Renting a van for a week or longer: what to keep in mind

Renting a van for a week: what to think through in advance

Renting a van for a week or longer works differently from a rental of a few hours. With a short rental, the main thing is that the load fits. With a long one, you start dealing with where the van parks, when you refuel and whether the size suits you in everyday use too.

When a long rental makes sense

Typically for renovations, longer jobs and moves done in stages. When you know you'll be carrying something every day, it's simpler to have the van with you all the time than to keep sorting out pick-up and return. Above all, you save time.

Work out how many days you'll really use the van

A weekly rental only pays off when the van is on the road. If you know you'll use it three times, compare that with the price of three shorter rentals. You'll find the rates for each vehicle right next to it, as they vary by size.

Choose your insurance according to the nature of the work

The amount of the excess depends on the cover package you choose when booking. On a longer rental the van covers more kilometres and is parked in more places, so the risk of minor damage grows. Choosing this when booking takes a moment; sorting it out retrospectively isn't possible.

Choose the size based on your busiest day

What matters is the largest load you'll have during the week. There's no point choosing based on the average — at some point a lack of space will cost you an extra trip. You'll find the cargo area dimensions for every van in our fleet.

You don't need to worry about kilometres

Mileage within the Czech Republic is unlimited. On a long rental this is a crucial difference — you don't have to count how far you've driven, because excess kilometres aren't charged. The motorway vignette is included in the price. However, you may only drive in the Czech Republic; trips abroad are not permitted.

Book earlier than for a one-day rental

A longer slot is harder to find. A free van for one morning can almost always be found, but a free week in one go gets booked up quickly. Especially at the busiest moving times, i.e. at the turn of the month and over the summer.

Sort out in advance who will drive

On a longer rental, several people usually take turns at the wheel. Only a person named in the contract may drive, though, so register the second driver in advance and have their documents ready. The vehicles have a manual gearbox, which is worth checking with everyone who gets behind the wheel.

A buffer at the end pays off

Better to add an extra day. An extension may no longer be possible if another booking follows on the van. It's more sensible to allow for a buffer when you book than to hope it can be fine-tuned later.

Running the van during a longer rental

Sort out parking before you pick up the van

A van won't fit everywhere you're used to parking a car. Underground car parks have a limited height and there are few spaces in central Prague. Parking in blue zones is not part of the service, so find a place where the van can safely stay overnight.

You can leave your own car at the location

For the duration of the rental, you can park your own car at the location free of charge. On a weekly rental this is practical — you don't have to worry about where to put your car while you're driving the van.

Fill up with diesel, not petrol

All vehicles run on diesel. It sounds obvious, but on a longer rental you refuel repeatedly and at unfamiliar petrol stations, where a mistake is easily made. The wrong fuel means a vehicle off the road and an expensive repair.

Don't leave tools in the van overnight

The cargo area is not a safe. On a longer rental it's tempting to leave things in the van and set off straight away in the morning, but a van parked on the street is an obvious target for thieves. Take more valuable tools and documents with you.

Check the van regularly

Every few days, walk around the vehicle and take a look at the tyres. Pressure, sidewall damage, a foreign object in the tread. With a loaded van, the condition of the tyres affects how the vehicle handles more than with an empty car.

Keep an eye on weight, not just volume

When carrying loads every day, it's easy to lose track of the weight. The payload varies by model and is usually between 1 100 and 1 450 kg. With building materials or paving, you'll reach the limit before you fill the cargo area. An overloaded vehicle brakes worse, and it's a breach of the road traffic rules.

Tidy up as you go

Over a week, the cargo area fills up with leftovers. Cardboard, wood shavings, bits of mortar. Sweeping out the van every two days takes a few minutes; cleaning it all at once at the end takes considerably longer and makes the return drag on.

Plan the return with time to spare

The vehicle is returned with a full tank and at the same location where you picked it up. Find a petrol station near the location in advance. Returns work around the clock via the web app — you take photos of the van and leave the keys in the passenger-side compartment. You'll find more tips on our blog and in the FAQ.