Car hire in Croatia

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Car hire in Croatia

Tips for a cheap rental car

If you want to fully experience and explore Croatia, a rental car is the perfect choice. With a car, getting to and from the different parts of the country is easy and convenient. You’ll also be able to find hidden little gems and quaint villages along the way that you might otherwise have missed.

It’s also relatively cheap to rent a car in Croatia, making car rental a very good choice if you want to get the most out of your holiday without spending too much. Whether you are interested in nature and beautiful scenery or beach, sun and swimming, car hire is an excellent option. On this page, we’ll provide you with useful tips and advice on car rental in Croatia.

Rules

In Croatia, certain rules and requirements apply for car hire. The rules will vary depending on the car rental firm you choose, but there are a few general things to keep in mind:

  • The absolute lowest age limit for car rental in Croatia is 18 years. However, the age limit will depend on the type of car you want to rent as well as the firm you choose.
  • Several car rental firms in Croatia require that the renter has held a driving licence for at least 2 years.
  • If you are under 25 years, there will usually be an extra charge.
  • Many car rental firms also have an upper age limit of 70 years.

Please check the exact rules that apply to your car rental firm before booking the car.

Add-ons at booking

If you want extra equipment in the car, it’s a good idea to add this already when booking the car. The extra equipment can be things like a GPS or a child car seat.

In Croatia, many of the roads are small and narrow. We therefore recommend that you use a GPS to avoid getting lost.

Children under 6 years are also required by domestic law to use an appropriate child car seat or booster seat.

Driving in Croatia

Croatia has previously had many bad roads, and the country is currently working to improve and expand its road network. The highways are in good condition, but many of the smaller roads can be in bad condition, especially in the countryside.

The most important thing to be aware of is that Croatia has right-hand traffic. This might seem a little daunting and can take a short while to get used to, but if you take it easy you’ll be fine. You should, however, be aware of the “Priority to the right-rule”, meaning that drivers coming from the right have priority at uncontrolled intersections. In other words, you must yield to drivers approaching from the right if there are no priority signs.

The speed limits are generally: 50 km/h in urban areas, 90 km/h on main roads and 130 km/h on motorways.

We recommend that you always have spare lights in the car as Croatian law requires you to immediately replace broken lights on the car. Also pay attention not to park the car wrong – wheel clamping is not uncommon!

Below is a list of a few Croatian traffic rules to be aware of:

  • Driving while talking on the phone is prohibited, unless a hands-free without earphones is used. Breaking this rule is heavily fined.
  • Most motorways are tolled. The toll can be payed in cash or by using the pay stations. The fee is based on how long you’ve driven on the tolled road.
  • At roundabouts, vehicles entering the roundabout have priority. The cars already in the roundabout must yield.
  • Between April and October, the lower beam only needs to be switched on when visibility is low. During the rest of the year, it must be switched on during the day.
  • Children under 12 years musn’t sit in the front seat.