The long-running dispute over Prague’s vintage-car sightseeing rides has reached its end.

The Constitutional Court has upheld earlier rulings that classify these tours as taxi services — meaning operators must follow the same rules as any other paid transport provider.

The complaint was filed by Leitha, a company offering rides in retro-style vehicles around the historic center. The court rejected the company’s arguments and left the existing decisions in place.

Dispute Began With 2021 Inspections

The conflict dates back to inspections carried out by Prague authorities during the summer of 2021. Officials concluded that Leitha was offering paid passenger transport without meeting the basic requirements for taxi operators.

They found that the cars used for the tours were not registered for taxi service and that drivers did not hold the necessary authorisation. Based on the Road Transport Act, the city identified this as an administrative offence and imposed a fine of 200,000 CZK.

From the start, Leitha insisted that its rides do not count as transportation. Its central argument was that the tours begin and end at the same location, meaning passengers are not taken from one place to another. According to the company, this makes the service fundamentally different from a taxi ride and therefore outside the scope of the law.

The Municipal Court in Prague dismissed that interpretation. Judges ruled that the essential factor is the paid movement of passengers — not the final destination. Even if a route forms a closed loop, the act of transporting customers around the city falls under the legal definition of a taxi service.

Operator: “This Is a Different Market”

Leitha’s executive director, Jiří Zelený, maintains that sightseeing rides differ from ordinary taxi transport. He said customers are informed in advance about the route and price, and that the service competes with no one. According to him, passengers choose the rides because they want a specific experience, not a means of getting somewhere.

Zelený argues that the courts are imposing obligations that the law does not require. He says the ruling limits the freedom to conduct business and affects the company’s ability to use its vehicles as it sees fit.

What the Ruling Means in Practice

Because the courts have confirmed that sightseeing tours fall under the taxi category, operators must follow all corresponding rules. Drivers must be at least 21 years old, demonstrate professional competence, and meet integrity requirements.

Vehicles must be properly registered and equipped in accordance with taxi regulations.

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