Czech Toll for Vehicles Over 3.5 t – Distance-Based MYTO Guide 2026
Key summary
- 1. Vehicles with maximum permissible weight ≤ 3.5 t → standard Czech e-vignette
- 2. Vehicles with maximum permissible weight > 3.5 t → MYTO electronic distance toll (OBU required, must register before entering Czech toll roads)
Czech tolls are divided by a simple threshold, vehicles with a maximum permissible weight of up to 3.5 tonnes use the Czech e-vignette system, while vehicles over 3.5 tonnes are subject to the country’s distance-based MYTO toll network.
Operated by the Road and Motorway Directorate of the Czech Republic (RMD), MYTO charges heavy vehicles based on the roads they use rather than a fixed-period pass. This guide explains how Czech tolls work, who must pay them and how charges are calculated.
Which Czech Toll Applies to Your Vehicle?
For most drivers, the relevant system is the Czech e-vignette. It covers passenger cars, small vans and motorhomes with a maximum permissible weight of 3.5 tonnes or less and is linked directly to the vehicle's registration plate. You can buy your Czech vignette online in a few simple steps and check the validity on Czechvignette.cz.
The MYTO CZ system applies to heavier vehicles. Any motor vehicle with at least four wheels and a maximum permissible weight exceeding 3.5 tonnes must pay distance-based tolls, as must certain tractors weighing more than 3.5 tonnes with a design speed of 80 km/h or above. Instead of buying a vignette, these vehicles are charged according to the roads they use.
Motorhomes and caravan combinations are one of the most common areas of confusion. If your vehicle or vehicle combination exceeds the 3.5-tonne threshold, it falls under the MYTO system and must be registered as a truck rather than a bus.
It’s also worth knowing that the system can account for changes in weight. Since 1 January 2021, MYTO automatically adjusted the vehicle’s weight category when a trailer is connected or disconnected, using information from the vehicle registration certificate.
There are also a few specialist Czech vignette exemptions. Vehicles registered as special motor vehicles under Act No. 56/2001 Coll. are not treated as road motor vehicles and are outside the MYTO system. However, special-purpose road motor vehicles weighing more than 3.5 tonnes are still subject to toll charges.
Check the Czech MYTO official portal to get the most up to date information before travelling.
Vehicle Category Split: E-Vignette vs MYTO
| Vehicle Type | Max. Permissible Weight | Toll System | Where to Register |
|---|---|---|---|
| Passenger Car / Small Van | ≤ 3.5t | E-vignette | edalnice.cz |
| Motorcycle | Exempt | E-vignette | edalnice.cz |
| Campervan / Motorhome | ≤ 3.5t | E-vignette | edalnice.cz |
| Campervan / Motorhome | > 3.5t | MYTO (register as truck) | myto.gov.cz |
| Lorry / HGV | > 3.5t | MYTO | myto.gov.cz |
| Bus / Coach (M2/M3) | > 3.5t | MYTO | myto.gov.cz |
| Tractor (> 3.5t. > 80 km/h) | > 3.5t | MYTO | myto.gov.cz |
How MYTO Works: OBU, Registration and Satellite Charging
The Czech MYTO CZ system is built around three core pillars: an on-board device, mandatory registration and automated distance-based billing. Here, we break down the pillars:
1. On-Board Unit (OBU / MYTO Box)
The system relies on a small electronic device installed in the vehicle:
- Known as the OBU (On-Board Unit) or MYTO Box
- Mounted inside the windscreen using a suction mount
- Leased to the operator, usually with a refundable deposit
- Permanently linked to one specific vehicle (non-transferable)
- Uses:
- GNSS satellite positioning for location tracking.
- GSM/GPRS mobile data for transmission.
- DSRC microwave technology for roadside verification checks.
Installation instructions are available at myto.gov.cz/obu/installation.
2. Registration Before Driving
Before entering any Czech toll road, the vehicle must be registered in the system:
- Registration is completed via the SEM online portal (myto.gov.cz) or at an official contact/distribution point.
- Vehicle details must be provided using the registration or technical certificate.
- Registration must be completed before using toll roads.
- This applies to all vehicles, including those registered outside the Czech Republic.
There is no grace period once a vehicle enters the toll network.
3. How Charging Works
Once active, the system runs automatically while driving:
- The OBU contains a digital map of toll roads (GEO model).
- When the vehicle enters a toll section, a toll event is created.
- Events are transmitted via GSM/GPRS to the central system.
- Charges are calculated as:
- distance travelled × toll rate per km
If you need assistance, MYTO CZ customer service can be reached at +420 243 243 243 or info@myto.gov.cz.
Step by Step Walkthrough
Follow these simple steps to create an account and register on MYTO:
- Create account: Register in the SEM system at myto.gov.cz/selfcare/register or visit a MYTO CZ distribution/contact point.
- Submit vehicle data: Enter your details from the vehicle registration/technical certificate, including VIN, licence plate, weight category and emission class.
- Obtain OBU and pay deposit: Pick up the OBU device from an authorised MYTO distribution point (OBU is leased and requires a refundable deposit; pre-pay accounts typically require a minimum CZK 1,000 credit top-up before issue).
- Install the OBU: Fit the device in the vehicle according to the official guide at myto.gov.cz/obu/installation before using any toll road.
- Drive and pay: The system automatically verifies journeys via gantries and enforcement vehicles; tolls are deducted from pre-paid credit or billed under a post-pay arrangement.
OBUs can also be collected at official MYTO contact points, including locations at major Czech border crossings.
MYTO Toll Rates 2026
Czech MYTO toll rates are set by Government Decree No. 240/2014 Coll, with the 2026 rates applying from 1 January 2026. The system is straightforward: you pay per kilometre driven on toll roads, calculated as rate per km × distance travelled on tolled sections.
That per-kilometre rate is made up of four components covering different costs of road use:
- Road charge
- Air pollution charge
- Noise pollution charge
- CO₂ emission charge
The final rate depends on several vehicle and route factors:
- Motorways cost more than first-category roads.
- Heavier vehicles pay higher rates.
- The number of axles also affects pricing — more axles generally means a higher rate.
- Your EURO emission class (from EURO 0–IV through EURO VI and ZEV) and CO₂ emission class (from class 1 to class 5, zero-emission) also influence the final cost per kilometre.
Together, these determine the final price per kilometre. Because every vehicle combination is different, there is no single fixed price for driving in the Czech Republic. The most accurate way to calculate costs is to use the official MYTO toll calculator at myto.gov.cz, which applies your exact vehicle details.
It’s also worth checking CO₂ emission classification, as vehicles first registered after 1 July 2019 may qualify for a lower-cost category. However, only a small share of vehicles (around 5–10%) currently qualify, so eligibility should always be checked in advance via myto.gov.cz/co2-finder.
Read more about Czech vignette pricing and validity tiers with our guide.
Enforcement, Exempt Vehicles and Penalties
Enforcement of the Czech MYTO electronic toll system is carried out by the Customs Administration of the Czech Republic, not the traffic police. Customs officers can stop vehicles, check registration status and verify that the on-board unit (OBU) is working correctly.
How enforcement works
MYTO compliance is monitored using a mix of automated and roadside systems:
- Fixed toll gantries scan vehicles as they pass under motorway arches.
- Mobile customs patrols carry out roadside checks.
- DSRC microwave technology reads OBU data while driving.
- Automatic camera and axle detection systems record vehicle classification and journey data.
These systems confirm whether a vehicle is correctly registered and paying the appropriate toll.
Common offences (Act No. 13/1997 Coll., Section 22j)
The most relevant MYTO violations for drivers include:
- Driving without a functioning OBU.
- Driving without being registered in the Electronic Toll System (SEM).
- Using an OBU assigned to another vehicle.
- Refusing to allow a customs officer to inspect the OBU or vehicle setup.
These rules apply to both the driver and the vehicle operator. Operators are also responsible for ensuring the vehicle is registered correctly and that the driver understands how the system works.
Exempt vehicles
Some vehicles are exempt from MYTO toll charges, including:
- Emergency service vehicles (police, fire, ambulance, customs, military).
- Vehicles transporting severely disabled persons.
- Zero-emission vehicles up to 4.25 tonnes MPW.
- Historic vehicles with valid historic registration plates.
Note: for vehicles that are not registered in the Czech Republic, an exemption request must be submitted via edalnice.cz. Even when exempt, vehicles are generally still required to be registered in the system and may need an OBU set to exemption mode for roadside checks.
If a vehicle uses a toll road without a working OBU, the operator may still be able to pay a supplementary toll afterwards through the MYTO self-care portal or at an official contact point. This allows the journey to be corrected, but it does not automatically cancel any fines or penalties that may apply.
For the latest penalty rules and enforcement details, see information on MYTO.gov.
Don’t forget, unless you’re driving on Czech toll-free routes, if your vehicle is under 3.5 tonnes, you’ll need a Czech e-vignette rather than the MYTO system. You can purchase it from a third-party reseller, like us, before you set off, giving you peace of mind that your Czech e-vignette is already sorted before you reach the border or motorway network.
