Parking and storage when you rent in Prague: garages, cellars and zones

Many Prague tenants arrive without a car and decide within a year whether that was brave or sensible. The ones who keep a car learn that finding the flat was the easy part. Finding where the car sleeps is the second flat hunt, and it deserves its own checklist.

Do you need a car at all?

In the inner districts, usually not. Metro, trams and buses cover the city, and taxis fill the gaps; see our guides to public transport tickets and taxis and ride-hailing. Families in outer districts and the commuter belt keep cars more often; best areas for families has the districts.

If you do keep a car, ask the landlord about parking before you ask about the kitchen.

The options

A space in the building's garage. Many new-builds have underground parking, rented separately or sold with the flat. It is the safest, most convenient and usually the dearest. See new-build flats for rent.

A private garage or space nearby. Individual owners let garages and outdoor spaces under private contracts. Ask for written terms.

Street parking in a resident zone. The city divides parts of central Prague into paid zones, with some reserved for permit holders. Eligibility depends on your registered address and the vehicle, and the conditions and prices are set by the city and its parking operator (check praha.eu for the current rules).

Park and ride. Large car parks beside outer metro stations link to a public transport ticket, a sensible option for commuters living outside the city.

The contract for a space

A space or garage is often rented under its own contract, separate from the flat, so do not assume the flat's notice rules apply to it. Read the notice clause, the length of the term, how price changes work, who may use the space and what happens if you sell the car.

Ask who may enter, and whether you can charge an electric vehicle there and who pays for the electricity. The owner or the owners' association (SVJ) may need to approve a charger, and installing one without written permission is asking for trouble.

Cellars and storage

A cellar (sklep) or storage cage is a bonus in a city of small flats. Many leases include one and some charge extra. Record it on the handover protocol with photos, and note damp, pests or access problems. Do not store valuables there unless your household insurance covers them; read the policy.

Bikes, prams and skis are the usual contents. If the building has a shared bike room, ask who holds the key. More on bikes in our cycling in Prague guide. Commercial storage units exist for bigger items, so compare the monthly cost with the rent difference of a larger flat.

Questions to put to the owner

• Price. What is the total monthly cost, and how does it appear in the breakdown? Who pays what shows how to read it.
• Dimensions. A garage built decades ago may not fit a modern SUV. Measure it.
• Access. Gate, remote or key, and who replaces a lost one?
• Insurance. Car and household policies each have their own limits.

Also check the driving basics if you leave the city. Winter tyres are required from 1 November to 31 March when winter conditions apply or a sign requires them, zero alcohol applies to drivers, and the motorway vignette is electronic from edalnice.cz. The Ministry of Transport has current requirements, including for non-EU licences.

When you leave

Hand back the space and the cellar with the flat, noted in the protocol. If the space has a separate contract, give notice on its terms, not the flat's. Our exit guide covers the flat; read the garage contract on its own.

Visitors, deliveries and the car you give up

Ask how visitors work. Some blocks have visitor spaces, some zones sell visitor passes, and some streets simply have none. Movers and deliveries need a place to stop near the entrance. A second permit or a second garage space can cost as much as a small room, which is a lot to pay for a second vehicle that moves twice a week.

Think about the exit as well. If you give up the car, you want to end the garage contract on its notice rather than pay for months of empty space. Putting that question to the owner at the start is easier than after the car has gone.

Frequently asked questions

Is parking included in the rent?

Not usually. Ask, and look for a separate line in the contract.

Can a tenant get a resident parking permit?

Often yes, if you are registered at an address in the zone and meet the vehicle conditions. Check with the city.

Does Prague have a low-emission zone?

No, not as of October 2026. Check again before buying a car.

Can I put an electric charger in a shared garage?

Only with the owner's or the owners' association's agreement. Ask in writing.

Measure the space with the car in it, then check the door opens. It is the dullest viewing you will do and the one you will remember.

This is a general explainer, not legal or tax advice.