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Points and Offenses

The points system is a tool by which the state penalizes repeated violations of traffic regulations. Section 123a-123f of Act 361/2000 Coll. establishes the rules of the points system.

Every driver starts with 0 points. Points are ADDED for offenses. Upon reaching 12 points, you will lose your driver's license for 1 year.

Explanation

HOW THE POINTS SYSTEM WORKS:

Start: 0 points
Maximum: 12 points
Reaching 12 points: LOSS of driver's license for 1 year
After 1 year: you must pass a re-examination + medical examination and traffic-psychological assessment

POINT DEDUCTION:

For every 12 months WITHOUT an offense, 4 points will be deducted
Example: you have 8 points. After 12 months without an offense, it will drop to 4.
After another 12 months without an offense, it will drop to 0.

VOLUNTARY TRAINING:

You can complete safe-driving training at an approved centre
4 points are deducted (§ 123e(4))
The certificate must not be older than 1 month when you apply
Not available if you hold more than 10 points from offences worth less than 6
The office records it at most once per calendar year (§ 123e(5))

MOST COMMON OFFENCES AND POINTS:

Points are given in three tiers: 2, 4 or 6.

6 POINTS:

Driving under the influence of alcohol (over 0.3 ‰)
Refusing a breath test (treated as driving under the influence)
Running a red light

4 POINTS:

Holding a phone while driving
Exceeding the speed limit by 20–40 km/h in a built-up area
Not wearing a seatbelt
Failing to stop at a pedestrian crossing

2 POINTS:

Exceeding the speed limit by 6–20 km/h
Failing to stop at a STOP sign
Changing lanes without indicating

The maximum is 12 points — on reaching them the driver loses their driving entitlement.

Example

Example - how quickly points can accumulate:

Driver Petr in the last 6 months: 1. Held a phone while driving: +4 points (total 4) 2. Drove 70 km/h in a built-up area (speeding by 20 km/h): +4 points (total 8) 3. Did not wear a seatbelt: +4 points (total 12)

Petr is at 12 points — he has already lost his licence.

Example of point deduction: Driver Jana has 8 points:

January 2024: 8 points
January 2025 (12 months without an offense): 8 - 4 = 4 points
January 2026 (another 12 months): 4 - 4 = 0 points

But beware: just ONE offense and the 12-month deduction starts over from zero!

Common mistakes

Common mistakes:

1. "Points are deducted automatically every month" - NO! The deduction of 4 points is for 12 FULL months WITHOUT a single offense.

2. "After losing my driver's license, I just wait a year" - NO! You must pass a RE-EXAMINATION on the rules + a medical examination.

3. "Points are reset after paying a fine" - NO! Points remain registered.

4. "Safe driving training does not deduct points" - IT DOES! 4 points (§ 123e(4)), and the office records it at most once per calendar year.

5. "A new driver (beginner) has the same limits" - NO. If beginner drivers (under 2 years) commit an offense worth 6 points or receive a driving ban, they must undergo a traffic psychological interview and beginner driver training.

How to remember it

Practical summary:

Points system – what you need to know:

How it works:

You start at 0 points, the maximum is 12 – then YOU LOSE your driver's license for 1 year
Points are ADDED (each offense adds points)
After 12 months WITHOUT an offense, 4 points are deducted
Safe-driving training = deduction of 4 points, at most once per calendar year

How many points for what (only 2, 4 and 6 exist since 1 January 2024):

6 points: alcohol, refusing the test, an accident with death or serious injury, failing to stop on a “Stop!” signal, speeding by 40+ km/h in a built-up area
4 points: phone in hand, no seatbelt or helmet, speeding by 20+ km/h in a built-up area
2 points: speeding by 10+ km/h, failing to stop before a crossing

Practical example: You drive 70 km/h in a built-up area (speeding by 20 km/h) and the next day you get caught with a phone in your hand = 4 + 4 = 8 points. Just a few more offenses and you are approaching 12.

What the law says

(1) Příslušný obecní úřad obce s rozšířenou působností zaznamenává řidičem dosažený počet bodů pouze do celkového počtu 12 bodů.

Section 123c odst. 1 of Act No. 361/2000 Coll.

(1) Fyzická osoba se dopustí přestupku tím, že v provozu na pozemních komunikacích a) řídí vozidlo, 1. na němž není v rozporu s § 5 odst. 2 písm. k) umístěna tabulka registrační značky nebo je umístěna tabulka registrační značky, která nebyla vozidlu přidělena, 2. jehož tabulka registrační značky je v rozporu s § 5 odst. 2 písm. l) zakryta, nečitelná nebo upravena anebo umístěna tak, že je znemožněna nebo podstatně ztížena její čitelnost, 3. které je technicky nezpůsobilé k provozu na pozemních komunikacích34a) z důvodu nebezpečné závady2), nebo 4. jehož osvědčení o registraci vozidla bylo zadrženo nebo prohlášeno za zadržené podle § 6b a nebyl vydán protokol o technické prohlídce podle § 6c odst. 1, b) v rozporu s § 6a odst. 2 při technické silniční kontrole nezajede k zařízení pro provedení kontroly technického stavu nebo se neřídí pokyny osoby obsluhující toto zařízení, c) v rozporu s § 5 odst. 2 písm. b) řídí vozidlo nebo jede na zvířeti bezprostředně po požití alkoholického nápoje nebo po užití jiné návykové látky nebo v takové době po požití alkoholického nápoje nebo užití jiné návykové látky, po kterou je ještě pod vlivem alkoholu nebo jiné návykové látky, d) se v rozporu s § 5 odst. 1 písm. f) nebo g) odmítne podrobit vyšetření, zda při řízení vozidla nebo jízdě na zvířeti nebyla ovlivněna alkoholem nebo jinou návykovou látkou, e) řídí motorové vozidlo a 1. v rozporu s § 3 odst. 3 písm. a) není držitelem řidičského oprávnění pro příslušnou skupinu vozidel, 2. řidičský

Section 125c odst. 1 of Act No. 361/2000 Coll.

Verbatim text of Act No. 361/2000 Coll., on road traffic, as in force on 1 January 2026. Quoted in Czech — the Czech wording is the binding one.

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Check what you remember

Five questions from the official bank. The answer appears only after you choose — try to recall it first, that is what makes learning stick.

Question 1 of 5

An injured person complains of abdominal pain and thirst after a traffic accident:
Question 2 of 5

A person must meet the conditions for granting the relevant driving licence:
Question 3 of 5

Which of the following motor vehicles may you drive with a category D driving licence:
Question 4 of 5

Which of the following motor vehicles may you drive with a category D driving licence:
Question 5 of 5

With a category D driving licence, you may drive a vehicle combination provided that you attach to the motor vehicle for which the category D driving licence authorises you to drive: