A visit to the authorities will no longer be necessary – at least for those who have lost their driving licence or need to renew it. From 1 July, an amendment to the law will come into force in the Czech Republic, allowing completed driving licences to be delivered to dispensing boxes or collection points. With this step, the Ministry of Transport is advancing further towards digitalisation.
Until now, drivers in the Czech Republic had to collect their new driving licence from one of 206 offices. In future, they will be able to choose from up to 10,000 collection boxes and pick-up points across the country – a huge relief. The change is part of a broader digitalisation strategy in public administration, aimed at saving time and improving services.
Transport Minister Martin Kupka explains the innovation as follows: “The renewal of driving licences will be completely digital – without the need to visit an office. Anyone who logs in to the Transport Portal with their bank ID or the mobile key of the eGovernment portal can conveniently submit their application online. The system automatically fills in the required details. All that remains is to choose the desired pick-up location. From January 2026, it will also be possible to apply for a first driving licence or an extension via this method.” Digitalisation will significantly simplify the process and save valuable time for every applicant.
From a legal standpoint, it is no longer necessary to carry a physical driving licence in the Czech Republic – although it must still be valid. The obligation to renew it every ten years is based on EU regulations. The licences are produced by the State Security Printing Works using laser technology on polycarbonate cards.
The delivery system works much like online shopping: users select a free delivery box or a partner branch of the Czech parcel service Balíkovna. The fee for this service is 100 koruna. Those who prefer can still have their licence sent to a local authority office with extended jurisdiction, free of charge. The system provides updates on processing status and collection via email or text message.
Since June 2021, it has been possible to apply for a driving licence exchange online. So far, around 285,000 citizens have made use of this option – about 15 percent of expiring documents. In 2024, around 448,000 driving licences are due for renewal, and in 2025 that number is expected to exceed 660,000.
Alongside the new delivery option, the Ministry of Transport is also preparing for the Czech Republic’s integration into the planned European Digital Identity Wallet (EUDI Wallet). In the future, it will be sufficient to prove driving eligibility via an app – the physical driving licence will become optional, although it may still be used if preferred.
