General Info
Prague is one of the most popular destinations in Eastern Europe. The highway system allows for easy access for touring the countryside of the Czech Republic and traveling into Austria or Germany.

Requirements
To rent a car, you must be at least 21 years old (age may vary by car category) and have held your license for 1 year. Drivers under the age of 25 may incur a young driver surcharge. In some cases, a maximum age of 70 exists. Seatbelts are mandatory and children must be 12 years old to be in the front seat.

Speed Limits
Speed limits in the Czech Republic are as follows: City 37mph/50kph Open Roads 55mph/90kph Highways 81mph/130kph

Rules of the Road
Traffic travels on the right and passing occurs on the left. Streetcars, however, should be passed on the right side.

Fuel
Most fuel stations are located on the outskirts of the city. Prague has very few fuel stations, so it is best to refuel on the expressways outside the city. The stations on the expressway are usually open 24 hours a day.

Tolls
Cars are required to have a toll sticker to travel on the expressways. This sticker costs approx. US$27/EU€17 and is placed on the upper right hand corner of the windshield. Cars rented in the Czech Republic will have the sticker on the windshield.

Parking
In Prague, parking at "automats", indicated by a green stripe, have a six-hour maximum and those indicated with an orange stripe have a two-hour maximum. Parking is exclusively on the right side of the road, with the exception of one-way streets.

General Information
Most car categories can be driven anywhere in Western Europe without restriction. Due to insurance regulations, there are restrictions on luxury car categories and on travel in certain countries.

Restricted Countries
Cars rented in the Czech Republic are not allowed into the following countries: Albania, Bosnia, Belarus, Bulgaria, Croatia, Estonia, Greece, Latvia, Lithuania, Macedonia, Montenegro, Poland, Russia, Slovenia, Turkey, Ukraine and Yugoslavia.

Note: For an additional fee, travel into most or all of these countries can be arranged for specific car categories with advance notice.

One-Way Rentals
Domestic one-way rentals are unrestricted and free of charge. There are fees for international one-way rentals, and not all vehicles are allowed. 

Useful Terms
Unleaded Gasoline - bezolovnaty benzin
Diesel - diesel
Motor oil - motorovy
Gas station - benzinova stanice or cerpaci stanice
Car rental agency - pujcovna automobilu
Toll - mytne or poplatek za pouziti dalnice
Toll road - silnice s mytnym
Parking - parkovani or parking
Highway - dalnice
Expressway - dalnice
Exit - exit or vyjezd
Entrance - vjezd
Detour - objizdka
Hospital - nemocnice
Police - policie
Police station - police stanice
Embassy - velvyscanectvi or ambasada

General Driving and safety tips
It may be wise to practice driving in a less populated area before you try to drive in a foreign city at rush hour.
Know your route of travel. 
Chart your course of travel before you take to the road, and keep a good map with you.
Always have at least one-half tank of gas.
Make sure that the lights, signals, horn, and brakes work properly.
Avoid driving after dark, especially in rural areas.
Always park in places that have good lighting.
Always use safety belts. Some countries have penalties for violation of seat belt laws.
After exiting or entering the car, lock the doors.
In many countries, driving while under the influence is a very serious crime that could result in severe criminal penalties. Never drink and drive.
Avoid riding motorcycles. If you do ride a motorcycle, make sure you wear a helmet.

Look at maps and plan your route thoroughly. Check for online maps and route planning systems. 
Research the roads you’ll take. You’ll especially want to know if you’ll be traveling through areas of major road construction. Ensure the maps you are using are up-to-date. Check the roads before you go!Make estimates of travel times along the route, so you’ll have an idea when you’ll be at certain points on your trip. This will help you to plan rest and meal stops. It will also help you plan to avoid traveling through a major city or area of road construction during rush hour.Get the car checked, especially the filters, belts, fluid levels and have the oil changed. Don’t wait until the last minute, it may take time to get an appointment and parts may need to be ordered. You also want some time to drive around town and make sure that whatever they fixed stays fixed.Check the condition of your wiper blades.
Check the operation of your turn signals, brake lights as well as the high and low beams.
Examine the tread on your tires.
Make sure your car is prepared for the weather it will encounter on your trip.


Today, many cars have alloy wheels instead of hubcaps. These wheels usually have a lock to prevent them from being stolen. If you have a car with wheel locks, make sure you know where the key is stored (often with the jack). Otherwise, a flat tire will become a major problem since you won't be able to get the wheel off the car.
Get your car cleaned. You’ll feel better in a clean car.Pack an emergency kit in your car. Include motion sickness medication if anyone in your group suffers from it. Remove any items from the car that you won’t need on your trip.Prepare some on road entertainment for your trip. Include games and CDs of music and/or audio books.
Check your plates, registration and insurance information to make sure they are all valid. Be sure to place your insurance company’s emergency contact number in your car.Check your insurance for expiration dates and coverage for your automobile.


Safety First
Seat Belts: No matter where you are driving, it is imperative that you wear your seat belt. Almost all countries this is a strict law, but aside from that seatbelts are there to save your life, so make use of them. 
Avoid the temptation of road rage. Honking and yelling at the drivers around you is probably more likely to make someone get out their tire iron than to help get traffic moving. Be patient.
Drive carefully and slowly in wet and windy weather. If possible, stop and wait for the weather to settle down.
Fully service your car before leaving and ensure everything is running correctly.

Local Regulations

It is wise to learn in advance the rules and regulations of the country to which you are traveling. Penalties for breaking the law can be more severe than they are at home. Exercise good judgment and remember that some countries have a "zero tolerance" policy with severe penalties for those driving under the influence of alcohol or other drugs. Drug violations, firearms possession, photography of government or military installations, and antiques purchases are frequent cause of detention by local authorities.

Important Note: All information on this page is intended as a guide to the more important rules for the different countries to which we offer car hire services. It is not meant to be a comprehensive document. At Carentalweb.com we try and keep the information on this page up-to-date, but we cannot be held responsible in any way for any consequences arising from any inaccuracies. If you find a mistake or would like to send us some additional information, please email us. We appreciate your cooperation.