Car hire in Slovakia with best rates guaranteed

Auto Europe offers incredibly low rates for car hire in Slovakia, without compromising on the level of customer service! With your own car rental you can delve into the wonders of this country, rich in natural treasures and history. Whether you are travelling for business, or vacationing with the whole family, you are sure to find a suitable vehicle from our selection, and for the right price!

Make the most of your car rental

Slovakia, or the Slovak Republic, is a landlocked country in Europe, bordering Czech Republic, Austria, Poland, Ukraine, and Hungary. Slovakia boasts a wide range of natural wonders, most notably the Tatra Mountains mountain range, the highest in the Carpathian Mountains. The Tatras provide wonderful hiking and winter sports opportunities that you can easily explore with a car hire in Slovakia from Auto Europe. Tourists also come to Slovakia to visit its famous caves, plentiful castles from the Middle Ages and later centuries, and to experience the country's cultural richness, seen for example in the eastern city of Kosice or the capital Bratislava.

Road Rules and Petrol Stations

• Traffic moves on the right in Slovakia.
• General speed limits are, unless otherwise stated, the following: on motorways you should not exceed 130 km/h (81 mph), outside areas that are built-up the limit is 90 km/h (56 mph), and 50 km/h (31 mph) inside towns and villages.
• A zero tolerance policy applies to driving under the influence of alcohol.
• Seat belts must be worn by everyone inside the car, and children, who are 11 years old or younger or less than 150 cm (4'11 ft) tall, must sit in the back seat, or be given the appropriate child seat if sitting in the passenger seat.
• Regardless of whether it is day or night, you must keep the headlights on.
• Road conditions in Slovakia are generally good, but vary depending on the region. The main motorways, particularly in western Slovakia, have two lanes and are in a better condition. Smaller roads usually only have one lane, and may at times be lacking in their state of repair.
• The use of winter tyres is mandatory in Slovakia when ice or snow is covering the road, and are recommended throughout winter. During the winter season some of our rates include winter tyres - you will see this stated when making a search on our booking engine. Otherwise, an additional cost may apply for winter tyres, which need to be requested separately in your booking. If you have any questions about winter tyres, please do not hesitate to call us.

Our Slovakia driving information page also contains valuable tips.

Tolls

A toll is payable for driving on most of Slovakia's motorways, namely those that are green-signed, totalling over 400 miles of toll roads in the country. The toll takes the form of a sticker, or vignette, attached to the windscreen of the car. In most cases, your car hire should include the vignette, but it is recommended that you confirm this with the car rental supplier.

Age Requirements

A driver's licence can be issued to those who are at least 18 years old. However, car rental suppliers will require that you have held your licence for at least a year before hiring a car, and will thus ask that you are at least 19, or older. Under 25-year-old drivers will also be liable to pay a young driver fee.

Currency

Slovakia became the 16th member of the eurozone, having adopted the euro as its currency on 1 January 2009. ATMs can be found across the country, except in smaller villages and towns. You can use your debit or credit card for payment in larger cities, such as Bratislava, with Visa and Mastercard being the most commonly accepted. It is a good idea to inform your card provider ahead of time of your trip and your intention to use your card abroad.

Time difference

Slovakia is in the Central European time zone, making it UTC+1. From the end of March until the end of October, Daylight Savings Time is in effect.

Dictionary

Slovak is the official language in Slovakia. Minority languages are, however, considered co-official in municipalities where the minority population makes up 20% of the population. In southern Slovakia, Hungarian is spoken widely, and in parts of the north-east of the country, Rusyn is spoken. Below you will find some phrases in Slovak that may prove useful during your vacation.

Hello - Ahoj
Good morning - Dobré ráno
Thank you - D'akujem
Goodbye - Dovidenia
How much does this cost? - Kolko to stojí?
Where is the closest police station? - Kde je najblizsia policajná stanica?
Where is the closest ATM? - Kde je najblizsí bankomat?
One-way street - Jednosmerná ulica
Motorway - Dial'nica
No parking - Zákaz parkovania/Neparkovat

Electricity

Sockets are built for Type C and E two-pin plugs, and you will thus need an adaptor for your UK appliances with three-pin plugs. Electricity is provided at 230 volts and 50 hertz.

Visa & Embassy Information

UK citizens only need a valid passport for the duration of their travel to enter Slovakia - no visa is required. If, for any reason, you need the assistance of the British Embassy, it is located in the capital Bratislava, with contact details listed below.

British Embassy Bratislava
Panská 16
811 01 Bratislava
Telephone: +421 2 5998 20 00
Email: bratislava.consularenquiries@fco.gov.uk

Useful links

Slovakia Airport Information

Slovakia Travel Information

Slovakia Driving Information