How to Get a Category D1 Driving Licence in the Czech Republic?

The Czech Republic just changed how you prove medical fitness for a D1 license: from 1 January 2026, you can use a traditional doctor's certificate, the EZKarta digital health app, or an extract from public administration information systems, all confirmed by your GP and no older than three months. This piece covers what D1 authorizes, the notably specific breakdown of training hours, and current requirements.

What Category D1 covers

D1 authorizes motor vehicles not exceeding 8 meters in length and having more than 8 but no more than 16 seats, including the driver's seat. You can tow a trailer with a maximum permitted mass of up to 750 kg.

Minimum age

You need to be 21 to hold a D1.

You need Category B or C first

D1 requires you to already hold Category B or C before applying.

The new 2026 medical fitness rules

This matters. From 1 January 2026, new rules govern how you prove medical fitness to drive: you can submit a traditional medical certificate, use the EZKarta digital health application, or provide an extract from public administration information systems, all confirmed by your GP (practitioner), and none of them can be older than three months.

Residency requirements

You need to have a usual residence in the Czech Republic or to have studied there for at least six months to apply.

Training and exam timing

Teaching and training can begin up to 18 months before you reach the minimum age, but your final exams can only be taken once you've actually turned 21.

D1E: adding a heavier trailer

If you need to tow a trailer heavier than 750 kg, you need D1E. Genuinely useful: if you hold D1E, you're automatically entitled to drive B+E combinations too, without a separate application.

Full Category D and its specific age thresholds

Full Category D authorizes vehicles carrying more than 8 seated passengers in addition to the driver, with no upper limit. The standard minimum age is 24, but it drops to 21 with 280 hours of professional qualification training, or to 23 with 140 hours of professional training specific thresholds to keep in mind if you're weighing your training route.

What full Category D includes

Holding a full Category D automatically entitles you to drive D1-category vehicles too, so you don't need a separate D1 application if you're going straight for the full bus license.

Training hours if extending from Category B

For the full Category D extension from B, the theoretical program runs for 10 hours on traffic regulations, 12 hours on vehicle control and maintenance, 10 hours on safe driving theory, 2 hours on medical and first-aid theory, and 4 hours of review and retesting, for a total of 38 hours. The practical program covers 4 hours in light traffic, 16 hours in medium traffic, and an additional 10 hours of medium-traffic practice, for a total of 30 hours. D1-specific extensions from B or C typically follow a proportionally reduced version of this structure.

Automatic transmission

As with other EU-aligned systems, testing on an automatic-transmission vehicle typically restricts the resulting license to automatic machines only.

Validity

A Czech driving license for D1 is valid for the standard professional-category period, with DE specifically noted at 5 years; D1 generally follows the same pattern.

EU-wide recognition

Since the Czech Republic is an EU member, your D1 license is valid in all other EU member states, and some non-EU countries also recognize it.

The new mentor scheme for younger drivers

Worth noting for context: the Czech Republic recently introduced a scheme allowing 17-year-olds to drive a car with a registered mentor who must have held a Category B license for more than 10 years. While this applies to Category B rather than directly to D1, it reflects a broader trend toward earlier, supervised access across Czech licensing.

Tips that actually help

• Confirm which medical fitness route, traditional certificate, EZKarta, or public administration extract, suits you best under the 2026 rules.
• If you're weighing D1 against going straight for full Category D, factor in the 280-hour (age 21) or 140-hour (age 23) professional training routes.
• Remember, D1E automatically gives you B+E towing rights too.
• Start training up to 18 months before turning 21 if you want to test right at the minimum age.

Where this fits going forward

D1 in the Czech Republic offers a genuine, well-structured route into passenger transport, with the 2026 medical fitness changes making documentation more flexible. If your plans involve professional driving down the line, take a look at the driver section, browse current vacancies, see which employers are hiring on FastDriver.eu, and explore our broader job guides. Our driving license in the Czech Republic and license eligibility pages cover the wider picture.

Declaration

This article is provided for general information only and does not constitute legal or professional advice. Fees, training requirements, and administrative rules can change. The medical fitness documentation rules described here took effect on 1 January 2026. Always confirm current requirements with official Czech sources, such as the Ministry of Transport (MDCR), before making decisions. FastDriver.eu accepts no liability for decisions made based on this information.