Compare Prague car hire

Nothing beats the freedom of your own set of wheels – and if you plan on exploring beyond the city limits then it’s well worth looking into Prague car hire.

Language: Czech | Currency: Euros (€) | Avg. Flight time: 2.30 hrs

The major international companies, including Hertz, Avis, Budget, Europcar and Sixt, all have booths at the airport. This abundance of competition makes it’s easy to pick up a great deal on Prague car rental at Prague Airport, especially if you book in advance.

Not arriving by air? You’ll find more Prague car hire options in the city centre, particularly around the main railway station.

Taking advantage of car rental from Prague Airport means there’s no need to worry about transfers. It also opens up a realm of travel possibilities that most visitors miss. Take a walk through the most chilling era of the Czech Republic’s recent history at Terezin concentration camp, mosey over to the spa town of Karlovy Vary to bathe in the healing mineral waters, visit the supremely spooky Sedlec Ossuary where the chapel is decorated with human bones, or marvel at the fairytale Karlštejn castle.

Just half an hour from Prague city centre, you will also find the unspoilt town of Mělnik, home to an impressive chateau winery and another spine tingling ‘bone church’. An hour away from Prague, there’s the 12th-century Křivoklát Castle with its Gothic interior and spectacular countryside views, while a further couple of hours behind the wheel will get you to UNESCO World Heritage Site, Český Krumlov, and the beautiful German city of Dresden.

Driving around Prague itself is perfectly possible, although the roads can get congested during rush hour and holidays. A good alternative is to use the Prague ‘park and ride’ system. Most of these car parks are cheap and secure with easy access to the city centre via bus or metro.

If you prefer to drive in and feel happy about handling the tram-packed roads, there are also central car parks (both open-air and multi-storey) located near the main Prague train station and close to the State Opera. Ask your car rental company to supply you with a road map of the city when you land.

1. Keep a beady eye open for trams. These are the main hazards for any newbie trying to navigate Prague’s roads, and they can appear from nowhere at surprising speed. Take extra care when turning left and beware of passengers alighting from stationary trams.
   
   
2. The Czech Republic has a zero tolerance policy for drinking and driving. That means no sneaking in even half a pint of craft beer before chauffeuring the family home. The authorities come down hard on drivers who cross the line – the consequences of a failed breathalyser test can be up to three years imprisonment and a fine of between 25,000 and 50,000 CZK.
   
   
3. Beware speed traps, especially on ring roads. If you are caught, the fine will be passed to your car hire company, which may be able to charge your credit card directly.

Fair fuel policy

A fair fuel policy (also known as full-to-full or same-to-same) means you’ll only pay for the fuel you use. All car rental deals compared on TravelSupermarket come with a fair fuel policy, so you can book your hire car safe in the knowledge there will be no nasty surprises at drop-off. More information on TravelSupermarket’s commitment to fair fuel policies can be found here.

No hidden fees

All rental deals compared on TravelSupermarket include mandatory fees (for example, one-way and young driver surcharges) in your rental quote at the time of booking, meaning you’ll know the full price of your car hire upfront.