Prague is the heart of the Czech Republic. Having been here once, you will certainly want to come back again. Hospitable and friendly people live here, and every corner is steeped in history. In addition, it is worth exploring not only the capital, but also suburban areas and other cities of the country. The best way to organize your trip is to rent a car. We will find out what features and why car rental in Prague is so attractive.
Why renting a car in the Czech Republic is good
The abundance of tourists visiting the Czech Republic every year makes the car rental business grow and offer better conditions for customers. Rental services are provided by large and local market players, whose service quality is kept at the highest level.
Small market players lose because they have a small fleet of vehicles, but such offices compensate for this with a sympathetic attitude towards each tourist.
Sometimes the most unforeseen situations arise on the roads, so service workers provide round-the-clock assistance to customers and resolve all troubles after receiving a call to the support service. Read more about how a car rental business is organized in the country in the article "Rent a car in the Czech Republic".
Rental conditions and required documents
The registration procedure will take no more than half an hour. The price includes tax payments, including a permit to travel on toll highways, a full policy on a Schengen visa, a navigation system. The employees of the rental companies provide technical support to the client.
To draw up a contract, the client needs to present a driver's license. An international model is not required: in Europe and the Czech Republic, a Russian certificate is suitable, since the Russian Federation has signed and ratified the Vienna Convention.
Old-style rights are valid subject to international rights. To travel to the countries participating in the convention, you also need a passport with an open visa.
It will be possible to leave the Czech Republic only to countries that have ratified the convention, therefore, for example, it will not be possible to enter Spain only with a Russian VU. In countries where the Geneva Convention has been ratified, in the presence of a Russian certificate, international rights will be required without fail.
We accept Czech crowns or euros, or you can pay with a credit card.
It should be borne in mind that funds will be required to secure the franchise. International companies block a certain amount on a credit card, and local offices can take in cash or even issue a car without a deposit and a franchise.
Czech car rental companies have one peculiarity: drivers under the age of 23 must pay an additional fee. For the company, this is a guarantee that the car will be returned safe and sound.
Rental points
Prague is a big city, so there are many car rental companies here. Popular national companies include Continental Rent a Car, Royal Rent, CarLove, Savraska, Broadway Rental Car. International market players such as Hertz, Budget, Europcar, Sixt, Auto Europe, Avis also operate in Prague.
Individual entrepreneurs practically do not put forward requirements and set lower rates for car rental. However, when contacting such offices, the client should understand that he may not receive guarantees.
Renting at the airport is a convenient option, but it is suitable for those who arrive for a short time, do not need rest after arrival and immediately go to travel. There are several reasons why you should not book a car at the airport:
- Exploring Prague by car is rather inconvenient: the city has narrow roads, traffic jams, expensive parking lots where there are often not enough free parking spaces, and there are many restrictive signs.
- If upon arrival at the airport you took a car and went to the hotel, then the car will be idle. A rental fee per day, an expensive parking lot in the center of the capital (at least 20 euros) will make rental unprofitable.
- Rental agencies with low prices will ask for an additional € 10 for a car to the airport, and companies with offices at the airport will not be able to offer an affordable price option. For example, Savraska does not include in the rental price the delivery and return of a car outside of working hours. The minimum cost from Hertz for a day reservation is 109 euros. CarLove will deliver the car to the airport free of charge, and the rental price will reach 42 euros. The difference of 67 euros confirms that you need to choose one or another office after carefully studying the rental conditions.
The process of renting a car at the airport depends on the agency. If you choose an international office, then at the airport you need to go to a special counter. If the reservation was made at a local company, a voucher will be sent to the post office with information on where and how to pick up the car.
Algorithm for renting a car on the example of CarLove
First of all, open the CarLove website. CarLove is a national agency, so there is no need to choose a specific region and city, because the branches are based in Prague. The site opens in Russian, which greatly facilitates the booking process. The page shows the parameters for the selection of a car:
To select the desired car, you need to clarify the search criteria: automatic / mechanic, gasoline / diesel, number of seats and class of car. As an example, we choose a car with an automatic transmission, diesel fuel, comfort class. Number of seats: 5.
We indicate the dates and click on the "Show cost" button.
The system displays possible options, from which you need to make the final choice and book a car. According to the specified parameters, the site offered three cars.
The system also issues a reminder about additional paid services.
From the proposed options, select, for example, Opel Insignia and click on the "Reserve" button.
The website redirects to the next page where detailed vehicle information is available.
In the photo under the car there is a button "Book a car". After pressing, the system scrolls down the page.
Next, a required form appears. For insurance, the option "CASCO" is selected (+60 euros to the cost), if you need a navigator, mark "GPS" (+16 euros to the cost). The child seat option is free.
We get a total cost of 316 euros for 4 days. We specify the place of issue and return, for example, the city center and the time - 8.00. We enter personal data in three fields: "Your name", "E-mail" and "Phone". The next step is to click on the "Book Now!"
On the website, the client can also see an option such as "Calculate fuel costs". This makes it possible to compare the consumption of different cars and only then book a specific model.
Clicking on the link "Calculate fuel costs" leads to a redirect to the next page.
There are no mileage restrictions, so you can plan your route freely. It is recommended to rent a car with a diesel engine - then the trip will be cheaper. The system will calculate the total fuel cost for you.
The cost and terms of rental: where is more profitable
The price is determined by the class of the car and the rental period. The longer the terms, the cheaper the rental will cost. The tourist should remember that washing, refueling, fines on the roads and mechanical damage to the body and parts are not included in the rental price.
The average amount of the deposit is around 300-400 euros.
For using a business or luxury car, you will have to pledge from 500 euros. Most often, the amount is blocked on a credit card.
Renting a car for the day is often unprofitable, as double rates are charged in this way.
| Economy | Standard | Comfort | Suite | |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| CarLove (prices) | 42-58 euros | 56-63 euros | 64-79 euros | 171-543 euro |
| Royal Rent | There is no class filter, there is a general list of cars from economy to comfort class. Prices range from 42 to 118 euros. | |||
| Economy | Standard | Minibus | Business / Suite | |
| Broadway (prices) | 62-79 euros | From 62-79 euros | From 124 euros | - |
| Compact | Middle class | Minibus | Suite | |
| Savraska (prices) | 16-20 euros | 22-48 euros | 70-160 euros | 80-260 euros |
Economy class cars: Skoda Fabia, Fiat 500, Opel Corsa, Suzuki SX4 and others.
Standard class cars: Skoda Rapid, Opel Astra MT, VW Golf.
Comfort class cars: Toyota Corolla, Skoda Yeti, Toyota C-HR.
Luxury cars: Mercedes E-class, BMV X5, Audi A7, Infiniti QX 56, Ford Mustang Cabrio.
Features of traffic rules in the Czech Republic
Traffic rules in the Czech Republic are similar to traffic rules in Europe, but they have features:
- dipped headlights should be on around the clock;
- studded tires are prohibited;
- each passenger is obliged to wear seat belts;
- children under 12 years of age and less than 150 cm tall should only sit in the back seat;
- the left lane is for overtaking only.
The speed limit implies a limitation of up to 50 km / h in settlements, up to 80 km / h - on highways, up to 90 km / h - outside highways, up to 130 km / h - on highways.
Driving while intoxicated is strictly prohibited. For possible verification, the test should show 0 ppm. Find out the rest of the nuances in the article "Traffic Rules in the Czech Republic".
FAQ
Is it possible to rent a car in Prague with a trip to Germany?
Yes, there is such a possibility. The rented car is allowed to travel to the countries of the European Union.
Are there car rental companies in Prague that do not require a deposit?
All major international and national companies in Prague take a deposit, as this guarantees the return of the car safe and sound. The collateral is often not required by an individual who works for himself, or a new company - to attract customers.
Is it possible to rent an e-scooter for the disabled in Prague?
Prague stands on hilly terrain, so it is difficult for disabled people to move around. An electric scooter for the disabled is offered by travel agencies together with a guide. Individual routes are selected for people with disabilities.
What are the rental services where you can compare rental prices in Prague?
Rental is an aggregator of major international agencies. Here you can find a free car almost anywhere in the world. The system will pick everything up by itself, you do not need to study different sites.
Myrentcar is an aggregator of national Czech agencies, where only proven services are presented.
Conclusion
The car rental service in the Czech Republic is quite popular, so there are many international companies and national agencies operating on the market. By contacting the rental office, the client will receive advice and a used car for rent at the established rates. Those wishing to rent a car in Prague can also go to the rental services aggregator site, where all offers for car rental from various companies are collected.
