The Czech government is preparing to introduce stricter regulations for taxi drivers from abroad, including a possible requirement to demonstrate knowledge of the Czech language.

The proposed rules aim to enhance both safety and service quality for passengers in the country.

The announcement follows recent amendments to the Road Transport Act, which tightened rules on foreign driving licenses and expanded the powers of municipal inspections.

Since July, the law requires taxi drivers to hold a license issued either in the Czech Republic or elsewhere in the European Union. Taxi licenses are now also granted only for the duration of the driver’s legal stay in the country.

Municipal police now have the authority to stop taxis and verify compliance with the law, giving authorities stronger tools to enforce safety standards.

Coalition Plans Further Tightening

The newly formed coalition government has announced its intentions to go further. The draft program suggests unifying requirements for taxi drivers and transport platforms while introducing the obligation for drivers to demonstrate Czech language proficiency. The goal is to ensure that passengers receive safe, high-quality service across all platforms.

Although the government has not detailed all planned requirements, sources suggest that mandatory Czech language exams could be introduced. The previously considered topography exams, requiring knowledge of city routes, are seen as less practical today due to GPS and mapping technologies.

Taxi Industry Reaction

Reactions among taxi operators are mixed. Some drivers support the initiative. Jiří Kvasnička, CEO of AAA Radiotaxi, commented, “There are many situations during a trip where communication is necessary. Basic communication in Czech should be the foundation. It does not mean the driver must understand every historical detail about Prague, but they must be able to communicate effectively with passengers.”

Similarly, Liftago CEO Radek Svíčka emphasized that his platform has long required communicative knowledge of Czech for all drivers. “It is important that passengers feel safe and can reach an agreement with the driver at any time. These standards have been in place at Liftago for years,” he said.

Some individual taxi drivers also question the necessity of mandatory language skills. Miroslav Novotný, a Prague-based driver, suggested that practical driving tests for foreign drivers outside the EU might be more important for road safety than language exams.

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