Czechia Emergency Numbers 2026: 112, UAMK 1234

Universal emergency number: 112

The European Emergency Number 112 works across all of Czechia for any emergency: police, ambulance, fire. Three things visitors should know:

• Free from any phone: even foreign mobiles without credit, locked phones, or phones without a SIM card
• English-speaking operators: 112 in Czechia has multilingual coverage guaranteed; German is also common near the borders with Germany and Austria
• Automatic location (AML): a smartphone sends its own position to the emergency centre. Handset-derived caller location has been mandatory across the EU since December 2020 under Directive 2018/1972, and every phone sold in the EU has had to support it since March 2022. On Android 4.1 or later and iOS 11.3 or later it happens by itself; on an older phone your position is only estimated from the mobile mast.

If unsure which service you need, always call 112. The operator will dispatch the right service.

Specific emergency numbers

When to use 155, 158 or 150 specifically?

• 155 medical: serious medical emergency requiring paramedic or ambulance
• 158 police: criminal incident, immediate danger, road accident with injuries
• 150 fire: fire, gas leak, water rescue, vehicle extrication

For visitors: 112 is always the right choice if you are not sure.

Motorway-specific: SOS phones and highway police

Orange SOS phones

Every 2 kilometres along Czech D-motorways, an orange emergency phone is mounted next to the hard shoulder. Free to use, automatically geolocated, direct line to the motorway police (Dopravni policie).

How to use:

1. Pull onto the hard shoulder with warning triangle 50 metres behind
2. Walk to the nearest SOS phone (never more than 1 km away)
3. Press the button; the operator answers in Czech, English or German
4. Describe your situation; help dispatched by dopravni policie or breakdown truck

The phones work without coins or cards; they are always free.

D-motorway network and coverage

The main routes with dense SOS-phone coverage:

• D1 Prague - Brno - Ostrava (main east-west artery, ~377 km)
• D5 Prague - Plzen - Rozvadov (German border toward Nurnberg)
• D8 Prague - Usti nad Labem - Dresden (German border)
• D11 Prague - Hradec Kralove - Trutnov
• D2 Brno - Breclav - Bratislava (Slovak border)
• D3 Prague - Ceske Budejovice - Linz (Austrian border, under expansion)

Outside D-motorways (I-class roads without SOS phones), dial 112 or 158 directly.

What to do at an accident scene

Czech law requires specific actions when you are involved in or witness an accident. Penalties for leaving the scene: driving licence disqualification up to 10 years and fines up to CZK 50,000.

If you are involved

1. Stop in a safe place: as far to the right as possible. Put on hazards.
2. Put on reflective vest before exiting (legally required inside the vehicle within reach)
3. Help any injured: stabilise the situation. Do not move someone with suspected spine injuries unless fire risk.
4. Call 112 with location and number of injured. Stay on the line until released.
5. Exchange details with other parties: name, address, registration, insurance details, photos of damage
6. Fill in the European Accident Report (Zaznam o dopravni nehode) if the cars are damaged; both drivers sign
7. Stay until police arrive if there are injuries, damage above CZK 100,000 or you cannot reach agreement
8. Do not move the vehicles until photographed, unless they create a hazard

If you are a witness

1. Stop your car safely; do not block the road
2. Call 112 if no help has arrived
3. Provide first aid if able (Czech law: obligation to render aid, up to 2 years prison for failing)
4. Stay until emergency services arrive to provide a witness statement

Hit-and-run cases

If the other driver leaves the scene, note:

• Make, model and colour of the vehicle
• Registration plate (SPZ) if visible
• Direction of travel
• Any distinguishing features

Report to police immediately via 158 or 112. Czech police take hit-and-run seriously; CCTV coverage on D-motorways is dense.

European Accident Report

Pre-printed form (Zaznam o dopravni nehode) in Czech, available from your insurance. Fill in both versions:

• Both drivers details (name, address, insurer, policy number)
• Vehicle details (make, registration)
• Description of accident with arrows on a small diagram
• Both drivers sign

The form is the standard EU accident report. UK and other foreign insurers also use it.

If you do not have a form: take photos of both cars, exchange details, write the description on any paper. Both drivers sign.

Breakdown assistance

Czechia has two national breakdown clubs and no single equivalent of the UK AA or RAC. Process for breakdowns:

Step 1: Pull over safely

• Move to the hard shoulder (or as far right as possible)
• Switch off engine, put on hazards
• Put on reflective vest BEFORE exiting (CZK 2,000 fine if not; check your rental has one)
• Walk passengers off the road behind the crash barrier
• Place warning triangle 50 metres behind on the motorway; 100 metres if approaching a bend

Step 2: Call for help

Options in order of preference:

1. Your UK or EU breakdown insurance: most cover Europe (AA Plus, RAC Premium, Green Flag, ADAC Auslandsschutzbrief, PZM Assistance). Phone the number on your card.
2. SOS phone (motorway): connects to dopravni policie which coordinates a local breakdown truck
3. UAMK on 1234: 24/7 pay-per-use service for non-members
4. 112: from anywhere, ask for a breakdown (odtahova sluzba) connection

Step 3: Wait for help

• Stay behind the crash barrier with passengers
• Do not attempt roadside repairs on D-motorways (fine CZK 2,500)
• Pay-per-use tow via UAMK: approximately CZK 2,500-5,000 within 50 km, more for distance and after-hours

Step 4: Cost recovery

If you have UK or EU insurance covering Europe:

• Keep all receipts (tow, repairs, hotel if overnight stay)
• Report to your insurer within 7 days
• Use the European Accident Report or a separate breakdown report

UK breakdown providers in Czechia

Check your existing UK insurance: many provide European cover automatically up to 30 days per year. Premium credit cards (American Express Platinum, Chase Sapphire) often include unlimited European travel cover.

Hospital and medical care

European Health Insurance Card (EHIC) and GHIC

UK residents post-Brexit: the Global Health Insurance Card (GHIC) replaces the EHIC. Free, valid 5 years, covers state-provided medical care across the EU including Czechia. Order at gov.uk/global-health-insurance-card.

EU citizens: use the EHIC in your home country pattern.

What it covers:

• Emergency hospital treatment
• Doctor consultations
• Most prescriptions
• Maternity care

What it does not cover:

• Private clinics (Na Homolce, Canadian Medical Care, others)
• Repatriation to home country
• Pre-existing conditions

Get a separate travel insurance for repatriation and private care.

Czech hospital emergency departments

Hospitals with an emergency department are labelled “Pohotovost”. Search “pohotovost [city]” on Google Maps.

Major hospitals near tourist areas:

• Prague: Nemocnice Motol (foreigners department with English and German staff), VFN Praha 2, Na Bulovce, Na Homolce (private)
• Brno: Fakultni nemocnice Brno-Bohunice, Nemocnice u sv. Anny
• Ostrava: Fakultni nemocnice Ostrava
• Plzen: Fakultni nemocnice Plzen
• Krkonose (mountain resorts): Nemocnice Trutnov, Vrchlabi outpatient
• Sumava: Nemocnice Klatovy, Prachatice

Wait times: 1-4 hours for non-urgent, immediate for life-threatening.

Pharmacies

Czech pharmacies (Lekarna, green cross sign) provide:

• Prescription dispensing
• Non-prescription medication
• Basic medical advice

24/7 pharmacy: search “lekarna nonstop” or “lekarna pohotovost” on Google Maps for the on-duty pharmacy nearest you. In Prague, Lekarna Palackeho at Karlovo namesti is open 24/7.

Lost or stolen belongings

For lost or stolen items (not life-threatening):

Reporting theft

Go to the nearest police station (sluzebna policie) within 24 hours. The written report (protokol) is needed for insurance claims and replacement passport. In Prague, the central foreigners police office (Cizinecka policie) is at Olsanska 2.

For stolen wallets with credit cards: call your bank IMMEDIATELY to freeze the cards. UK bank phone numbers are typically on the back of your card.

Phone contacts to save before your trip

Save these in your phone before leaving:

• Your UK or EU breakdown insurance (number on your card)
• Your travel insurance emergency line
• Your bank for credit card freezing
• 112 (already universal but worth confirming on your phone)
• UAMK breakdown 1234 (24/7)
• UK Embassy Prague: +420 257 402 111
• Hotel or accommodation phone numbers
• Local taxi (Bolt and Liftago work in Prague, Brno, Ostrava)

Practical tips for visitors

• Call 112 from anywhere in Czechia: it is free and the operator speaks English
• Save UAMK 1234 as your first-call breakdown number if you have no other cover
• Carry your insurance Green Card and rental contract at all times
• Wear reflective vest BEFORE exiting in any breakdown or stop; 2,000 CZK fine if not
• Put warning triangle 50 metres behind on motorway, 100 metres if approaching a bend
• Keep CZK 2,000 or €100 cash for emergencies (Czech Koruna, not Euro, is the domestic currency)
• Pharmacy green cross signs indicate open pharmacies
• Hospitals with “Pohotovost” sign are the emergency departments
• Insurance Green Card is required for non-EU vehicles including UK post-Brexit
• Save your breakdown insurance number before driving away