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Car Hire Czech Republic

From the collapse of communism in 1989, Czech Republic and especially its capital has developed into one of Europe’s most popular tourist destinations, and one of the best ways to get around is by booking rent a car Czech Republic for your trip. There is so much to experience in Czechia that you will want an uncomplicated way to get around. The roads are well made and maintained, so you can use your Czech Republic car hire to see everything from beautiful countryside to its many hundreds of castles and chateaux. Many visitors may associate the country with its famous beers, Pilsner, Urquell, Staropramen and Budvar but there is so much more for the traveller to experience, Whatever your reason to visit Czechia is, Czech Republic rent a car is a handy way to get around this beautiful country.

There are places of interest for the traveller in Czech Republic. Car hire Czech Republic lets you take in the history and its up and coming urban scene and its many aspects that the Czech Republic has to offer. From the capital of Prague to the spa towns in the Sudeten Mountains. Czechia is an exciting country for the traveller to explore. Rental car Czech Republic is popular, and you will need to book well in advance to get the dates and the type of car you desire.

A desire to explore the country you are visiting is really important so rent a car Czech Republic lets you take it easy along the roads of the country and also get from place to place in comfort and style. There are many options for car hire Czech Republic that you will want to decide early and get the most from your trip. It is easy to make a booking and the cars are modern and well-maintained, so don’t worry about your Czech Republic rental car experience – it will be just like driving your own car!

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The Country

The Czech Republic has seen its fair share of warring tribes in its long history, this past has left its towns with castles, chateaux and Gothic ruins.  The Czech Republic contains a vast amount of these beautiful architectural treasures, as well as beautiful forests and mountains for the traveller to explore and experience. – such as

  • Charles Bridge
  • Prague Castle
  • St Vitus Cathedral

There are other cities and sights, as we will see later in this guide.

The country is home to approximately 10 million people, the official language spoken is Czech, but with it being a diverse country, other languages such as German, Polish and Croatian are spoken.  The Czech Republic is bordered by Germany to the west, Austria to the south, Slovakia to the east and Poland to the northeast. Czech Republic is a landlocked country and spans an area of 78,866 square kilometres (30,450 square miles.)

The summer in Czechia are June, July and August, while the winter months are December, January and February. The weather in the country is temperate, with four distinct seasons.

The country has two main sporting obsessions, football and ice hockey. Tennis is also popular in the Czech Republic too, it’s superstars being Ivan Lendl and Martina Navratilova.

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Driving Tips

As with any new experience, you will need to know what you are letting yourself in for. Check all the rules of the road before you leave for the Czech Republic to ensure you stay safe. Here are some of the more important ones –

  • It pays to be vigilant as some locals do not indicate whilst driving on the roads and motorways.
  • The driver is responsible to make sure all occupants of the car wear seat belts at all times
  • You cannot drive while under the influence of alcohol. There is zero tolerance policy on drink driving in the Czech Republic. No amount of alcohol found to be in the blood is legal. Heavy fines will be imposed and loss of license for up to two years.
  • You must carry an international drivers licence with you at all times while on the road in Bosnia.
  • A vignette (motorway tax sticker) must be displayed on all vehicles. Failure to do so with incur a on the spot fine of 5,000 CZK.  The tax stickers can be bought from petrol stations border posts, from post offices and UAMK branch offices.
  • Children under 12 and shorter than 150cm must use a child restraint system suitable for their size and weight approved to UN ECE regulation (44.03 or 44.04). If a child is seated in the front in a rear-facing child restraint, the airbag must be deactivated.
  • They drive on the right-hand side of the road and overtake on left.
  • Vehicles coming from the right have priority at junctions.
  • Pedestrians generally have right of way and should be given priority in both directions.
  • The use of a mobile phone while driving is prohibited, with the exception of a hands-free system.
  • Cars must be parked on the right-hand side of the road, parallel with the kerb. In one-way streets, parking is also allowed on the left.
  • Beware of trams and tram lines when driving in towns and cities. Do not pass trams on the inside as passengers embark and exit the carriage from this side.
  • A warning triangle (must conform to EC Regulation 27), reflective vests, first aid kit, and fire extinguisher along with winter weather equipment must be carried in all vehicles and must be easily reached without exiting the vehicle. A set of replacement bulbs and fuses should also be kept in the car.
  • Try and keep some cash on you at all times as the police can impose on the spot fines, up to 5,000 CZK. The police can also confiscate your driving licence on the spot for serious offences.
  • It is compulsory to drive with dipped headlights during the day throughout the year. You may be fined up to 2,000 CZK if you are caught without them on. Do not use your car horn in built up areas unless it is absolutely essential. Use of your horn is prohibited between 20:00 and 06:00 and at all times when driving in Prague.
  • If you’re in an accident, you MUST notify the Police and the car rental supplier and get an accident report for insurance purposes. Failure to do so may result in you footing the whole bill.
  • If you breakdown you must put on your reflective jacket and place the reflective triangle 100m behind the vehicle to warn other drivers. You must notify the rental car company and suppliers for advice and assistance.
  • Winter tyres are compulsory in certain areas between November 1st and March 31st. A road sign depicting a car and snowflake indicates the start of compulsory winter tyre zones. Snow chains can be worn instead of snow tyres only if the ground is completely covered.
  • The major cities can be very busy at rush hour so leave plenty of time for your journey
  • The speed limit in built up areas is 50 kmph / 31 mph.
  • On an open road, the speed limit is 90 kmph / 55 mph.
  • The speed limit on the motorway is 1130 kmph / 80 mph.

Make sure you know what to do when driving in Czechia, be safe and stay on the right side of the law.

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Airports in Czech Republic

Czech Republic has transport links to the rest of the world through trade and other activities. Here are some of the busiest airports in the Czech Republic –

  • Prague Airport
  • Ostrava Airport
  • Brno Airport
  • Karlovy Vary Airport
  • Pardubice Airport

The best way to get the most from your car hire Czech Republic is to book from the airport so you know you have the transport you need. Do this in advance to get the best prices available.

When driving on the roads of the Czech Republic, you want to be safe. You should research the rules of the road, as said before, but also have the following numbers programmed in your phone on case of emergency. For the police it’s 112/158, ambulance is 112/155 and fire brigade is 112/150.

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