Maybe you’re just about to buy a used car. Maybe a neighbour is letting you have the family car, or maybe you’ve inherited your grandfather’s old GM car. Whatever situation you’re in that requires a vehicle transfer, be prepared for one essential thing – a vehicle registration check. In this article, you’ll learn how long a registration check takes, what it entails, when you need one, how much it costs, and what to prepare so you don’t go home unnecessarily.
A registration check is a compulsory “comparison of data” between what is written on the registration certificate and what you actually find on the car. A staff member at the technical inspection station (STK) checks the vehicle’s identification features, especially the VIN code (chassis number), the type plate and, if applicable, the engine number. This is not a check of the technical condition of the vehicle, but a kind of “identity audit”, i.e. verification that the car is not a composite of several others, that it has not been rebuilt and that the information in the documents corresponds to reality. This check will result in a registration check report, which you will take with you to the vehicle registry.
A registration check is not carried out just for the fun of it. It is compulsory whenever there is any change in the vehicle register, which means especially in the following cases:
In short, if you go to the office to change something with your car, it is almost certain that they will also ask you for a valid registration report.
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And here comes the first hitch, because the validity of a record check is not unlimited. The moment you pass the check and get the report, the 30-day period starts. This means that a record check is valid for 30 days from the date of the check.
If you don’t complete the necessary paperwork with the office within that time, you will have to go through the check again. And yes, you also have to pay for it again. We therefore recommend that you sort out everything you need to do for the transcription first, make an appointment at the registry and leave the registration check until the end, ideally for example 1-2 days before the office visit.
The price of a registration check varies depending on the MOT and region, but is usually between 300 and 500 CZK. It doesn’t matter how old your car is, its performance or make. The price is a flat rate, so you pay the same for a passenger car whether it’s a Skoda Fabia or a Mercedes-Benz GLC.
Most of the time you pay in cash, but some places accept credit cards. If you go to the MOT just for a registration check (and not also for a technical inspection), you usually don’t wait long, the check itself takes about 15 minutes.
Unfortunately, you can’t do it without the right documents. And nobody likes to go home for a forgotten paper. So before you head out for your vehicle registration check, make sure you have everything you need:
Beware of a common situation: have you just bought a car and not yet managed to get the title? The original owner is still on the registration certificate. In this case, be sure to take the purchase contract with you. Some MOT stations will want to see it so that they can see why the records do not correspond to the current status.
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A registration check is a relatively quick and simple process compared to a traditional technical inspection. There’s no brake or emissions testing – it’s all about matching the data. So how does it work?
When you arrive at the MOT station, you stop at the counter or reception and say you want a registration check. The attendant will ask you for the necessary documents and direct you on your way.
You will then give the technician your licence, ID card and, if applicable, power of attorney or contract of sale. The technician will check everything and prepare a form to record the results of the check.
Then it’s time for the actual registration check. The technician will go over a few basic things: The VIN code (he checks that the vehicle identification code number matches what’s on the documents), the type plate (usually located in the engine compartment, on the door pillar or under the bonnet and containing the vehicle’s production data), and other technical data such as make, body type, seating capacity, colour, and possibly tyre and wheel dimensions. The inspection is visual, there is no disassembly of the car. The technician does not assess the condition of the vehicle or its safety. It is purely a comparison of data.
If everything fits, the technician will issue you with a registration check report. This is key when making changes to the register, for example when you are reassigning a vehicle or applying for a new registration. With the stamp and the report in your hand, you can drive off happily. The whole process usually takes no more than 20-30 minutes, as long as everything is in order and there is no queue.
Yes, that can happen too. The most common problem is a VIN mismatch. This happens, for example, when the frame has been changed or the number is illegible due to corrosion. Another problem is a damaged or missing type plate or inconsistencies in the data.
What can you do in this case?
The Road Traffic Act has undergone several amendments in recent years, which have also affected registration checks. For example, in some cases, a check is no longer required when ownership changes within the same household – for example, between spouses.
Also, the rules for verifying VINs for imports from abroad have been tightened. Paradoxically, for older cars, registration checks can now be more difficult than before because the owner must prove that the car was not a “jigsaw”.
Tip: Children’s camp should be a safe place to take your children. Yet many problems can lurk there. We write about the pitfalls of children’s camp in this article.
Does a car have to be insured to go for a registration check? No, compulsory insurance is not required for the registration check. But without it, you must not operate the car on public roads.
Can someone other than the owner bring the car to the MOT test? Yes, but you need a power of attorney. Some MOT tests require it for routine checks.
Is the registration check valid in a different county than the one it was performed in? Yes. The log is nationwide, you can use it at any office.
Is the registration check part of the regular MOT? No. It is a separate exercise, although some MOT testers can carry it out at the same time as a regular MOT. However, this must be arranged in advance.
Do I also need a registration check when transferring a car to or from a company? Yes, a current registration check is also required in these cases – whether the transfer is between an individual and a company or between two companies.
Can I have a registration check with a non-driving car? Yes, but you have to arrange to take it to the MOT test, for example on a flatbed. Even a non-drivable vehicle must be physically present for the ID check.
Is a registration check also necessary if the car changes colour? Yes. If you change the body colour and want to have it recorded on the registration certificate, a registration check is required.
A registration check is a mandatory comparison of the information on the registration certificate with the physical condition of the vehicle, in particular the VIN code, type plate and other identifying features. It is required when a car is reassigned, changes ownership, business location, technical data, inheritance, donation or importation of a car. It is valid for 30 days from the date of execution and usually costs 300-500 CZK. The check takes about 15-30 minutes, it does not assess the technical condition of the car, but only the conformity of the data. You need a technical licence, ID card and possibly a power of attorney or a contract of sale. If the data does not match (e.g. damaged VIN), you have to document or remove the discrepancies.
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Ondřej is the attorney who came up with the idea of providing legal services online. He's been earning his living through legal services for more than 10 years. He especially likes to help clients who may have given up hope in solving their legal issues at work, for example with real estate transfers or copyright licenses.
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