aim to maintain and improve infrastructure throughout the country.
Eurowag is here to help your fleet manage payments for Czech toll roads, and throughout Europe. As the first platform to offer an EETS certified OBU for use in the Czech Republic, we are committed to providing our customers with the latest technology and best payment solutions for all of their needs.
With this commitment in mind, we proudly offer our Eurowag EETS OBU (EVA). EVA is an integrated payment solution designed for fleets of all sizes, with powerful fleet management software, simplified toll payments in many European countries, and anti-fraud technology all in one device.
EVA allows your drivers to travel efficiently on Czech toll roads, and seamlessly throughout most of Europe. It also provides all toll payment information across your entire fleet on one convenient invoice. In addition, it pushes all updates to fees, regulations and restrictions on Czech toll roads over the air, with no need to replace the device when changes are implemented.
Contact us today to see how Eurowag keeps trucking companies moving across the Czech Republic, and all over Europe.
