They charge an extra insurance for taking a car on the ferry. And if you purchase anything using these links, we earn a little commission with no extra costs for you. (And the last time no one checked for the green card at those borders the ones around Neum). I have A question. We were thinking we would fly into either Dubrovnik or Zagreb and and take the scenic route by driving around the country and staying in hotels along each stop. Maybe you can rent it there and then drop it off in Zagreb. So, again, to have your car rental sitting in a parking lot makes no sense. If you are thinking of renting a car in one country and returning it in another, think twice because it actually might be more complicated than you would expect. Punch your travel plans into the GPS. My family and I plan to visit Croatia from March 26- April 4. Are there any discounts on the public buses for a 3 year old? If I may suggest that you include a section about motorcycles and campervans rental in Croatia as well. Thank you so much for supporting this project! If true is that still current? Below is a list of some of the car hire agencies in Croatia. If it`s not exaggerated, do you know how long we should count on border crossings to take? As I mentioned earlier, I recommend looking at RentalsCars.com so you can filter your options to find the best deals for whatever your plans are. A credit card is mandatory when renting a car in Croatia. 4. Thanks! For toll vignettes for Croatia/Hungary/Slovenia/Italy, is there an automobile association in Croatia where we could buy them for all neighboring countries? Without extra insurance, you as a customer are partly liable for any damage. So if you only plan on passing through Neum in order to reach Dubrovnik, you don't need to pay a cross-border fee. They are brokers and work with all major car rental companies in Croatia. Planning our summertime visit for July!! Because the rules mentioned on Alamo mention IDP required. Her blog MissTourist.com is created with the purpose to inspire people to travel more and to share her advice of how to travel "smart". Better safe than sorry! The simple answer to this question is Yes, you should rent a car in Croatia! Hi James, Of course, every company charges different rates, so youll have to do a lot of comparing to find the best and least expensive car hire. Any car in Croatia need to be insured, and green card (needed for traveling to non-EU countries like Montenegro and Bosnia) comes with the basic car insurance. If you have a question, it is always best to drop it in below in the comments this way other readers can benefit from the answer as well! Youll be able to travel off the beaten track and see sights that many tourists miss! If you go on your Croatian road-trip, be sure to get in touch with me on Instagram or just follow the rest of my travels. Enjoy your driving in Croatia! When it comes to insurance your credit card typically covers it your US insurance company does not. We've rented a car from Vetura a couple of times in the past and would recommend them if you are in Istria. Book as far in advance as possible! If it covers it, then the procedure in the case of any damage is the following: the car rental company will charge you directly for any damage that might occur. I am not sure about Albania and Kosovo. The exact sum depends on the company; please check with the company or it will also say on the site right away if you are using any of the price comparison websites, Check if the company youre hiring your car from is charging additional fees for, Ask the car rental company if there are any, Check if there is a fee for picking up the car in premium locations, for example, car hire in, Inspect the car thoroughly for scratches and dents on the exterior. Contacts | t: ++385 99 733 0862 | Website. Thanks Peter. Whenever we rented a car, we always found better deals on these aggregators' websites than on car rental companies' websites. By the way, Croatia has loooots of road webcams, so it would be hard to trick the system in any way. Since you wont have a car on the island of Hvar (if I understood well), you can travel from Hvar Town, and Stari Grad. At the time of writing the cheapest compact car for 2 weeks in August at Almeria is 44% (or 330) cheaper in Spain than it is at Murcia. Most big chain companies dont even offer that option, and the ones that do charge a lot of money for it and it can only be arranged by advance request. So i wonder whether they charge the additional costs as well when i just use the Croatia Bosnia corridor in order to visit Dubrovnik? The average cost over the course of the entire year is 29. Some subjects we've already covered above, but nevertheless, we'll summarise our best Croatia car rental advice and tips below. A validdrivers license from your home country is sufficient to drive in Croatia. Oh, and dont forget about Split and Plitvice! No matter what time of year you decide to go, there is a range of exciting and invigorating experiences you can have along the way. A 16 country study of car hire costs worldwide reveals that the USA and Turkey are the cheapest places to hire a car this summer, and Portugal and Italy are the most expensive. A Fiat Panda or a Hyundai i30 would work well in this situation and wouldnt cause too much of a hassle if you decide to drive into a small village. Before the pandemic, rental agencies had a good number of cars available. Parking can be a pain in most European cities and some old Croatian towns are no exception there are very few free parking spaces and you will most likely not find them in touristy places. You can get international drivers licence in AAA office for about $30. In Croatia, you can encounter the same kind of situations when renting a car as you would encounter in other European countries. 3. Opting for car hire in Croatia is your best option for travelling quickly and comfortably to the country's hidden reaches. We haven't yet rented through Nova, but we see lots of their cars on the roads here. Travellers will be paying on average 317 to rent a compact family car (e.g. Things to Check Before You Rent a Your Car, BONUS Best Car Types for Driving in Croatia, Some practical info on driving in Croatia, 8 Things You Should Know About Plitvice Lakes, Croatia, Where to Stay in Rovinj, Croatia (and Why! Dont even ask why this is the case, as it makes no sense to me. Michael Jenkins. Rovinj is generally more expensive than some places (more touristy but with good reason) so keep that in mind, too. Very informative! Car hire in Croatia starts from just 8.20 per day for a (economy) class car from Budget. Cheers! Don't forget that prices change dynamically with the demand. Normally, every car in Croatia is insured for accident throughout Europe, they all come with so-called green card, but car rental companies dont always include it in the rental (although they should). There is also a free app that will help you keep up to date on road conditions, toll calculator, gas stations map and much more. Intend on a day or 2 in Zagreb without car before we depart for home. I also listed 2 prices for high and low season, so youre prepared no matter what time of year youre traveling! In a whiplash-inducing turn of. Car hire in Croatia is essential in these situations. GET DETAILED INFO ABOUT DRIVING IN CROATIA HERE! Choose your pick-up location, compare and find the car that best suits you and your budget. Thanks for the great tips! But seriously, just follow common sense rules and you will be fine! So, book your car as soon as possible if you can't drive a manual. Intercity buses are a convenient, frequent, fast, and cheap way to go from one town to another. Hi! RECOMMENDED CAR TYPE: Though this is not the most common type of vacation for Croatia, if youre going to be heading on an off-road adventure, be sure to let the rental company know about it, as extra insurance will be applicable. Also, if you are a US citizen, check Bonzah, they offer pretty good prices too! This piece of document proves that your car has at least a minimum level of insurance required and it is recognized and accepted by different European countries. It does not matter what country you are renting your car in, before driving the car out of the lot, its important to do a few checks: NOTE: Do not forget to refill your tank when returning the car. There shouldnt be any problems if you choose a company that allows border crossing, such as RentalCars. 6 years ago Save Most companies charge a one-way fee for a short hire. And by the way do you have any tips for us? Unfortunately, Im foreign is not going to help you much if youre pulled over for not following the laws of the road. Last week of June our family (mum, dad & two teens) have a quick trip to Croatia from NZ for our sons sport. Summer can be quite a bit more expensive, unfortunately. You don't need any additional cross-border insurance for Bosnia and Montenegro. Check Rentalcars for deals: https://goo.gl/aozEKx. Thanks for any information that may help. For the purpose of writing this post, Ive checked prices on various car rental companies' websites, and for almost all dates I randomly picked I found cheaper deals on the Rentalcars website. That said, we all should use common sense in any country we travel to, things like locking the door before you leave and not leaving an expensive laptop in the front seat would definitely help. In Victoria, the increase was 38 per cent, and in Tasmania, a whopping 92 per cent. Things to Check Before You Rent a Your Car 7. Ill be travelling from split to dubrovnik back up towards mostar and back to split. Thanks for the notes. Airport shuttle seems cheap and regular v cab or other from Lucko. Thanks for your site and all the information you provide. You can rent a car in Dubrovnik and drive to Montenegro, or take your car rental from Croatia to Bosnia and back. The minimum driving age in Croatia is 18. Do all/most of the companies allow this, or are there certain rental companies that are better for these pick-up/drop-off locations? EasyRent. Whether you need to purchase additional insurance for crossing the border into Bosnia and/ or Montenegro with your rental car is the biggest debate on the internet regarding car rental in Croatia. Adriagate. Copyright 2023 | Built on Wordpress using Generatepress Theme | Web Hosting by WPX Hosting, Where to go in Croatia: 16 Places Not To Miss, Driving in Croatia: All You Need to Know Before You Go, Travel Croatia on Budget: Money-saving Tips. Some companies can charge triple the price for gas, so better do it yourself in advance. Hi Morten, Thank you for supporting our blog! There are some businesses we don't trust and always believe that in dealing with them we'll certainly get screwed up. This fee covers any damage that can occur onboard the ferry. My son would need the car to get back to the airport in Zagreb. Let me start by assuring you that there is no right or wrong choice here the road conditions in Croatia are close to excellent, so any car you rent will do. I just dropped you a word via email. Heres everything you need to know about renting a car in Croatia! I wanted to rent a camper, but no automatic transmission and no AC for the whole unit. They all come at an additional cost. In general, a car rental that might cost $30-80 per day might be a lot cheaper to rent by the week.) I recall seeing a comment on another website regarding a requirement the the credit card have raised/embossed characters. Just like with many other services in Croatia (accommodation, tours, activities, etc), the car rental business is very seasonal. Would I need an international driver license? The most expensive month in which to hire a car is August with prices for for a Compact class) starting at 45.06. In New South Wales, the average daily cost of a rental car listed on Kayak between December 1 and January 31 was 72 per cent more expensive compared to the same time last year. Otherwise,I will be missing this beautiful country. Hi Yulia. I'm going on a road trip from San Francisco to New York in a month and I was checking several car rental companies. From what I can tell, it offers the most competitive prices. Any concerns regarding credit card physical appearance? A big portion of your traveling budget is going to go towards fuel if youre taking a road trip. So how much can you expect to pay to rent a car in Croatia? I`m trying to find a car rental company that allows border crossings to as many Balkan countries as possible. Each was for 100 Euro; we bought one for the car body. To recap on this one, Croatia is probably one of the easiest countries with the most rewarding views to drive through in Europe! Less cars, less working capital, expected lower demand. Very insightful and in depth post. Neum is a coastal town in Bosnia and Herzegovina. You'll be able to take in the sights, travel off the beaten path, see more in less time, and have the freedom to stop wherever and whenever you feel. If you press your foot down on the accelerator too hard, it will cause your wheels to spin. If you'd like to see many places in Croatia in a short time, you'll need a car. The rates go up as the demand increases and as the inventory decreases. So, any rentals going are getting higher rates. But this service will cost you money! The earlier you book your vehicle, the better rate you will have. In case of car problems outside of Croatia, what car rental companies do you think would be the best to go with? A car is definitely the best way to explore Croatia. "At non-peak times when there is good availability, prices can get cheaper the closer you get to the start date of the rental. What will be the name of the town where ferry will take us and car rentals will be available. The cheapest month to hire a car in Croatia is January with prices starting at 13.26 for an Economy class cars. I highly recommend investigating this option before signing any insurance papers that the car rental company gives you. The only way to reach Dubrovnik from Ploce is to drive along national road D8, also known as Jadranska magistrala (Adriatic coastal road). It simply gives you much more flexibility. I have read that these could be bought at the nearest gas station as you enter each country, but to be on the safer side(to avoid penalty fines) we would like to buy them before we enter each country if possible. If your credit card comes with full coverage for a car rental, you must wonder whether you need to purchase additional insurance when renting a car. Oryx is a company based in Zagreb but with offices all over Croatia. The company has offices in all major Croatian towns, including Zagreb, Split, Zadar, Rijeka, Pula, and Dubrovnik. I really recommend these businesses as theyve made booking rental cars a breeze whenever Ive hired a car abroad! If I were to rent a car, I want to confirm that my US State (Wisconsin) license will be enough. Ive listed the price in HRK (Croatian Kuna) and USD but please note that the USD exchange rate might significantly change, so make sure to check the up-to-date rates here. Report inappropriate content ratheniska ireland Level Contributor 146 posts 3. How much does it cost to hire a car in Croatia? What is the best way to take a ferry from Hvar to mainland, where we can pick a rental car for further driving into Plitvice lakes, Rovinj etc. I keep reading good reviews about Last Minute Car Rental, but something seems amiss with it being significantly cheaper and the reviews not being very plentiful. E65) is the most popular national road. I got an offer for VW Golf for 75 a day; only to find that same car on the Rentalcars website for 50 . I dont have any personal experience renting with Sixt, but I dont think Sixt is worse (or better) than others. But, they pre-charged 60 for the fuel (in case we don't refill). What are my options? You need to be over 25 to rent a car in Ireland via most rental companies. It might be cheaper. I wanted to use Avis however there reviews dont fill me with confident also carwiz seems the same, can you personally suggest any companies youve used? I recommend driving a mini Fiat 500 or a Fiat Punto as they can easily navigate the tiny back roads without any hassle. Hi Lyla, I am positive is has to do with the illiquidity of the lending market ie banks lending to companies. Holidaymakers face sky-high car hire prices this summer as rental firms struggle to meet renewed demand. During these times the weather is sunny and warm, which means youll be able to stop off at the best beaches and lakes for a refreshing swim. Thanks in advance. and how difficult to find in tourist spots? And if you head south youll end up driving on this road sooner or later. Home / Croatia Travel Tips / Car Rental in Croatia: All You Need to Know About Renting a Car in Croatia. Frankaboutcroatia.com is a participant in the Amazon Services LLC Associates Program, an affiliate advertising program designed to provide a means for sites to earn advertising fees by advertising and linking to Amazon.com and affiliated sites. We offer deals on extras, child seats, GPS, additional driver and insurance packages to help you have an safe . The combination of Covid and global car manufacturing shortages has created a perfect storm in the car hire industry. Thanks for the great blog/information! I created Miss Tourist travel blog to help you organise the perfect holiday. But, if you take extra insurance with a car hire company in Croatia then the amount authorized on your credit card is much lower, and usually amounts to the rental cost + 200 for any additional costs, like for example parking tickets, late drop-off, or if the fuel tank isn't full. In the low season, for the same cars, you'll pay 20 and 25 respectively. We will not have rental car in Hvar. This means that, for example, you can take a road trip from Zagreb to Dubrovnik, but take a plane back from Dubrovnik to Zagreb. ATTENTION: We all know that the views are marvelous and you want to snap some pictures for your memories, but PLEASE make sure you move your car to the side and you are not blocking the road, ok? Do you have any advice about this issue? Youll need to compare international and local car rental companies like Alamo, Budget, Europcar, Fleet, Hertz, Last Minute Rent a Car, Sixt, and Thrifty and visit many local sites, search for the discount codes for each of them and compare! Hi Frank, We are planning a trip to Croatia and related areas with the kids aged 4 and 7, they are good travellers. Some companies also charge extra insurance for senior drivers above 70 years of age. An RV or Camper Van is the perfect vehicle to rent in this situation. They also have a smartphone app with all the rest stops in the country-check it out on their website! If you only want to go with the automatic one, try to secure it as much in advance as possible there are not that many on the market and they get sold out fast. Generally speaking, the roads in Croatia are in very good condition. Would appreciate your thoughts/tips, and if you have any other advice Id be very grateful. If you are four or more people traveling together, you will need to rent a full-size car with a big trunk, or even a van in order to comfortably fit you and your luggage. Do you know a car company that will do this? I am traveling to the Bellevue Hotel in Losinj with an adult son. Additional Fees for Car Rentals in Croatia 6. You can then individually check the reviews for each car rental company. If you plan to stay do most hotels/hostels/etc provide some sort of parking? I am trying to decide between buses or a rental car for my family of 3 (2 adults and a 3 year old). Your car should come with a green card accepted in both countries. There are many ferries in Croatia and, as you might use that option to get to one of the islands, I decided to write about this as well. Be sure to factor these costs into your budget! i have a quick question. I have noted that you say drivers license of our country is sufficient to allow us to drive in Croatia. If you, for example, hold a US driver's license, or any other for that matter, you can drive with a US driver's license in Croatia. It can come in handy in big towns, like Zagreb, Split, or Dubrovnik. A Land Rover Discovery or an off-road Jeep is the perfect car for the job. Here are a few tips for driving in the cold: If youre driving inland during winter, youre likely to encounter snow at some point. But I find it strange they have charged you afterwards. D8 (ex. Again, the only way to do stay in one place and explore the wider region is by car. So I know it is very dificulty parking in Dubrovnick. My Husband and I shall be travelling to Croatia next week for the first time . So if you do need to book at the last minute, don't worry too much. Advertisement. Insurance4CarHire has some of the best independent insurance prices and offers very comprehensive coverage! Things to Consider When Renting a Car in Croatia 5. Thanks. Costing just 124 on average for a week's rental and fuel, those looking for an adventure on wheels could roam around the tropical southeast Asian country for over eight . However, if you feel like having an international drivers license, its easy to obtain, and it costs little. I think that the rental companies are among those businesses who were highly financed/leveraged for their stock by the car firms/banks. Do not power up hills. Driver aged between 26 - 69. What kind of car insurance would we need to rent a car in Croatia? This will be for August 2019 dates. Thanks for all the info. While Croatia is a small country, it's also pretty long. Compare the prices of the best car hire companies. Its a good idea to familiarise yourself with these limits, but as a rule, always keep your eyes peeled for speed limit signs that will guide you according to the appropriate speed limit. Although most of Croatia is navigable by road, there are certain places you may need to use a ferry. Youll feel much more independent without feeling like you need to rely on anyone else.