Where to pick up a van in Prague and how to choose a location

Where to pick up a van in Prague and what to base your choice on

Where you pick up a van in Prague isn't a detail, but a decision that can save you or cost you tens of minutes. You'll find the current choice of locations and the vehicles parked at them in our fleet — availability varies by date.

The key rule: you return it where you set off from

The vehicle is returned to the same location where you picked it up. So don't choose a location only by where you start, but also by where you'll finish. If you're moving across the whole of Prague, allow for the journey back.

Decide by route, not by distance from home

The nearest location isn't necessarily the quickest. Five kilometres against the morning rush hour takes longer than ten kilometres on the ring road. Look at the route you'll take with the load and choose a location that logically fits into it.

Consider the van's height along the route

A van won't fit where a car will. Underground car parks, barriers and passages into inner courtyards have limited height. If you're picking up or unloading at a place like that, check the limits before you choose a location.

The van and the location go together

Don't choose the place first and then the van. Specific models are parked at specific locations and availability changes by date. The more sensible approach is to find a van that's big enough for your load and only then decide where you'll set off from.

Check how to get to the location

First you have to get to the location. If you're taking public transport, check the connections for the time you'll be travelling — early in the morning or on Sundays the lines run differently. If you're going by car, bear in mind that you'll leave it there.

Park your own car for free

For the duration of the rental, you can park your own car at the location free of charge. That removes the most annoying part of picking up — looking for a space for the car you arrived in.

Choose your pick-up time according to traffic

We operate around the clock, so you can pick up a van even at six in the morning or on a Sunday. Setting off with a van before the morning rush hour is noticeably calmer than at half past eight.

How van pick-up at the location works

Contactless via your phone

You don't wait for anyone and you don't collect keys at a counter. You handle the pick-up through the web app on your phone: you photograph the vehicle, unlock it with your phone and find the keys in the passenger-side compartment. You don't need to register or create a user account.

Take photos thoroughly, not in a hurry

The photo documentation protects both you and us. Walk all the way around the van and photograph all four sides, the wheels, the front grille and the cargo area. If you find damage that doesn't show well in the photos, take a separate close-up of it.

Before you set off, adjust the seat and mirrors

Spend a minute on this while still at the location. A van has a different view and different blind spots from a car, and reversing tends to be tricky without a rear-view mirror. Adjusting the mirrors while driving is an unnecessary risk.

Check the tank and the fuel

You pick up the vehicle with a full tank and return it full. Look at the gauge as soon as you start the engine. All vehicles run on diesel and have a manual gearbox — good to know before you press the clutch.

Plan refuelling before the return

Look for a petrol station well before the end of the rental, not ten minutes before it. Find a station near the location and factor in the time for it. Keep the receipt until the rental is closed.

Check the cargo area too

Open the rear doors before you start loading. Check whether the floor is clean and whether you have somewhere to tie down the load. Finding out with a sofa in your hands is needlessly unpleasant and will rob you of time you'd planned for driving.

Parking in Prague has its restrictions

Parking in blue zones is not part of the service. If you're heading into the centre, find out in advance where you're allowed to stop and for how long. For a move, it pays to arrange a parking reservation or at least arrive at a time when there's space outside the building.

When you're not sure

Most questions about locations and pick-up are answered in the FAQ. You'll find the experiences of people who have already picked up a van in our reviews.