Road motor transport

Road motor transport is a licensed (concession) trade covering the commercial carriage of both passengers and goods by road using road motor vehicles. It requires a concession granted in administrative proceedings, on which the transport authority issues an opinion. The licence comes into existence only on the day the decision granting the concession becomes final.

Conditions for operating

Licensed (concession) trade – a concession (state permit) is required, on which the Trade Licensing Office decides in administrative proceedings; the relevant transport authority issues an opinion. The licence comes into existence only on the day the decision granting the concession becomes final, not by notification.
General conditions under Section 6 of the Trade Licensing Act: full legal capacity and a clean criminal record. For concessions, Sections 7, 8 and 27 of the Trade Licensing Act also apply (special conditions, obstacles to operating a trade and the conditions of the concession).
Professional qualification under Section 8a of Act No. 111/1994 Coll., on road transport – demonstrated by a certificate of professional competence for the operation of road transport issued by the transport authority after successfully passing the examination under Regulation (EC) No 1071/2009 of the European Parliament and of the Council (for transport with small vehicles it is generally not required).
Financial standing under Section 8 of Act No. 111/1994 Coll. and Regulation (EC) No 1071/2009 for transport with large vehicles; it is demonstrated and documented annually.
Obstacles to operating a trade under Section 8 of the Trade Licensing Act (for example ongoing insolvency or a ban on activity) must not exist.
The option to appoint a responsible representative under Section 11 of the Trade Licensing Act if you do not meet the professional qualification yourself; one person may act as responsible representative for no more than 4 entrepreneurs.
The Act does not lay down medical fitness or liability insurance as a condition for granting the concession.

Examples of activities

road haulage (truck and van transport)
international truck carriage of goods
taxi service
bus transport of passengers
carriage of passengers by passenger cars
domestic and international passenger transport

What this trade is and what it is for

Road motor transport is a licensed (concession) trade listed in Annex 3 to the Trade Licensing Act, covering the commercial carriage of both passengers and goods by road using road motor vehicles. It is one of the most common concessions of all, since it covers both classic truck and van carriage of goods and passenger transport, including taxi services and bus transport.

Because it is a licensed (concession) trade, it is not enough merely to notify the activity. You need a concession, that is a state permit, on the granting of which the Trade Licensing Office decides in administrative proceedings and on which the relevant transport authority issues an opinion. The licence comes into existence only on the day the decision granting the concession becomes final, not on the day the application is submitted.

The scope and conditions are governed, in addition to the Trade Licensing Act (in particular Sections 6 to 8 and 27), also by Act No. 111/1994 Coll., on road transport, and the directly applicable Regulation (EC) No 1071/2009 of the European Parliament and of the Council, which lays down the conditions for pursuing the occupation of road transport operator.

What falls under this trade (and what does not)

The concession covers the operation of road motor transport, in particular:

goods transport with large and small vehicles (truck and van carriage of goods),
passenger transport with larger and smaller vehicles (bus transport, carriage of passengers by passenger cars),
taxi service as a form of passenger transport.

The Road Transport Act distinguishes between transport operated with large vehicles and small vehicles. A large vehicle means a vehicle or combination of vehicles with a maximum permissible weight exceeding 3.5 tonnes intended for the carriage of animals or goods, a vehicle intended for the carriage of more than 9 persons including the driver, and, in the case of international or cross-border transport, also a vehicle or combination with a weight exceeding 2.5 tonnes and not exceeding 3.5 tonnes. Stricter requirements apply to large vehicles (professional qualification and financial standing, responsible representative), while the conditions for small vehicles are milder.

This does not include: the manufacture and repair of vehicles (the craft trade "Repairs of road vehicles"), mere vehicle maintenance or cargo handling and storage (unqualified free trades), or rail and inland waterway transport, which have their own regulation. If a vehicle is not used for carriage for consideration, this trade does not apply.

Conditions for obtaining it under the law

The applicant must meet the general conditions under Section 6 of the Trade Licensing Act: full legal capacity and a clean criminal record (Section 6(2)). In the case of a legal entity, a clean criminal record is also assessed for the responsible representative. At the same time, there must be no obstacles to operating a trade under Section 8 of the Trade Licensing Act (for example ongoing insolvency or a ban on activity imposed by a court or administrative authority). The conditions of the concession are governed by Section 27 of the Trade Licensing Act.

A professional qualification under Section 8a of Act No. 111/1994 Coll. is also required. It is demonstrated by a certificate of professional competence for the operation of road transport, which is issued by the transport authority after successfully passing the examination under Regulation (EC) No 1071/2009. For transport with small vehicles the certificate is generally not required.

For transport with large vehicles, financial standing under Section 8 of Act No. 111/1994 Coll. and Regulation No 1071/2009 applies in addition; the carrier demonstrates and documents it annually in an amount derived from the number of vehicles operated. The Act does not lay down medical fitness or liability insurance as a condition for granting the concession.

If you do not have the professional qualification yourself, you may appoint a responsible representative under Section 11 of the Trade Licensing Act, who meets the qualification on your behalf and is in fact responsible for the proper operation of the trade. One person may act as responsible representative for no more than 4 entrepreneurs.

How to obtain the trade step by step

Complete the Unified Registration Form (URF) for the application for a concession.
Submit the application at any municipal Trade Licensing Office, electronically via the rzp.gov.cz portal, or at a Czech POINT contact point.
Document the professional qualification (a certificate from the transport authority) or documents relating to the responsible representative, and for large vehicles also financial standing.
Pay the administrative fee for the application for a concession: CZK 1,000 on first entry into business, CZK 500 for a further concession.
Wait for the decision. The Trade Licensing Office will request the opinion of the transport authority and decide in administrative proceedings, generally within 30 days. The licence comes into existence when the decision granting the concession becomes final.

A detailed universal procedure is described in the guide How to set up a trade step by step.

Documents and fees

URF (application for a concession).
Identity document; for a Czech citizen the office will verify the clean criminal record itself from the Criminal Records Register.
Certificate of professional competence from the transport authority (or documents relating to the responsible representative under Section 11).
Document evidencing financial standing for transport with large vehicles.
Administrative fee: application for a concession CZK 1,000 (first entry into business), further concession CZK 500.

Frequently asked questions

Do I need a concession even for a van up to 3.5 tonnes?

Yes, transport with small vehicles is also the "Road motor transport" trade and requires a concession. However, the conditions for small vehicles are milder; the professional qualification (examination) is generally not demonstrated.

How long does processing a concession take?

The Trade Licensing Office decides on the application in administrative proceedings, generally within 30 days. The right to do business comes into existence only on the day the decision granting the concession becomes final.

What if I do not have the professional qualification myself?

You may appoint a responsible representative under Section 11 of the Trade Licensing Act, who meets the professional qualification (a transport authority certificate) on your behalf. One person may perform this function for no more than 4 entrepreneurs.

Does a taxi service fall under this trade?

Yes. A taxi service is a form of road motor passenger transport and is operated on the basis of this concession; in addition, the special rules of the Road Transport Act for taxi services apply.

How much will I pay for the application?

The administrative fee for the application for a concession is CZK 1,000 on first entry into business, or CZK 500 for a further concession.