After years of renting cars and driving across Bohemia and Moravia, I started writing down what actually works. Practical notes on car hire, routes, and destinations — nothing sponsored, just road experience.
My first car rental in Prague was a disaster. I picked up a compact at the airport, drove into the city center without a vignette, and spent an hour trying to find parking in Vinohrady. The rental company had given me a laminated sheet of instructions in Czech.
That was 2017. Since then I have rented from nearly every major company operating in the country, driven the D1 in both summer and winter, and spent weekends exploring corners of South Bohemia that most visitors never see.
The guides here are what I wish I had read before that first trip. They cover the practical things — where to pick up, what insurance actually covers, which routes are worth the tolls, and which towns are genuinely worth a detour.
Czech motorways require an electronic vignette. You can buy it online before arrival at edalnice.cz. Rental cars sometimes include it — always ask.
130 km/h on motorways, 90 km/h on roads outside built-up areas, 50 km/h in towns. Speed cameras are common on the D1 and D2.
The city center uses a colored zone system. Blue zones are for residents. Orange zones allow short-term parking. Most visitors are better off using park-and-ride facilities.
Image: Wikimedia Commons
Airport vs. city pickup, insurance traps, fuel policies, and why you should photograph every scratch before driving off the lot. Seven years of rental experience distilled into one guide.
Read the guide
Image: Wikimedia Commons
Prague to Moravia and back in five days. The route, the stops, and the stretches of road that made it worthwhile.
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Image: Wikimedia Commons
The route, parking situation, and why going by car beats the bus tours — even with the traffic on summer weekends.
Read the guideCzech law prohibits any alcohol when driving. The limit is 0.00 per mille. This is strictly enforced, especially near tourist areas and on weekends.
Daytime running lights are mandatory year-round in Czech Republic, regardless of weather conditions. Most modern rentals handle this automatically.
From November to March, winter or all-season tires are required when roads are icy or snow-covered. Reputable rental companies comply, but it is worth confirming.
Waze and Google Maps work well. The Czech app Mapy.cz is excellent for rural areas and hiking trails. Download offline maps before leaving Prague.
Natural 95 is standard unleaded petrol. Diesel is widely available. CNG stations exist but are sparse outside major cities. LPG is available at some stations.
The general emergency number is 112. Road assistance from the Czech Automobile Club (UAMK) can be reached at 1230. Save both before you leave the city.