Question about driving in Czech Republic
 

Hi,
We are renting a car while in the Czech Republic. I read somewhere that we should purchase a road stamp to put on our windshiled while driving in CR or else we could get fined. My guidebook didn't mention this. The car will be delivered to us at our pension but no one said anything to me when I reserved the car, either. Is this true? If so, where do we purchase the road stamp?
Thanks,
Karen

This "stamp" (the Europeans call it a vignette) is a toll charge for the use of the autobahns in the Czech Republic, and only in the Republic. If you don't plan to use autobahns, you don't need it. You also have to have a vignette if you drive on the Austrian or Swiss autobahns. Germany is still free, Italy and France collect a toll at toll booths as you leave a given autoahn. There the charges vary by autobahn.

Most likely, the car you pick up in the Czech Republic will have the vignette already, if for no other reason than that a previous rebnter has bought it. If not, I'm sure the rental agency will sell you a vignette. But first, ask that they give you a car with a valid vignette already on the windshield. Of course, they might charge you again again and pocket the money. It's been known.

I don't know how much the vignette costs now. It used to be the equivalent of $30 for a year. The Czech and Swiss vignettes are good for a year; you can buy the Austrian ones for various time periods, starting with 10 days, I believe.

Thank you, Treplow, for your detailed information. I'm not sure if we will be traveling on the autobhans or not. Are they major highways? We are driving from Prague to Cesky Krumlov, to Telc, back to Prague & then to Karlovy Vary. We are not leaving the Czech Republic.

$30 isn't bad; we can handle that if we have to buy a new one.
Thanks again.

Remember to drive with the lights on. A very nice patrolman pulled us over. scared the bejeebers out of us, and told us everything was ok, just turn on the lights.

All rental cars should have them already, you will need one as you will probably go down the D1 motorway.

Thank you, crckwc1 and ChrisinPrague, for your helpful information.
We'll remember to drive with our lights on!!!

I seem to recall from our trips in 2003 and 2005 that you could get a 10 day (or so) vignette for about $10. Get it, and avoid the guesswork. Besides, think of it as a cheap contribution to a nice country

As Chrisin said, the hired car will already have a motorway sticker

When I recently drove from Dresden (Germany) to Prague I should have had a stamp when I crossed the border; huge signs info4md me I MUST have a stamp! The problem was: There was NOTHING where I could have bought it.
So I gambled and just drove. No checkpoint, no fine. Guess a matter of luck.
So IF you intend to use the autobahn make sure you have it - either the hotel or rental company should help here.

Don't drive and drink ;-)

SV

You should have bought it at the first petrol station. The fines are quite hefty.

We stopped at first gas station after border, about 500 feet. Asked for sticker, but attendant didn't understand English, and I no Czech. So I drew a picture of a car with a big windshield, and drew a rectangle in one corner. Immediately, a vignette appeared.

I have lived in the Czech Republic for two and half years and generally I find Czech drivers pretty reasonable - until they get onto the D1, the main highway between Brno and Prague. Then it turns into Wacky Races - for those old enough to remember them... Personally I don't like travelling on it at all. There are much nicer alternatives.
http://www.jeremytaylor.eu/cesky_krumlov_photos.htm

The car we rented from Stix Rental Car and it came with the sticker. The rental agency said they all come with the sticker.

Hi,
I am the original poster of this question. Our rental car came with the sticker on the windshield so we didn't have to worry about this at all.

We just returned home today. Will start writing a trip report this evening while everything is fresh in my mind.