Motorways (limited in number) are marked ‘D' and international routes by ‘E'. Minor roads are designated by a number, with two or more digits. An annual toll must be paid to use Czech roads - toll stickers must be displayed and can be bought at border crossings, post offices and petrol stations. The legal driving age is 18 years. Traffic drives on the right. Speed limits are 50kph (31mph) in built-up areas, 90kph (56mph) on main roads and 130kph (81mph) on motorways. Seat belts are compulsory for drivers and passengers, front and rear (if fitted). On-the-spot fines are high for all motoring offences. There is zero tolerance for drink and drugs (drivers are expected to have a 0% alcohol to blood ratio). 

EU licence holders must have an International Driving Permit (IDP) if their normal licence does not have a photograph. An IDP is required for drivers from all other countries. A car registration document and country sticker are also necessary, as well as a first aid kit and a warning triangle. Note that headlights must be used at all times. Third party liability insurance is compulsory. For drivers based in the Czech Republic for longer than six months, the car must be registered with the Czech authorities - duty and taxes will cost about half the value of the car and minimum third-party coverage with a Czech insurer is also required.

Emergency breakdown services: ÚAMK (tel: 1230) or ABA (tel: 1240).

Routes to the city: The main routes to Prague are the D1/D2 to Brno. From Belgium, the best route is the E40 to Cologne, then the E31 to Heidelberg and the E50, crossing the German/Czech border at Waidhaus/Rozvadov. From Vienna, the E59 leads to the D1 motorway, the E55 from Dresden and Berlin, the E67 from Wroclaw and Warsaw and the E50 from Paris.

Approximate driving times to Prague: From Vienna is 4 hours 15 minutes; from Warsaw is 10 hours 15 minutes; from Bruges is 12 hours 30 minutes.

Coach services: International buses depart either from the Florenc coach station, Křižíkova 8, Prague 8 (conveniently located on both metro lines B and C at Florenc Station), or from the coach park at Želivského Station (on metro A), located on the corner of Vinohradská and Jana-Želivského, Prague 3. The main international operator is Eurolines (tel: 2242 18680; website: www.eurolines.cz). For many destinations within the Czech Republic, coaches are far quicker than trains, which tend to stop at every station. Regional services are provided by Dopravni Podnik (tel: 2516 82363; website: www.dpuk.cz).