Regulatory & compliance · Domestic household goods
Czechia
Business registration and, where the mover operates its own vehicles, road transport licensed as a “koncese” (concessioned trade), obtained through the local trade licensing office
Regulated byKoncese (concessioned trade licence) for “silniční motorová doprava” (road motor transport), governed by the Trade Licensing Act and the Road Transport Act, with the underlying framework set by the Ministry of Industry and Trade (MPO) and applications processed through the local trade licensing office (živnostenský úřad); consumer protection through the Czech Trade Inspection Authority (ČOI)
At a glanceRequirements at a glance
- Concessioned Trade Licence (Koncese) Required
- Yes
- Yes, where the mover operates its own vehicles. Road motor transport, including goods transport, is classified as a concessioned trade under the Trade Licensing Act. A business cannot operate commercial road transport without first obtaining this concession. Where a mover hires another company to do the driving (a subcontracted carrier), the carrier’s own concession covers the transport it performs, and the mover should use carriers that hold the licences that transport requires.
- Licence Categories by Vehicle Weight and Scope
- Yes, where the mover operates its own vehicles. Historically divided into domestic transport by vehicles up to 3.5 tonnes (granted without additional special requirements), domestic transport by vehicles over 3.5 tonnes (special conditions apply), and equivalent international categories, further affected by the EU Mobility Package’s 2022 changes lowering the international Community Licence threshold to 2.5 tonnes.
- Application Process
- Application submitted to the local trade licensing office (živnostenský úřad), which issues an opinion before the concession is granted; processing for a domestic-only concession is typically faster than for international categories.
- Business Registration
- Yes. Establishing an s.r.o. (limited liability company) or operating as a sole trader (fyzická osoba) is a prerequisite, alongside entry in the Commercial Register where applicable.
- Consumer Protection
- Yes. The Czech Trade Inspection Authority (Česká obchodní inspekce, ČOI) oversees enforcement of consumer protection laws generally, including for businesses selling goods or providing services in the domestic market.
- Consumer Complaint Resources (For Movers Not Vetted as ITMs)
- Yes. Consumers can file complaints with ČOI. Alternative dispute resolution (mediation or arbitration) is available as a faster, lower-cost option than court. For cross-border disputes involving another EU country, Norway, or Iceland, the European Consumer Centre (ECC Czech Republic), which operates from ČOI’s own offices, provides dedicated assistance. SOS-Asociace (Sdružení obrany spotřebitelů), an independent consumer defence association based in Brno, is also available, with published office hours and phone contact.
- Industry Association
- None found. No dedicated Czech moving-industry trade association was identified in this research.
OverviewOverview & Scope
Czechia licenses road transport through its general trade concession system rather than a dedicated transport authority. A “koncese” for road motor transport is required under the Trade Licensing Act for the company operating the vehicles, with the underlying regulatory framework set by the Ministry of Industry and Trade and applications processed through local trade licensing offices. Historically, domestic transport by smaller vehicles (up to 3.5 tonnes) faced a lower bar than larger-vehicle or international categories, though the EU’s 2022 Mobility Package reform means vehicles between 2.5 and 3.5 tonnes now also need a Community Licence for cross-border work. Business registration (as an s.r.o. or sole trader) is a prerequisite.
Where a mover subcontracts road transport, the carrier’s own concession covers the transport it performs, and the mover should use carriers that hold it.
On the consumer side, ČOI is the primary national enforcement body, backed by both the EU’s cross-border dispute mechanism and an independent consumer association. There is no dedicated Czech moving-industry trade association.
RegistrationRegistration & Compliance Essentials
Company licensing
- Register the business as an s.r.o. or sole trader, with Commercial Register entry where applicable.
- Where the mover operates its own vehicles, apply for a koncese for road motor transport through the local trade licensing office, in the category that matches vehicle weight and domestic or international scope (including the 2.5-tonne threshold for international Community Licence requirements).
Subcontracted transport
- Where transport is subcontracted, use carriers that hold the licences required for the transport they perform.
Customer practices
- Ensure consumer-facing practices comply with Czech consumer protection law.
ChecklistCompliance checklist
Company licensing
- Business registration (s.r.o. or sole trader, with Commercial Register entry where applicable)Verified by DocumentRequired
- Koncese for road motor transport held from the local trade licensing office, in the category matching vehicle weight and domestic or international scopeWhere applicable (mover operates its own vehicles)Verified by DocumentRequired
Subcontracted transport
- Where transport is subcontracted, the mover uses carriers that hold the licences required for the transport they performWhere applicableVerified by AffirmationRequired
Customer practices
- Consumer-facing practices comply with Czech consumer protection lawVerified by AffirmationRequired