Obtaining a driving license to drive a passenger car (category B)
A category B driving license is an essential part of our everyday life. Having a driving license makes our lives much easier and opens doors to many professions and jobs. Driving school not only prepares you for the exam, but also teaches you how to drive safely in the heavy traffic on Prague’s roads.
If you have a category B driving license you will be allowed to drive:
1. Cars and vans with a maximum permissible weight of up to 3 500 kg, with a maximum of 8 seats in addition to the driver’s seat.
You can attach a trailer to them:
— with a maximum authorized weight not exceeding 750 kg.
— with a maximum authorized weight exceeding 750 kg, provided that the maximum authorized weight of this combination does not exceed 3 500 kg.
2. vehicles in the A1 group with automatic transmission (scooters).
3. vehicles in the B1 group.
Conditions for obtaining a driving license:
— minimum age of 18 years or 17 years of age, provided that he or she drives with a «mentor» until the age of 18;
— valid medical fitness confirmation;
— successfully passing the final exam;
— permanent or temporary residency in the Czech Republic or studying in the Czech Republic for at least 6 months;
— not banned from driving;
— not a holder of a driver’s license from another EU country.
Application requirements
Before we get to the course itself, we need to fill in the application form and fulfill the following requirements:
— sufficient age (depends on the course, check the age requirement on the page of your chosen course);
— you can start the course as early as 18 months before reaching the required age, for example, you can start a car driving course (group B, required age: 18) if you’re at least 16.5 years old;
if you want to drive from the age of 17 with a mentor, you can start from 1.1.2024 at the age of 15.5. However, 6 months’ notice is recommended at the earliest;
— medical fitness (simply download this form and have your general practitioner fill it out);
— permanent or temporary residence in the Czech Republic, which can be proved by a valid ID card (citizen of the Czech Republic), or a certificate of temporary residence (EU or EEA citizen), long-term visa (non-EU and non-EEA foreigner), other documents (diplomat or embassy technical officer, students);
— not banned from driving (simply fill out the affidavit included in the registration form).
How the training is organised
The training follows the “driving school law” (247/2000 Sb.).
It includes theoretical as well as practical training and completely prepares you for both the exams and real traffic conditions.
Theoretical training
Theoretical teaching takes place either in the form of a course with regular attendance at lectures or in the form of so-called distance learning. If you opt for distance learning, you’ll get an individual study plan. You’ll then prepare on your own and undergo mandatory consultations with your teacher from time to time.
You will take 11 theory lessons in the following subjects:
— vehicle operation regulations;
— vehicle driving and maintenance;
— driving theory and principles of safe driving;
— first-aid preparation;
The Horazny Driving School has textbooks in English and Russian for the theoretical part of the course. The Horazny Driving School has also prepared online test questions for the exam in both languages. The instructors at the Horazny Driving School speak both English and Russian. Some of the teachers at the Horazny Driving School are native speakers.
Practical training
The most extensive part of the training is practice — i. e. the driving itself and other related topics. Its length depends on the statutory minimum of hours, the intensity of training, and your
preferences.
Areas of focus
28 lessons: vehicle driving training.
2 lessons: hands-on maintenance training.
4 lessons: practical first-aid training
Course length
The length of the course depends on a number of factors, especially the number of hours required by law. The usual length of courses for group B is 2–3 months. If you prefer, it is also possible to provide an intensive course, where the training time can be significantly shortened.
Finishing the course
Your training can be finalized if you fulfill these requirements stated by law:
— you have the necessary knowledge and skills to take the final exam;
— you have undergone the minimum number of training hours required by law (for group B, this constitutes 11 lessons (45 minutes each) of theory and 34 lessons (45 minutes each) of practice).
It is therefore not possible to complete fewer hours than stipulated by law. You can, however, request additional lessons in order to acquire the necessary skills. This must be agreed individually with the driving school.
The date of your exam typically directly follows after finishing your training. All formalities connected to it will be taken care of by us, so you don’t have to worry.
The examination shall be conducted by an examiner of the competent authority and shall consist of two parts:
— a written test on driving regulations and first-aid (30 minutes); You can take the theoretical exam with the assistance of an interpreter in your language.
— a practical driving exam.
You can only take the practical driving exam after you’ve passed the written test. To pass, you need to score at least 43 points out of 50. If you fail this test, you can retake it twice.
The applicant shall pay CZK 700 to the competent authority for the examination.
If you have failed any part of the exam, you will repeat only that part of the exam. You can only retake the exam twice. If you do not pass on the second retake, you must take new instruction or training in that subject as well.
All exams must be passed within 12 months of the date of the first exam, otherwise you must complete the new tuition and training in its entirety before taking the next exam.
If you are interested in taking a driving school course, you can get more information at www.drivingschool.cz or in person at the Horazny Driving School in Prague
Information provided by the Horazny Driving School.
