Hi All, we're thinking about renting a car in Vienna, then driving it to Cesky Krumlov and dropping off in Prague. I know we need a vignette for Austria, which is undoubtedly no problem. But can a rental office in Vienna supply a Czech vignette when we pick the car up? I have read that I can buy one as we approach the border, but it would be nice to have one in hand if we wind up on some back road without gas stations. thanks
Posted by
Danville, VT
12040 posts
dropping off in Prague
Make sure you understand the foreign drop-off costs, which can be substantial. Also, most rental companies will charge extra for the insurance to cover taking the car into the Czech Republic, which still has a bad (if somewhat undeserved) reputation for auto theft.
To answer your question, rental agencies can provide the vignette on request, although they usually charge quite a bit more than a border station... speaking of which...
"it would be nice to have one in hand if we wind up on some back road without gas stations." Unless you cross the border off-road on some kind of agricultural access path, this is extremely unlikely. Due to differences between petrol prices between various countries, there is ALWAYS a fueling station on the cheaper side of an international border in Europe.
Posted by
OP
Northeast Ohio, USA
707 posts
Tom, that's all good to know, thanks.
Posted by
Seattle
4637 posts
You will only need Czech vignette if you want to use freeway. Less than half of the distance between Cesky Krumlov and Prague is on freeway. But having a car you want to see countryside otherwise you can go by train or bus. You don't have to go on freeway at all. On county roads it's a slow and scenic ride.
Posted by
OP
Northeast Ohio, USA
707 posts
Ilja, thank you. You are so right; the whole point of this rental would be to explore off the highways, both in Austria and the Czech Republic.