The big tech pass is over: What applies today

Quick overview:

• The Large Technical Licence will no longer be issued from 1 January 2024.
• Instead of two vehicle documents, drivers will now receive only one vehicle registration certificate with the most important technical parameters, while the complete data is stored electronically in the register.
• You no longer need to physically carry the certificate for a road check or accident in the Czech Republic – the police will check the details in the register. However, the registration certificate is always needed for the roadworthiness test.

A large technical licence is no longer issued

Most drivers still use the term “large technical licence”, even though it has not been issued for several years. It was a paper document containing the technical details of the vehicle, the owner, the history of changes and overwrites. Since 2024, there has been a major change: the new “large technical certificate” has been replaced by the vehicle registration certificate (ORV) and the data is primarily held electronically in the road vehicle register.

Importantly, the old large technical certificates remain valid. If you have one at home, there is no need to change it. However, when you transfer the vehicle, you are already working with the current ORV system.

A specific query is usually the number of the large technical licence. This number is a unique identifier for a specific document, not the vehicle. Do not confuse it with the VIN or the registration plate. For newer documents, it is the registration certificate number.

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Registration certificate: when you need it

The small registration certificate (ORV) summarises the most important information about the vehicle and its operator – what you need for routine checks or when dealing with the authorities. You won’t find a complete history of changes of ownership, but it does contain essential technical information such as the VIN, weight or type of vehicle.

From 1 January 2024, you no longer need to carry it physically with you when driving in the Czech Republic in case of a road check or accident – the police will check the details in the register.

However, you must have a valid certificate and in some situations you still need it, typically when you visit the MOT test. If you are travelling abroad, expect that the rules vary from country to country and physical documents (including ORVs) may be required.

You often ask if the engine number is listed on the TP. For older vehicles this used to be the case, but now the VIN is the main identifier and a separate engine number may not always be recorded as it used to be.

You should ideallycarry proof of identityin your car (electronic proof is also possible), as the police will be able to check your identity and look up the details of the driver and vehicle in the registers.

You do not need to physically carry your driving licence or vehicle registration certificate around the Czech Republic (but it must be valid).

On the other hand, a paper green card is no longer mandatory in most situations, and insurance details can be traced electronically.

As soon as you discover the loss of a small technical card, you need to act without delay. It’s not just the threat of a fine – the document can be misused, for example, in an attempt to fraudulently transfer the vehicle or otherwise manipulate the data. Therefore, report the loss as soon as possible and ask the vehicle registry for a duplicate. The sooner you resolve the situation, the less risk of complications.

Where to find and what the registration number is for

Enquiries about the registration number (TP number) are among the most frequent – typically when you are filling in the details on an insurance form or when you are transferring a car and suddenly don’t know which is the correct number.

The TP number is the number of the specific document, not the vehicle. You can find it directly on the vehicle registration certificate – that is, on the small technical certificate (ORV Part I) or on the ORV Part II. It is usually printed on the front of the document as a separate identifier (document number). It is not a VIN or a registration mark – it is a unique number on the document.

If you are holding a small technical licence (plastic card), the document number is usually written directly on the front side. In the case of an ORV Part II (paper document), the number is also shown at the top of the document. Each document issued has its own number – when a duplicate is issued, the number changes because it is a new document.

You will need the number of the technical licence for example when:

• arranging compulsory liability or breakdown insurance,
• reporting an insurance claim,
• transferring the vehicle to a new owner,
• dealing with a leasing or credit company,
• certain transactions at the vehicle registry.

A very common mistake is confusing the registration number with the VIN code. The VIN identifies the vehicle itself and remains the same throughout its existence. The VIN identifies a specific document and may change, for example, when a duplicate VIN is issued.

What to do if you lose your licence

If you discover that your vehicle registration certificate has been lost, damaged or stolen, the owner or operator must immediately notify the municipal authority of the municipality with extended jurisdiction (ORP) and apply for a new document. In case of theft, it is useful to have a certificate from the police. The administrative fee for issuing a duplicate vehicle registration certificate is CZK 500. Once the new document is issued, the original document becomes invalid.

Until the new document is issued, you should expect some practical complications – you will need the certificate, for example, at the MOT test and typically also when dealing with the authorities or when travelling abroad. It is therefore worthwhile to get a duplicate as soon as possible.

Summary

From 2024, the large technical certificate is no longer issued and has been replaced by a vehicle registration certificate, with key data held electronically in the vehicle register. However, the old large TP remains valid… The number of the technical certificate (TP number) can be found directly on the ORV as a document number – not to be confused with the VIN, which identifies the vehicle, while the TP number identifies a specific document and may change when a duplicate is issued. If a vehicle registration certificate is lost, you must apply for a duplicate at the vehicle registry as soon as possible; without an ORV, you cannot complete a vehicle transfer or pass an MOT as standard.