Lítačka Cards From 2016 Are Losing Their Validity – Replacement Required

For many passengers in Prague, a card replacement will be necessary in 2026: Lítačka cards issued in 2016 are reaching the end of their technical service life. Even if a valid ticket is stored on them, the cards lose their function and must be replaced.

From 1 March 2026, Lítačka cards issued in 2016 will gradually lose their validity in Prague. This affects cards that originally stated 2020 as their expiry year. Passengers must exchange these cards for new ones during the course of 2026.

In total, the measure affects more than 370,000 cards, but in reality around 130,000 people who still have a valid ticket stored on their card.

“The decisive factor is the date printed directly on the card. If the year 2020 is stated there as the original expiry date, it is a card from 2016 that must be replaced. This is not about the validity of the ticket, but about the lifespan of the plastic card itself,” explains Vladimír Antonín Bláha, spokesperson for the municipal company Operátor ICT, which manages the system.

Passengers can check the validity of their card online. On the relevant website, after entering the card number, it is possible to find out when the card expires, whether a replacement is required, and how the process works in detail. Information on fees as well as an overview of contact points are also available there.

Alternatively, validity can also be checked via the user account in the PID Lítačka e-shop, by telephone via the hotline, or in person at customer centres and sales points. In addition to the customer centre in the Škodův Palace, 34 contact points of Prague Public Transport are also available.

Card becomes invalid after the end of its service life

Once its service life has expired, the Lítačka card loses its function as a ticket – even if a valid travel pass is stored on it. In this case, it can no longer be used during inspections on public transport or on České dráhy trains, as the data on the chip can no longer be read. It is also no longer possible to purchase additional tickets.

The card can be replaced both online and in person, for example at the customer centre in the Škodův Palace or at selected sales points. For a fee of 50 Czech crowns, the card can be issued on site, while an express issue costs 100 Czech crowns. For cards from 2016 with an original validity until 2020, a reduced exchange fee applies throughout 2026.