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Ivo Salay • October 2, 2026
Rent a Car or Hire a Driver in Moravia? What Wine Lovers Should Know
The short answer: if you plan to taste wine, do not rent a car for that day. The Czech Republic has a zero-tolerance policy on alcohol for drivers, and the rules apply to tourists as they do to locals. A private tour with a driver lets you taste freely, and if you rent a car for the rest of your trip, a few local rules are worth knowing.
Zero tolerance: what it means for wine tasting
The legal limit for drivers in Czechia is effectively zero, with a tolerance level of up to 0.24 g/l according to the European Transport Safety Council. In practice, one glass of wine at lunch can leave alcohol in your system for hours. Penalties can include heavy fines and the loss of your driving license, and police can check drivers at random. On a wine day, the safest solution is to let someone else drive.
If you do rent a car
- Motorway vignette: passenger cars need a valid electronic vignette (dálniční e-známka) to use motorways. It is linked to the car's license plate and no windshield sticker is used any more. You can buy it online from the official state e-shop, eDalnice.gov.cz. Ask your rental company whether it is already included.
- Headlights: in Czechia vehicles must use dipped headlights or daytime running lights during the day all year round, not just in winter.
- Cross-border trips: if you plan to drive on to Vienna or Kraków, ask the rental company for its cross-border rules before you book.
Rent a car, hire a driver or take the train?
- Wine tasting: a rental car is not compatible with zero tolerance. On a private tour with a driver, tastings are part of our wine tour. By train or bus it is possible, but limited in the countryside.
- Flexibility: high with a rental car and high with a private tour, where itineraries are tailored. Trains and buses run on fixed timetables.
- Local knowledge: a rental car gives you navigation only. A private tour comes with a local guide and local stories.
- Rules and logistics: with a rental car you handle the vignette, parking and insurance. On a private tour they are handled for you. By train or bus you manage tickets and connections.
- Luggage and children: your responsibility in a rental car. Booster seats are available on request on a private tour. On public transport you carry everything.
How our private tours work
Our private Wine Culture and UNESCO Gems tour covers the UNESCO Lednice-Valtice area and Mikulov, including tastings of Moravian wines in traditional cellars, with a flexible itinerary tailored to your interests and fitness level. We provide bottled water, umbrellas, a car fridge and Nordic walking poles on request, and a booster seat for children aged roughly 5 to 12 on request. Entrance fees to indoor attractions are not included, and the vehicle is not wheelchair or stroller accessible.
Going to the airport or a new city? Our private transfers are door to door, for example on the Brno to Vienna route. Read our guide comparing train and private transfer between Brno and Vienna for more.
Plan a wine day without driving
New to Czech wine? Start with the Moravian wine guide.
Choosing between the two castles? See Lednice or Valtice.
Looking for wineries? Read about the best wine tastings near Brno and Mikulov, Moravia's wine capital.
Frequently asked questions
What is the drink-driving limit in the Czech Republic?
It is zero in effect, with a tolerance of up to 0.24 g/l according to the European Transport Safety Council. The rules apply to tourists as well.
Do I need a vignette to drive on Czech motorways?
Yes. Passenger cars need a valid electronic vignette linked to the license plate. It can be bought online, and there is no windshield sticker.
Can I taste wine on your private tour?
Yes. The Wine Culture and UNESCO Gems tour includes tastings of Moravian wines in traditional cellars, and you do not drive.
Do you provide child seats?
A booster seat suitable for children aged roughly 5 to 12 is available on request on the wine tour. Infant seats are also available; tell us when you book.
Is the tour wheelchair accessible?
No. The vehicles and the tour are not wheelchair or stroller accessible.
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