Czech Rental-Car Rules
- The city of Prague is a major entry point for visitors into the Czech Republic.prague 28 image by Blu-Mu from Fotolia.com
The Czech Republic, located in central Europe, is bordered by the countries of Germany, Austria, Slovakia and Poland. Under Communist rule from 1948 to 1990, it was the first former Eastern Bloc country to reach the status of a technologically advanced economy. It is a tourist destination known for its historical attractions and some of the best Baroque, Art Nouveau and Cubist structures in Europe. For visitors wishing to rent cars in the country, be aware of several general requirements and restrictions. - The minimum age for car rentals varies by the type of car category, but generally the minimum is 21 years old. An individual car-rental agency can also authorize additional requirements such as a maximum age limit of 70 years old or an additional charge for drivers under 25 years old. In any case, all drivers must have a valid license for at least one year and children must be at least 12 years old to occupy the front seat.
- In general, most car categories are allowed to be driven in Western Europe without restrictions, but luxury car categories are restricted in certain countries due to insurance regulations. In all categories, cars rented in the Czech Republic are not allowed in 17 Eastern European countries that include Albania, Bosnia, Belarus, Bulgaria, Croatia, Estonia, Greece, Latvia, Lithuania, Macedonia, Montenegro, Poland, Russia, Slovenia, Turkey, Ukraine and Yugoslavia. Again, an individual car-rental agency can authorize travel into the restricted countries (depending on the car category) for an additional fee with advanced notice. One-way rentals within the Czech Republic are available between select locations for an additional fee. International one-way rentals also incur a fee, but specific car categories are not allowed.
- All rental-car categories are required to have fire and third-party liability insurance, which is included in the rate. As of October 2010, the third-party liability covers up to $1.8 million of property damage or personal injury outside of the rental car. Optional insurance coverage is available in three categories: Collision Damage Waiver (CDW), theft protection and Personal Accident Insurance (PAI). The daily rates for all three types of coverage are subject to change and may vary based on the specific car-rental agency. In general, the October 2010 rates for CDW are between $10 and $30 per day, while theft protection ranges between $2 and $10 per day. The combination of both CDW and theft protection can reduce the deductible to a minimum of $600 with a maximum of $1,515. Personal Accident Insurance is also available for daily fees between $4 and $10. Some rental agencies offer a total optional insurance package that can reduce the deductible to zero.
