Do you want to get on your motorbike or scooter and go for a carefree ride? It can be great. But beware – a helmet and courage aren’t enough. Without a motorcycle licence, you could be in serious legal trouble. In this article, we’ll explain what you risk when riding without one and why it pays to have a lawyer on hand in case of trouble.
Although it may not look like it at first glance, even a small scooter under 50cc is a motor vehicle and is subject to the same rules as a large motorcycle. This means that you shouldn’t ride it anywhere without a licence unless you want to break the law.
The licence groups are divided as follows:
Even so-called “electric scooters” often exceed the performance limits, and if they have a design speed above 25 km/h, they require a licence – usually at least an AM group. And beware, even an electric scooter with over 250 watts of power already falls into this category too.
Police in one county town recently arrested a 17-year-old boy riding a scooter without papers. He ended up with a fine of CZK 10,000, an offence record and a 12-month driving ban. And that’s just because he thought he didn’t need a licence.
We will represent you in administrative proceedings, negotiate a reduction of the penalty or help you with your application for reinstatement of your driving licence. Contact our experienced lawyers.
If you’re wondering how much a motorbike licence will cost you, the answer isn’t exactly straightforward. The price of a motorcycle licence is made up of several parts:
For example, a scooter licence (i.e. group AM) can cost you approximately CZK 13,000. The price of a motorcycle licence for a motorcycle of group A2 or A can be up to 20 000 CZK.
Now a legal note: According to the Act on the Acquisition and Improvement of Professional Competence to Drive Motor Vehicles , driving schools are obliged to provide instruction according to strictly defined rules. If you are offered a “crash course” or the opportunity to “save money” without completing the driving course, this is a breach of the law and you as the applicant may be in trouble.
We were once contacted by a student who had paid CZK 15,000 to a driving school in Brno for an A1 course, but the school would not let her do all the compulsory driving, saying that this was enough, that she was good enough to pass the test. However, during the test the commissioner threw her out and the school refused to refund her money. This led to a dispute with the CTIA and a complaint to the municipal authority of the municipality with extended jurisdiction.
Do you think you can “get away with” driving without papers? Unfortunately, we have to quickly disabuse you of that notion. Driving a motorcycle without a licence is an administrative offence and can cost you a fine of up to CZK 25,000, a ban of up to 6 months and 4 points in the driving register.
In the case of a repeated offence or consequence (e.g. causing an accident), the offence becomes a criminal offence of obstruction of official decision and banishment under Section 337 of the Criminal Code. And this can already mean probation or, in extreme cases, imprisonment.
This is exactly what happened to a man from Plzeň who repeatedly drove a motorcycle without a licence. The police caught him three times in two months. The last time he caused an accident and injured a pedestrian. As a result, he was prosecuted, banned from driving for four years and given an eight-month suspended sentence. In short – without a licence you can not only lose money, but also lose a clean criminal record.
Driving without a licence is one thing. Causing an accident is another. If you cause an accident without a valid licence, you have a big problem in terms of civil liability.
Even if you have statutory insurance (called compulsory liability insurance), the insurance company can still pursue you for compensation. This is called recourse compensation. The insurance company will want everything it paid out to the victim, and it could be several million crowns.
A young man without a license hit a senior citizen in a crosswalk. The insurance company initially paid the woman over 580,000 crowns in compensation. But then she sued the young man for the full amount. The court found in her favour because the man was driving without a licence and had knowingly broken the law.
Add to this the liability under the Civil Code (§ 2894 et seq.) and the possible criminal dimension in case of serious bodily injury or death.
Tip: Read about the circumstances under which you can have your licence seized, how the seizure process works and what you can expect when it is reissued.
If you have a motorcycle licence issued abroad, you basically have two options:
According to Section 116 of the Road Traffic Act , you must have a valid international or recognised national driving licence. Failure to do so will result not only in a fine, but also in a ban on further driving and administrative proceedings.
There are several legal reasons why your licence can be revoked. Whether due to the points system, alcohol or medical reasons – revocation is not final. In many cases, you have a defence.
The most common reasons for having your motorcycle licence revoked:
1. Reaching 12 points on the points system: By law, your license will be revoked if you accumulate 12 points as a driver for infractions. These are typically for speeding, talking on the phone while driving, or riding without a helmet. When you reach this limit, the authority will send you a notice of disqualification – this is automatic and cannot be avoided.
2. Driving under the influence of alcohol or drugs: if the police catch you behind the wheel of a motorbike with alcohol or drugs in your blood, it is a serious offence or even a criminal offence. Suspension of your licence is virtually certain in such a case – usually for 6 to 18 months, longer in serious cases.
3. Serious offences: these include dangerous overtaking, driving in the opposite direction, speeding significantly or failing to stop at a stop sign. Even a single offence can lead to immediate revocation of a licence if it is classified as a traffic safety hazard.
4. Medical reasons: if your doctor (GP or specialist) concludes that you are not medically fit to drive (for example, because of impaired vision, seizure disorder or mental health problems), he or she may give an opinion which will result in the authority revoking your licence. In this case, you may need to undergo a new examination or tests by a traffic psychologist.
As a driver , you have the right to inspect the file, to make a statement or appeal, to be represented by a lawyer and to apply for a reduction or postponement of the penalty in justified cases (e.g. social situation, work dependent on driving).
If your licence has been revoked, for example because of points or a ban, you can apply to have it reinstated after a set period of time. This usually requires a traffic psychological examination, a proficiency test (driving test, medical examination) and proof of good character and medical fitness.
Tip: Drunk driving, dishonest work by officials or medical malpractice. All of these can lead to a ban. In most of these cases, however, you have the option of requesting a waiver of the remainder of your sentence after you have served half of it. How does this work?
A motorcycle licence is not just a formality – without it you risk heavy fines, driving bans, prosecution and millions of dollars in insurance recourse in the event of an accident. Whether you drive a scooter or a more powerful motorbike, the law is clear about when and what licence you need. The cost of a licence includes training, tests and a medical examination. Driving without a licence carries not only administrative penalties, but also civil and criminal liability. Foreigners have a limited driving licence in the Czech Republic and you have the right to defend yourself if it is revoked – including legal representation and a request for its return once the conditions have been met.
Yes, you need at least an AM licence for a scooter up to 50 cc. Without it, you’re breaking the law.
The price ranges between 13,000 and 20,000 CZK depending on the group, driving school and location. Includes medical examination and test fees.
This can be a misdemeanour (fine of up to CZK 25,000 and a ban) or a criminal offence if you have already been punished or if you cause an accident.
Yes, this is called regression compensation. The insurance company can ask you for the full amount it paid out to the injured person – up to millions.
You have the right to make a statement, appeal and be represented by a lawyer. In some cases, you can apply for reinstatement of your licence once you have met the conditions.
Our team of experienced attorneys will help you solve any legal issue. Within 24 hours we’ll evaluate your situation and suggest a step-by-step solution, including all costs. The price for this proposal is only CZK 690, and this is refunded to you when you order service from us.
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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