Speed limits in the Czech Republic vary depending on the type of road, and whether the road is within a settlement or not. The top speed limit is on specified motorway routes and for all other motorways outside of settlements. The speed limit on expressways is . On all other regular roads (other than motorways and expressways), the speed limit is within a settlement and outside of a settlement. Various other special restrictions are applied for certain types and weight categories of vehicle.
Historical speed limits On 29 January 1900, a government ordinance limited the speed of vehicles inside settlements to the velocity of a hand-cantering horse. In 1935, the speed limit inside settlements was set at .Law No. 81/1935 Sb.Regulation No. 203/1935 Sb. Vehicles with two or more trailers were limited to 35 km/h, while trucks and buses were limited to . However, public buses could ask for an exception.
A law in 1950 limited the speed in thick fog to and at level crossings to .Law No. 56/1950 Sb. An ordinance introduced in 1953 specified places where speed needs to be slow, i.e. under 15 km/h: along processions, at pedestrian crossings, while the driver is entering the road, near buses or trams, near work places, while the road is oily or while pedestrian traffic is dense.Ordinance No. 196/1953 Ú.l.
A law in 1960 limited the speed inside settlements between 5 a.m. and 11 p.m. to . Buses and trucks over were limited outside settlements to .Ordinance No. 141/1960 Sb. §20 Also, in 1966, motorcycles were limited to 80 km/h. Long-distance buses were freed from limits. Towed automobiles were limited to 50 km/h.Ordinance No. 80/1966 Sb. §9
Speed limits were abolished on motorways (dálnice), even for trucks and motorcycles, in 1971.Ordinance No. 42/1971 Sb. Furthermore, in 1976, all of the 50 km/h limits were increased to . The special limits for motorcycles, trucks and buses were repealed.Ordinance No. 100/1975 Sb. §12 The ordinance in 1979 was the first to limit speeds outside of settlements. Cars were limited to and on motorways, long-distance buses to 90 km/h, motorcycles and trucks under to , trucks over 6000 kg and buses to . The limit of 60 km/h (only between 5 a.m. and 11 p.m.) was kept for roads inside settlements.Ordinance No. 70/1979 Sb.
A limit of and on motorways was established in 1989 for vehicles under 3500 kg and for buses. Furthermore, motorcycles were limited to 90 km/h and all other motor vehicles were limited to . The speed inside settlements was limited and 80 km/h on motorways, including at night. Specially signed pedestrian zones and house zones was introduced with a limit.Ordinance No. 99/1989 Sb. §16
Ordinance No. 223/1997 Sb., which took effect on October 1, 1997, reduced the settlement limit to and increased the motorway limit to , including for motorcycles.Ordinance No. 223/1997 Sb.
On October 5, 2025, a trial on a 47 kilometer long section of the D3 motorway between the motorway junctions of Planá nad Lužnicí and Úsilné began, which raised the speed limit on the section to . However, the section uses variable speed limit signs which allow 150 km/h only if favorable conditions are met. The trial was originally supposed to last for 6 months, but it has been extended until the end of 2026 due to lack of data to determine the safety and flow of traffic.
Current speed limits As of 2019 on motorways (dálnice) the speed limit is and on roads for motorcars (silnice pro motorová vozidla) the speed limit is . In settlements, the speed limit is set to both on motorways and roads for motorcars.
On regular roads, the speed limit is set to and the settlement limit is . Inside any settlement zone (obytná zóna) marked by a special blue sign and pedestrian zone (pěší zóna) the speed limit is set to and drivers must give way to other vehicles when exiting them. Inside any cyclist zone (cyklistická zóna) the speed limit is set to .
before a level crossing with railway, the speed limit is further reduced to or in case of visible flashing of a white traffic light.
There are special restrictions for certain kinds of vehicles, especially weighing over . The speed limit for towing with a rope or tow bar is . The speed limit when a car has chains on is .
Minimum speed limits No minimum speed limits are currently in place.
Vehicles incapable of reaching the speed of are not allowed to enter motorways (dálnice) and roads for motorcars (silnice pro motorová vozidla) .
Road signs
References