Croatia: Guide to Renting a Car, Driving & Getting Around (Safely)

Croatia is one of the most breathtaking destinations in Europe, with its stunning coastline, historic cities, and scenic countryside. Whether you're planning a road trip along the Dalmatian Coast, exploring the Plitvice Lakes National Park, or driving through the charming streets of Dubrovnik, renting a car is the best way to experience the country’s diverse landscapes at your own pace.

I've traveled extensively across Croatia, and I can tell you that while public transportation is available, it doesn’t always reach the hidden gems tucked away in Istria or the Dalmatian hinterland. Renting a car gives you the freedom to visit off-the-beaten-path destinations like Krka National Park and the breathtaking islands of Croatia. But before you hit the road, you’ll need to understand the country’s driving laws, car rental policies, and local road conditions.

In this guide, I’ll cover everything from how to rent a car in Croatia, the best rental companies, insurance requirements, and the essential driving rules to keep you safe and compliant. I’ll also share insider tips on toll roads, parking regulations, and the best routes to avoid traffic. Whether you're navigating the historic roads of Split or taking a scenic drive along the Adriatic Highway, this guide ensures you’re well-prepared for a smooth and enjoyable journey. Let's hit the road.

Why rent a car in Croatia?

Are you seriously wondering why renting a car in Croatia is the best option for getting around the country? Here are our top reasons:

› Freedom . You don't depend on public transport to get around, or on timetables, or on long waits or walks to get to your destination.

› Public transport prices . Croatia is not a cheap country and transport is no exception.

› Photos . When you are ready to choose the best photos of your trip to Croatia, you will realize that some of them would not have been possible if you did not travel by car. The roads (especially the local ones) pass through very pretty villages and spectacular landscapes, where you can stop and take beautiful photos.

› Go where others can't . There are some places in Croatia that you can't get to by public transport, or where the best option to get around is with your own means of transport. For example, on the Premantura Peninsula, south of Pula , with some very nice beaches that are difficult to access without a car.

rent a car in Croatia

Driving in Croatia

Overall we had no problems driving in Croatia, but it is worth knowing some information before your trip.

› Roads

In Croatia we can distinguish two types of roads: motorways and local roads . Our recommendation is to always travel on local roads, as they pass through beautiful landscapes and villages and also save you money on tolls, which are not exactly cheap. The trip will take quite a bit longer, but if you are not in a hurry it is the best option.

Motorways are shown in green on signs and local roads in both blue and yellow .

> Gasoline

The price of super 95 petrol is around €1.60 and diesel is a bit cheaper, around €1.55. But keep in mind that with the price instability and energy crises, it is difficult to determine. The best thing to do is to check this website for the current petrol prices in Croatia.

› Public Transport

Here are the indicative prices for some popular routes:

Zagreb-Split: €20 – €30.
Zagreb-Pula: €20 – €25.
Zagreb-Dubrovnik: €25 – €35.
Split-Dubrovnik: €15 – €20.

› Maps and mobile applications

It's not a bad idea to get a road map of Croatia. Although we always prefer to use our mobile phone. What we used to do before going out with an internet connection was to use Google Maps , we would set the route and we would "virtually travel" it with a good level of detail (i.e. with a lot of zoom). This way the maps would stay loaded and if you don't close the application during the whole trip you can use these maps offline (you can use your mobile phone and other apps but never close Google Maps completely, i.e. don't hit the back button with it open). Be careful, we later found out about the option of downloading the maps on Google Maps and now it's much easier that way! Then you just have to activate the GPS and that's it!

In the cities, the app we use is CityMaps2Go . Although you can't plan a route, it has a lot of details about the cities and works perfectly with the GPS on. Another super useful app is MAPS.ME , which can be used as a GPS, although it uses a lot of battery (don't forget to buy an adapter to charge your phone in the car's cigarette lighter!).

› Green Card (ya no!)

It's a card that allows you to travel through other countries, such as Bosnia. Your car must have one if you plan to cross Croatia from north to south (or vice versa), as there's a section of Bosnian territory that, unless you choose to take a ferry and use an island, you'll have to cross.

At the rental agency, they told us it wasn't included and it was necessary, so we paid the €25 they asked for. However, we think it should be an additional piece of paper for the car, and they're going too far by charging extra. You should try saying you're not crossing through Bosnia but through the islands (in Croatian territory) and by ferry, and see if they'll include the card in the car's paperwork. Also, at the border, they only asked for our passports.

› › Crossing the Bosnian border into Croatia

As you already know, Bosnia has an outlet to the sea through Croatia, dividing the country in two. If you want to reach Dubrovnik from the north and vice versa, you'll have to cross the Bosnian border (unless you choose to use the ferry, of course)*.

* At the end of 2021, a bridge was built that allows you to reach Dubrovnik WITHOUT having to cross into Bosnia!

The process is quick and easy. You arrive at some checkpoints, as if you were at a toll booth. The lanes for trucks are on the right, for all citizens on the left, and for EU citizens in the middle. You arrive, hand in your passport, they check it (they don't stamp it), and that's it. They didn't check our green card (which we mentioned above), our car, or anything else. There was almost no traffic (three cars waiting), so it took us a couple of minutes in total.

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› Route

Depending on how many days you have, you can choose one route or another. For a 10-12 day tour of Croatia, this could be a standard route:

Zagreb: 2 days. Pick up the car on the third day.
Istria: 3 days. You can base yourself in Pula or Rovinj and explore the entire Istrian peninsula.
Zadar: 1-2 days. We skipped this and went directly to Split, although the trip was very long. You can spend the night in Zadar or Rovinj on the way to Split if you don't want a long drive.
Split: 3 days. Explore the old town (Diocletian's Palace) and take a boat out to visit some of the Adriatic islands such as Brac, Solta, Hvar, or the more distant Korcula.
It is also worth visiting nearby Trogir, a little gem, and Salona, a Roman site with wonderful remains.
Dubrovnik: 2 days. Drop off the car on the same day you arrive (7-9 days rental in total) and enjoy your last days of travel in the Pearl of the Adriatic.

This is a typical route, although you will notice that you will pass many of Croatia's treasures along the way. Here we tell you more about the 2 and 3 week Croatia travel itinerary.

Renting a car in Croatia

There are many websites where you can rent a car in Croatia. After a lot of searching, we decided to rent a car with the Auto Europe website . You can also take a look at the Discovercars website , which works with many Croatian and international operators as well and with competitive prices. Both are 100% reliable and offer good optional insurance.

Which is the best car rental company in Croatia? We can't really recommend any one in particular, and you'll have to do some research, reading reviews from other customers, comparing the conditions of each one and finally deciding on the one that suits you best. Sometimes they can be large international companies, but they can also be local companies with better customer service and ratings.

Searching for information we saw that many people were forced to pay a higher insurance when picking up the car. We sent them an email asking if there were any extras at the agreed price and they said no. However, they offered us the insurance that covers all damages for 12€ more per day and we accepted it (we are getting old!).

If you book with Auto Europe, they offer various extended insurance policies that include the refund of the excess in the event of an accident and other top-notch ones that eliminate the excess. How does it work? You will have to pay the cost of the rental company first. They will give you a report of the accident and what you have been charged, so that you can request the refund with Auto Europe's insurance. At the same price, it is always advisable to take out the insurance from the rental company itself, and you will avoid any problems.

NOTE: Check whether or not they charge a fee for returning the car to a different office from where you pick it up. This fee at other agencies cost between €100 and €300.

Tips for renting a car in Croatia

How much does it cost to rent a car in Croatia?

These are the approximate prices for car rental in Croatia for 10 days (pick-up in Zagreb and drop-off in Dubrovnik), in mid-season:

Rental: €15 per day (total €150).
One way rate: 100-300€
Insurance: €12 per day (total €120) / Super Cover: €6 per day (total €60)
~~Green Card: 25€~~
TOTAL: €410 (€41 per day).

Please note that prices can be quite high (even double) if you book at short notice or if you travel in the middle of summer. But they can be very cheap if you don't have to return the car to another office, saving you a lot of money.

The car they gave us was a Volkswagen Up , the smallest and cheapest of all. We didn't need more, although when overtaking perhaps a little more power would have been nice.

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