Car rental in Prague

In most cases, the police in Prague are extremely welcoming and courteous, so drivers should be polite in return. If you are stopped for an offence, it is better to admit your mistake and be apologetic. This is the best way to receive the lowest possible fine.

It is strongly recommended not to start arguing about your rights. If you insult a police officer, your driving licence can simply be taken away and the case sent to court.

There are specific speed limits both within Prague and throughout the Czech Republic. Always observe the speed limit, as the police often carry out speed checks with speed guns. You should also pay close attention to road signs, as the permitted speed can change on some stretches of road.

• The maximum speed within the city limits of Prague is 50 km/h.
• The maximum speed allowed outside built-up areas is 90 km/h.
• You may drive at up to 130 km/h on motorways.

If the weather is bad, be especially careful. If visibility on the road is less than 50 metres, your speed must not exceed 50 km/h in any circumstances.

Parking a car in Prague is generally not a problem. There are enough parking spaces for everyone. There are a few types of street parking in the city centre:

• Orange parking zone

You can park here for no longer than 2 hours. The cost of one hour is 1.5 Euro.

• Green parking zone

You may park for up to 6 hours in this zone. One hour of parking will cost you only 1 Euro.

• Blue parking zone

You are not allowed to park a rental car in blue zones. These spaces are reserved for company cars and local residents. Visitors to the city are not permitted to park here.

There are a large number of car parks on the outskirts of Prague, and these are also affordable. On working days, one hour of parking costs no more than 0.5 Euro. At weekends and at night, these car parks are free. There are ticket machines for paying for parking at all car parks. Do not forget to place the parking ticket under your car's windscreen!

Prague is very strict in this respect: no alcohol is allowed in a driver’s blood. Otherwise, the driver faces serious penalties:

• A blood alcohol level of up to 0.03 per mille carries a fine of between 100 and 500 Euro and disqualification from driving for up to one year.
• If the blood alcohol level is more than 0.03 per mille, the fine can increase to 5000 Euro, and the disqualification period can be up to 10 years.

Such strict penalties are probably the reason why it is very rare to see a drunk driver on the roads of Prague.

The road traffic regulations in Prague are the same as in the rest of Europe. However, it is necessary to pay attention to a few details, especially if you have hired a car for the whole family and are travelling with children:

• Child seats and boosters

Children who are shorter than 150 cm must be carried only in appropriate child seats or booster seats. The child’s age is not important; their height is the key factor.

• Dipped headlights

In Prague, drivers must always remember to switch on dipped headlights. Dipped headlights must be on 24 hours a day, 7 days a week and 365 days a year.

• Fog lights

Fog lights must not be used without good reason. They may only be switched on in poor visibility, including fog.

There are many filling stations, including LPG stations, within the city limits. Fuel quality is very high, and prices are similar at all filling stations, so you can refuel confidently at any of them.

• The cost of one litre of 95 fuel is 1.39 Euro
• One litre of 98 fuel costs 1.47 Euro
• The price for one litre of diesel fuel is 1.36 Euro.

Monitor the fuel level in the tank, as it is prohibited to carry fuel in cans.