Driving from Germany to Czechia: routes, vignettes and where to pay
Which route should you take from Germany to Czechia, and where do you pay the toll?
From Berlin or Dresden, the usual motorway route to Prague is the A17 and Czech D8 through Petrovice. From Munich or Nuremberg, it is the A6 and Czech D5 through Waidhaus and Rozvadov. Passenger cars pay no German motorway toll. Unless the car is exempt, buy its Czech e-vignette before the first charged section from the official eDálnice e-shop, an official sales point or kiosk, or toll.one as an independent service with a service fee.
Berlin and Dresden use the D8 to Prague
The northern approach runs from Berlin towards Dresden, then follows the German A17 to the Petrovice border crossing. In Czechia the road becomes the D8 through Ústí nad Labem and continues towards Prague.
The official map marks the D8 from the state border to Knínice as toll-free in the Germany-to-Czechia direction. You can pay online before the trip or use an official border-area option, but register the car before entering the first charged section.
Munich and Nuremberg use the D5 to Prague
From Munich, the motorway route runs north towards Regensburg and joins the A6 towards Waidhaus. From Nuremberg, the A6 is the direct approach. After the Waidhaus and Rozvadov crossing, the Czech D5 passes Plzeň and continues to Prague.
The official map marks the inbound D5 from the state border to the Rozvadov rest area as toll-free in the Germany-to-Czechia direction. Pay online before travelling or use an official border-area option, then register the car before entering the first charged section.
Choose a duration that also covers the drive home
A Czech 1-day e-vignette covers only its selected calendar day. For a holiday whose return falls within ten consecutive days including arrival, the Czech 10-day e-vignette normally covers both motorway journeys. A longer stay may need the Czech 30-day e-vignette instead.
Count the arrival date as day one and include the date you leave Czechia. Choose the start no more than 30 days ahead, then check the official register before departure (eDálnice payment terms, checked 31 August 2026).
Where to pay before a charged section
The official eDálnice e-shop charges only the official tariff. Our guide to buying a Czech e-vignette compares that direct route with toll.one's independent service, which sells standard-rate vignettes and shows its service fee before checkout.
Border-area self-service kiosks are the fallback, but eDálnice says they accept cashless payment only. If the car is electric, hydrogen-powered or eligible for an eco rate, use the official process rather than our standard Czech vignette options.
Check the destination, not only the border
Czechia charges named motorway sections rather than entry into the country itself. A traveller staying near the border on ordinary roads may not need an e-vignette, while a trip to Prague on the D8 or D5 normally uses charged motorway sections.
Open the current eDálnice toll map for the final route to your accommodation. Buy only when the planned road enters a charged section.