Almost everyone who takes a tour of Croatia does so by car. It’s the perfect country for a road trip. The distances between destinations aren’t too long, along the way you’ll pass through stunning landscapes, and by car, you can reach places that might otherwise be hard to get to. On your journey through Croatia, you’ll mostly drive along the coastline, where you can occasionally stop at one of the many beautiful beaches or picturesque villages. We took a 3-week road trip through Croatia with our rental car and have compiled all the tips and useful information for you.

Driving a car in Croatia

Driving in Croatia is quite straightforward, and the roads are in good condition. Some highways require tolls where you can drive up to 130 km/h (about 81 mph). Outside of urban areas, the speed limit is 80 km/h (about 50 mph). Keep in mind that in Croatia, drivers have a tendency to speed, and many drive faster than allowed. It’s advisable to navigate with Google Maps, as the app often suggests alternative routes without tolls that can be just as fast. Before your trip, download the Croatian map on Google Maps so you can navigate offline in case you’re out of signal range.

Flitsmeister also works in Croatia

In Croatia, there are many speed cameras along the roads, especially around major cities like Split, Dubrovnik, and Zagreb. Therefore, consider downloading the Flitsmeister app and activating it when you get in the car. However, always pay close attention to road signs, as the speed limit indicated by Flitsmeister might not always be accurate.

How old do you have to be to drive a car in Croatia?

The age requirement to rent a car in Croatia varies by rental company. Some rental agencies require drivers to be at least 21 years old and to have held a driver’s license for a minimum of one year. However, other companies allow you to rent a car from the age of 18.

With a car rental on the ferry

If you’re planning to visit an island like Hvar or Brac during your trip to Croatia, you can take your rental car there. You’d do this by boarding the Jadrolinija ferry. You can purchase ferry tickets in advance on the Jadrolinija website or on-site at the harbor. However, a reserved ticket doesn’t guarantee a spot on the ferry. They often sell more tickets than there are spaces available, and if the ferry is full, you’ll have to wait for the next one. If there’s no more ferry service that day, unfortunately, your ticket will be voided. So even if you’ve reserved a ticket weeks in advance, arriving late can cost you your spot. Especially in July and August, when it gets very busy, it’s essential to ensure you arrive on time. We recommend checking the ferry schedule, arriving at least an hour early to line up with your car, and then purchasing your ticket there.

When traveling as a pair, a small rental car is perfectly suitable for a road trip through Croatia. A compact vehicle offers better maneuverability in traffic, and it’s especially convenient for parking in the cities. However, if you’re traveling with more people, a larger car would be more comfortable. Even though we’re capable of driving manual transmissions, we always opt for automatic cars when abroad. Driving in a foreign country can feel a bit unfamiliar at first, making an automatic transmission more comfortable. Additionally, some parts of Croatia have mountainous terrains with narrow roads. In such situations, it’s beneficial to focus solely on driving without worrying about manual shifting or performing hill starts.

You need a creditcard to rent a car

When picking up the rental car, it’s essential to present a credit card in the name of the primary driver. This card is used to pay the security deposit, and a card under a different name won’t be accepted. If you can’t provide a credit card in the primary driver’s name, you won’t be allowed to take the rental car. The same goes if there’s insufficient credit on that card. If you don’t have a credit card yet, we recommend getting one.

What are costs for renting a car in Croatia?

When renting a car in Croatia, prices can vary depending on the season and how early you book. Booking a rental car through Rentalcars.com is highly recommended for Croatia. With a rental car, you always have a chance of damage and problems along the way, which is why it’s smart to book with a reliable party. At Rentalcars, you can always take out a Full Protection Insurance, you can change your booking for free and all conditions are clearly indicated. So you don’t have to worry about snags and if something goes wrong on your trip, everything is always reimbursed and taken care of. This is totally worth it as far as we are concerned, especially on holiday.

Note: Sometimes the local rental company will try to sell you extra insurances. These are absolutely unnecessary as everything is covered with Rentalcars’ Full Protection Insurance. So don’t be fooled because you are 100% covered, even your excess will be refunded in case of damage.

Price hikes due to shortage of cars: There is currently a huge shortage of rental cars worldwide. To survive the corona crisis, car rental companies have had to sell a large portion of their cars. Since demand is rising fast, there are not enough chips for new cars and prices are skyrocketing due to the shortage. As a result, many rental cars are double the price or even fully booked. It’s best to book as early as possible to be sure of a rental car that is still somewhat affordable. At Rentalcars.com, you can currently cancel or change your booking free of charge up to 48 hours in advance, so you are not stuck with anything but still be sure of a rental car.