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Profession: taxi and platform driver
How to start driving for Bolt, Uber, Liftago and taxi
Paid transport of passengers is a taxi service — even if you only take rides through an app. You need three things: a concession for "road motor transport of passengers for up to 9 persons", a taxi driver licence (the yellow card) and a yellow registration sticker for the vehicle. You do not have to pass any qualification or local-knowledge exam.
concession issued within 30 days
yellow card 1,000 Kč
vehicle sticker 500 Kč
no qualification required
Step-by-step guide (self-employed OSVČ partner with own car)
- Obtain the concession "Road motor transport – passengers for up to 9 persons including the driver" at the trade licensing office (živnostenský úřad); fee 1,000 Kč, the office decides within 30 days. Neither professional nor financial competence is required for small vehicles. → detail
- Register as a self-employed person (OSVČ) via the Single Registration Form (JRF) when registering, you also notify the start of your self-employed activity to ČSSZ (Czech Social Security Administration) and your health insurance company — to the health insurance company within 8 days, to ČSSZ by the 8th day of the following month. You will receive your IČO (business ID) within 5 working days.
- Apply for the taxi driver licence (the yellow card) at any transport office; age 21+, reliability and a driving licence from the Czech Republic/EU. Fee 1,000 Kč, valid for 5 years. → detail
- Register the vehicle and obtain the yellow registration sticker the car must be registered under your IČO as the operator; sticker 500 Kč, issued within 30 days. It is affixed to the bottom right corner of the windscreen.
- Register with the Bolt, Uber or Liftago platform you upload the concession, the driver licence and the documents for the vehicle and sticker. Then keep records of your rides and declare your income for tax. → detail
Overview of steps, fees and deadlines
| Step | Fee | Deadline / validity |
|---|---|---|
| Concession for road motor transport of passengers for up to 9 persons (first trade licence) | 1,000 Kč | decision within 30 days |
| Additional concession if you are already in the register | 500 Kč | — |
| Taxi driver licence (yellow card) | 1,000 Kč | valid for 5 years |
| Vehicle registration sticker for taxi service (yellow) | 500 Kč | issued within 30 days |
| Professional and financial competence (small vehicles for up to 9 persons) | not required | — |
The fee for the yellow card increased from 500 Kč to 1,000 Kč as of 1 July 2025 (amendment No. 130/2025 Coll.). Note: 500 Kč is now the fee for the vehicle sticker, not for the yellow card. Source: gov.cz, rzp.gov.cz, registr-vozidel.cz — verified 2026.
Amendment No. 130/2025 Coll. — what applies from 1 July 2025
A taxi driver must hold a driving licence issued by the Czech Republic or another EU member state — licences from third countries are no longer sufficient. Foreigners are granted the driver licence only for the duration of their residence or work permit if it is shorter than 5 years. On the upside: the local-knowledge exam has been abolished (since 1 July 2020) and the taximeter and the "TAXI" roof light are optional — the fare can be agreed in advance through the app. Source: Act No. 130/2025 Coll., gov.cz — verified 2026.
Two ways to start driving
Partner (self-employed OSVČ with own car)
higher share of earnings · more paperwork
You handle everything: the concession, IČO, the driver licence, vehicle registration and the sticker, taxes and insurance.
What is a concessionFleet / partner driver
quick start · no car of your own
Usually you only need the taxi driver licence. The vehicle, the concession and invoicing are handled by the fleet.
Taxes for self-employed (OSVČ) driversEven driving only through an app is a taxi service
From a legal standpoint, Bolt, Uber and Liftago are merely taxi service intermediaries — you (or the fleet) are the carrier. That is why even for rides "only through the app" you need a concession, a driver licence and the yellow sticker on the vehicle. Watch out also for DAC7: the platforms report drivers' earnings to the Tax Administration (Finanční správa) (Bolt has a memorandum on data sharing with it), so income must be properly declared for tax. You can find the tax options under lump-sum expense allowances or flat-rate tax.
Are you a foreigner?
EU citizens and Ukrainians with temporary protection have the same standing as Czechs when setting up a trade licence. For platform drivers, however, the key point is amendment 130/2025 Coll. — a driving licence from the Czech Republic/EU is required and the licence is granted only for the duration of the residence permit. We summarise the details for foreigners separately: Trade licence for foreigners →
Frequently asked questions
Do I need a concession even for occasional rides?
Yes. Even occasional paid transport of passengers through Bolt, Uber or Liftago is a taxi service. You need the concession "road motor transport of passengers for up to 9 persons", a taxi driver licence and the yellow sticker on the vehicle — regardless of how often you drive.
Do I have to have a taximeter in the vehicle?
No. Since 1 July 2020 the taximeter is optional, just like the TAXI roof light. With the platforms the fare is agreed in advance through the app as a fixed final amount, so you do not need a taximeter.
Does the local-knowledge exam still apply?
No. The local-knowledge exam was abolished by an amendment effective 1 July 2020 and municipalities may no longer require it. With a valid taxi driver licence you may drive throughout the Czech Republic.
How much does the yellow card cost in 2026?
The fee for the taxi driver licence is 1,000 Kč and it is valid for 5 years. As of 1 July 2025 it increased from the original 500 Kč (amendment No. 130/2025 Coll.). The amount of 500 Kč now corresponds to the fee for the vehicle registration sticker, not for the yellow card.
Which trade licence and tax regime should I choose?
It is a permit (concession) trade, for which you can apply a lump-sum expense allowance of 60 %. Many drivers, however, choose the flat-rate tax — with one monthly payment they cover both tax and insurance. Calculate both options according to your income and expenses.
Can I drive with a driving licence from a country outside the EU?
No. Since 1 July 2025 a taxi driver must hold a driving licence issued by the Czech Republic or another EU member state. Licences from third countries are no longer sufficient for a taxi service.
Related articles
Want to know more about the concession?
A permit (concession) trade is the "stricter" type — it is granted by a decision of the transport office, not by a mere notification. How does it differ from craft and regulated trades?