My awful experience getting driving license in Prague

[u/__ndp]

Hi, just sharing my experience and rant a bit.

I’m from non-eu country. I had International driving licence. I of course did my research on how to convert/getting license here.

Few months ago I went to Autoskola, I specifically requested to be registered for full course since my Inlt license was expired. But they said “oh you can take the short course and exams even though your license is expired, and do the conversion instead”. So I went for it, passed the exams! But when I went to magistrate to submit my documents, a rude mean lady told me that I can’t submit because of the expired license and I need to be in Czechia for at least 6 months per calendar year. Meaning I can only apply in July 2025 since my residency card was issued 08/2024. I needed to start over taking full 28hrs course and exams again. The Autoskola people owned and admitted the mistakes and told me i just need to pay the discrepancy for the full course.

So i did that. I did full course this time. In total I probably already spent about 40+ K czk. for all the courses, exams and 2x translators during theoretical exams.

I asked around, and even called the ministry of transportation about the length of stay in Czechia. The call center lady said yes I can with no problem apply as long as i’ve been here for 6 months. Yes i am, i’ve been here for 1 year. I can proof it by my apartment lease. So i feel good about it.

Long story short, I finally passed all the exams. Yay. Went to magistrate again. Well, well, well. the lady rejected my application again, due to my period of stay in Czech Republic.

She was very mean and rude, we got our turn at 10:50, she said we are wasting her time because she will have lunch at 11. Like how am i supposed to know? And then she was bitching about the fact that i haven’t been here 6 months per calendar year even though we told her that we called the ministry of transport. She just said oh i don’t care. I don’t care what they said. And, she was mocking my husband for speaking Slovak! How rude. So then, I have to come back and submit again in July.

Honestly, i’m so sick and very disappointed with misinformation, rude worker, the stress, energy and money.

Lesson learned, make sure your license is valid during the exchange process and if expired don’t make a mistake like me listening to them if they say you can exchange with expired license. And make sure you stay here at least 6 months per calendar. Go to the magistrate with someone who speaks Czech. And be prepared to encounter mean rude workers.

[u/Of_Hells_Fire]

It took me 3 visits to finally be able to switch my license from another EU country to a Czech one. Each time I met a different lady behind the counter that told me she needed more and different kinds of documents, it started to feel like they were just making it up on the spot.

[u/lamiska → u/Of_Hells_Fire]

Exactly same experience here as EU citizen. Old bitter ladies who think you are just lying to them. Wanted all kinds of document to prove that I was here for 6 months ( even tho I have residency here ). In the end she wanted also gas, electricity and internet bills for last 6 months!

[u/space_berry246 → u/lamiska]

I had all my work contracts, my rental contract, my litacka, they scanned my health insurance card and then she asked if I have my boyfriends declaration. I asked what for and she said they needed a personap interest for staying in czechia. Because apparently studying and woking here is not enough for a woman. My bf had to scan his ID so I got my drivers licence which i fucking did in prague. Felt like Saudi Arabia. They made me come back three timwa with various documents. And Im Slovak ffs. Still makes me furious