So, Nova is definitely worth a try if you are looking to rent a car in Croatia. Daily fees for extras are as follows*: Here are the very few rental companies that charge a senior driver fee in some countries. Airport shuttle seems cheap and regular v cab or other from Lucko. Just last summer, a friend asked me to negotiate a deal on a car rental in Dubrovnik. Roadtripping is an amazing experience, especially if you're on vacation or headed toward a destination you're particularly excited about (like a Jonas Brothers concert, to give a hypothetical example). E65) is the most popular national road. No issues crossing over to Slovenia with a car rental Croatia as Slovenia is a member of EU. This seems like a scam, though. Hi Charlie, However, we will keep the information as it is, and updated for the time when the travel to Croatia returns to normal. The pandemic caused a complete collapse of demand for hire cars as overseas travel came to a standstill. Central Office Contacts | a: Trg J. Rakovca 2, Porec | t: +385 52 434 700 | m: +385 91 206 3070 | e: [emailprotected]| Website. The earlier you book your vehicle, the better rate you will have. But seriously, just follow common sense rules and you will be fine! Since my company often rents with Oryx, and I know people there, I called and asked for the best deal they could make me for a day rental. Hi Morten, Dubrovnik is the only exemption. If you plan to stay do most hotels/hostels/etc provide some sort of parking? A car is definitely the best way to explore Croatia. 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. Hi, would you know if car rentals can charge you an island fee? Just double checking , is that valid for Indian License too ? Youll feel much more independent without feeling like you need to rely on anyone else. Another Croatian car rental company with offices all over Croatia. Thanks for all the info. 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). The cheapest months to pick up your car hire in Croatia are February and January . Youll also experience less traffic than in the summer months (July and August) which makes a road trip a lot more pleasant! Rather, get up a little speed before the hill and keep a steady pace going up. Well-established international rent a car company with 15 branch offices all over Croatia, from Zagreb to Dubrovnik, Enterprise is a rent a car Croatia company that maintains a good review score for both, the quality of the cars and staff efficiency. I read on another website that an international drivers license is required for a car rental? Renting a car in Croatia is easy, if perhaps a bit more on the pricey side compared to other European countries. The only downside is you may not be in the mood for a swim as it gets rather cold, and many of the tourist attractions and hotels will be closed for the winter (though beautiful Plitvice National Park is open during the winter, which is awesome, totally recommended!). Enjoy your holidays! Hi Ringob, Punch your travel plans into the GPS. This is more difficult than it might seem. Is the insurance for the ferry and how is that charged? I also listed 2 prices for high and low season, so youre prepared no matter what time of year youre traveling! How much does a car rental in Croatia cost? It can come in handy in big towns, like Zagreb, Split, or Dubrovnik. What route do you recommend taking? AIR Awareness Outreach; AIR Business Lunch & Learn; AIR Community of Kindness; AIR Dogs: Paws For Minds AIR Hero AIR & NJAMHAA Conference Additional Fees for Car Rentals in Croatia, 6. Are you looking for cheap car hire in Croatia? While in low season you perhaps can just show up at the airport and find a car to rent, this isn't the case in high and shoulder season. If you are wondering about the road conditions, I can say that they are close to perfect! 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. Also, to get the lower security deposit/hold should the extra insurance be purchased from the rental company or would the insurance offered though the broker site recommended in the article result in the lower credit hold? You can't visit all the interesting sights by bus, because it is complicated and slow. Aaaand, last but not least, plan for some waiting time at the border, they might have a line (you will have 2 border controls actually one into Bosnia and one after entering Croatia again). You'll absolutely need a car in Croatia if you decide to stay in any small coastal village, like our village Komarna. I highly recommend investigating this option before signing any insurance papers that the car rental company gives you. Some subjects we've already covered above, but nevertheless, we'll summarise our best Croatia car rental advice and tips below. Since roads in Croatia are great, well-marked, and easy to navigate, GPS is not really necessary to have. There are over 20 car hire locations in Croatia, and the most popular city is Dubrovnik. Some information on this site isn't maybe completely accurate at the moment, due to the changed circumstances caused by coronavirus pandemic. you dont need to purchase additional insurance if your credit card provides the coverage. You can drive a rental car from Croatia to Bosnia, Montenegro, or any other European country. hello. Oryx is a company based in Zagreb but with offices all over Croatia. Thanks in advance for your reply, were looking forward to experiencing Croatia! I am positive is has to do with the illiquidity of the lending market ie banks lending to companies. When it comes to insurance your credit card typically covers it your US insurance company does not. If you prefer an automatic transmission, you'll need to book your car well in advance, and you'll pay extra. If you are planning to do a longer road trip and you are thinking of going to other EU countries by car, the green card insurance will also be enough (oh, the beauty of the EU!). Don't forget to refill your car before you drop it off. 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. Copyright 2014-2023 MissTourist | All Rights Reserved |. 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 is one of the largest car rental providers in Croatia. If they find any new scratches, and other damages, they'll charge you for repairs. We always use Rentalcars.com when searching for and booking a car online, and we highly recommend using this site. Whether you want to cruise along the rugged coastline or drive deep into Croatia's pine forests, with easy access to the whole of the country the only issue is deciding where to go first Travel Information Additional Fees for Car Rentals in Croatia 6. insist that the car rental company gives you this paper. New research shows that the cost of hiring a car abroad has shot up by an average 125%. I just want to be sure the if we do that, that Sixt in Croatia will allow me to extend the rental. Thanks for sharing the info of traveling through Croatia. Also, Nova rent a car Croatia has been voted the best rental car company in Croatia to work for. We definitely know we need to rent a car and we want to go exploring, but we dont know what our starting and end point should be and the best route to plan for that would make the most sense with a rental car. Do you know a car company that will do this? You need to be over 25 to rent a car in Ireland via most rental companies. Within the final 48 hours, prices almost always go up. Generally speaking, the roads in Croatia are in very good condition. Thanks and congatulations for your blog. Planning our summertime visit for July!! The views are gorgeous! Frank, And I hope youll visit Croatia soon! Can we do it? I dont want them telling us we need to return the car if we arent ready. This means that the earlier you book your car, the less you will pay. The first time they absolutely claimed we had to pay for the green card (and we were going from Dubrovnik to both Bosnia and Montenegro so we bought it). Travellers will be paying on average 317 to rent a compact family car (e.g. It might sound obvious, but in order to find a cheap car rental, youll need to book well in advance as this lowers the prices dramatically! Additionally, I assume that my state issued insurance will not cover and costs. The telephone number is 987. PRO TIP: Many car rental companies will try to upsell you extra insurance saying that you need it to cross the border. You better make sure to book your car rental in Croatia well ahead. And we even had full insurance. Four- and six-lane motorways connect the country from North to South, West, and East. 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. If something happens on the road (I am sure you will be just fine the roads are great and the drivers are polite! Just be sure there is enough space for all your passengers and their luggage and you should be good to go! Although I dont know of any issues crossing the border with a rental car from Croatia to Monte Negro. Major car hire chains exist in Croatia, as do local companies. Because the rules mentioned on Alamo mention IDP required. 1. as a tourist, is the electronic toll payment system available? 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. This is the most scenic road in Croatia. Be aware that if you take a road trip from the north of Croatia down to Dubrovnik, there is a small area of land that is Bosnia and it does count as a border crossing. Thanks for your site and all the information you provide. colleen. We are going to Croatia next month. Also, do you know if its possible to rent cars starting in Korcula? Car hire in Croatia is essential in these situations. Things to Check Before You Rent a Your Car 7. The comparison aggregator can sort by car type, price, and a variety of other options so that youre not left sifting through results for hours. But this service will cost you money! My wife and I will be in Rovinj the third week in May after a visit to Italy, we are planning to rent a car in Venice and driving to Rovinj and touring Istria for several days. Parking in Dubrovnik is extremely expensive (50-75 kn per hour). I just dropped you a word via email. Most things are more expensive there. From what I can tell, it offers the most competitive prices. I will be visiting Croatia and Bosnia in late June and checked with the Bosnia embassy in my country regarding the requirement for IDP. Or, that's what car rental companies will try to make you do. Hertz. Hello You can rent a car in Dubrovnik and drive to Montenegro, or take your car rental from Croatia to Bosnia and back. We created this blog to help you plan your perfect trip to Croatia. Any advice would be highly appreciated. weve mentioned that automatic transmission needs to be required in advance and it costs extra. Prices have risen so high about 88 percent from a year ago that rental cars are now one of the key factors driving the biggest rise in inflation since 2008. An international driver's license is only mandatory in the case when your national driver's license isn't written in Latin letters (for example, if it's written in Cyrillic, or in Chinese characters). 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. If I may suggest that you include a section about motorcycles and campervans rental in Croatia as well. The simple answer to this question is Yes, you should rent a car in Croatia! Here is a video of a fellow traveller that crossed there: You do NOT need to buy any additional insurance to cross that strip of land, but make sure your car has a green card a proof that your car has a minimum level of insurance required to be in Bosnia. For Dubrovnik, the best is to leave the car somewhere in Lapad, or Gruz, and use public transport or explore on foot. 1. 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. Parking in popular destinations in Croatia can be a real hustle, and it costs money. Would love your advice on how Croatian rental car companies compare to international companies when it comes to renting a car in Croatia and driving to Hungary, Slovenia and Italy before returning in Croatia: I created Miss Tourist travel blog to help you organise the perfect holiday. Am I still permitted to drive in Croatia and Bosnia? 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. I was told I could call back to the Sixt office where I live to extend the rental. Hi, Frank: I will stay in old town. However, you can expect to pay around 10-15 kn per hour (1,5-2 euro) in majority of towns in high season close to the city center. I still have a question So I have a valid Canadian Drivers license and dont need the International Driving Permit to drive in Croatia CLICK HERE FOR THE BEST CAR RENTAL DEALS IN CROATIA! In the low season, for the same cars, you'll pay 20 and 25 respectively. Every car company has different rules when it comes to cross-country car hire, and they approach every rental individually. Take into consideration the fact that Croatia has many narrow village streets and tiny back roads that will be extremely difficult to navigate with a big car. It isn't common, but be prudent and mindful, and don't leave your stuff in sight. Just like with many other services in Croatia (accommodation, tours, activities, etc), the car rental business is very seasonal. Needless to say, our friends returned the car a day earlier in a similar condition and they have never charged them anything. Thanks. NOTE: If your accommodation provides free parking that is an extra bonus-make sure to ask them in advance! This means that, for example, you can take a road trip from Zagreb to Dubrovnik, but take a plane back from Dubrovnik to Zagreb. 2. if yes, can it be done through the rental company? The minimum driving age in Croatia is 18. If their prices are the most competitive, just go with it. They also have a free smartphone app with real-time information about road conditions, congestion, and live webcams. We want to rent a car in Croatia, but take that car into Montenegro, and then leave from Montenegro. So you do not need to buy additional insurance, even if some companies insist that you should buy it. Driver's Age. Expect to pay around 30 for this service. 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". In Croatia, you drive on the right-hand side of the road and pass on the left, Just like every other country in the world, seat-belts are mandatory so be sure to buckle up each time you get in the car before heading onto the roads, Children under the age of 12 are not allowed to sit in the front passenger seat, Children from the ages of 2-5 must be in a suitable childs seat. The question is which one will you be the most comfortable in? Book as far in advance as possible! Any recommendations or providers you would suggest? 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. You can try to negotiate with a car rental company to waive these fees. Hour. Supply and demand. Thank you for creating this wonderful site. Is there a company that will let us pick up in Zagreb and drop off in Split? Flying into Zagreb and renting an automatic from Sixt. In high season, expect to pay around 60 a day for a mini-size car, and 70 per day for an economy-size car. Be sure to factor these costs into your budget! And if its not on your itinerary already, be sure to add the incredible Istria region to your Croatian bucket list. So, youll only need to apply for an international drivers license if your current drivers license is not written in Latin letters. We are travelling on a budget, dont have a lot of time and we will be spending the main part of the trip in Umag. Nobody told us that we should vacuum the car ourselves. 3. You also need a valid driving licence (more on requirements in the guide below) and a valid ID. Sometimes you'll want to stay at one centrally-located place and make day trips to popular sights in the region. Any suggestions? However, if you feel like having an international drivers license, its easy to obtain, and it costs little. And before you know it, they took 30 for cleaning the vehicle?! In this case, you should point it out to them before you take the vehicle so that youre not held responsible, Familiarize yourself with the car. I know it will be a busy season when I am in Croatia. If not, you better get it renewed before your trip or the car wont be released to you, If you are traveling with a child that is under 18 kg (30 lbs), youll need to ask the rental company for a baby seat. They all come at an additional cost. They pre-charge your card for an insane amount of money and, when you return it, they always find something wrong so they can keep some of the money they've pre-charged. Dropoff options (Enterprise rental) are Lucko or Airport. So, I hope you liked my post, traveler! Now that you have a better idea of how youre going to get around this amazing country, you should start looking into the best places to visit in Croatia. Depending on the length of time rented, daily rates ranged from $41 to $75. Having the convenience of your own transportation makes a huge difference when traveling in Croatia! PRO TIP 2: Oh, and dont forget to double check if the car is equipped with functioning AC this is something you will definitely need during a hot Croatian summer! The inner-city speed limit is 30 to 50 km/h; on open roads speed limit is up to 90 km/h (but with lots of lower speed limits in curves, and other road conditions); on all major toll roads speed limit is up to 130 km/h. 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. Make sure the driver is in full control at all times, Its important to drive slowly when there is ice or snow on the roads to compensate for the lack of traction your tires will have on the road, Make sure youre accelerating and decelerating slowly. But, they pre-charged 60 for the fuel (in case we don't refill). You mentioned that you should be able to drive a croatian car rental into Bosnia and Montenegro with no further insurance other than a green card. It takes extra time to price out five companies, but prices can vary widely depending on . Any questions regarding car rental in Croatia? However, buying insurance from them isnt your only option. Oh, and dont forget about Split and Plitvice! Ask beforehand how much this will cost you as car rental companies sometimes charge extra for this service. Michael Jenkins. Hello. Basically, it is only possible between a limited number of countries, towns, and branch offices, usually when and where one car rental company has a partner company in another country. There's specific requirements. I'm going on a road trip from San Francisco to New York in a month and I was checking several car rental companies. PRICE: HRK 1700 (US $250.5) HRK 1750 (US $258) per day. Well be making an overnight stop at Velika Kladusa in Bosnia on our way. First, you need to check with your credit card company if you are covered for renting a car in Croatia. Your car should come with a green card accepted in both countries. However, in the case of accident, you will be directly charged by car rental company for any damages. Any concerns regarding credit card physical appearance? The cost of renting a car in Thailand, the cheapest country to hire a vehicle in, equals just 11% of the cost of renting a car in Iceland, the most expensive destination. PRICE: HRK 200 (US $29.5) HRK 227 (US $ 33.5) per day. Dont even ask why this is the case, as it makes no sense to me. However, you will need to pay a cross-border fee. I suggest you look further inland, especially if you are renting a car. If youre going to be traveling long distances, make sure the car is equipped with cruise control. 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. Considering the fact that there are plenty of small towns with narrow cobbled streets in Croatia, the best advice I can give is the smaller the better! I will mention this a couple more times in this post, and I cant stress this enough Croatia is a pretty big tourist destination nowadays (for a good reason!)