I always suggest you follow the rules and let the locals pass if they really want to. In fact, snow can be pretty heavy during the winter in Croatia! Be sure to adjust the wing mirrors, rearview mirror and the seat to your liking before leaving on your journey. NOTE: If you are planning to cross the border through the city of Neum, you do NOT need to pay any cross-border fee. Where can we find a location in Zadar to buy them? 1. I am concerned reading the reviews of car rental places in Split. Were a Canadian-Croatian couple living in and exploring Croatia. To recap on this one, Croatia is probably one of the easiest countries with the most rewarding views to drive through in Europe! Hi Lyla, Contacts | t: ++385 99 733 0862 | Website. Thank you! you ask. Driver's Age. Nobody told us that we should vacuum the car ourselves. insist that the car rental company gives you this paper. You want to have enough time to do paperwork, and inspect the car (to avoid any hidden charges for sudden damages). However according to their rental conditions of Oryx and another Croation car rental company they claim they are allowed to add up to 70 euros additional costs when you take the car outside a EU country. Places to visit in the car this Easter with the family! You can rent a car in Dubrovnik and drive to Montenegro, or take your car rental from Croatia to Bosnia and back. This concerns me; heaven forbid I hurt someone in an accident and they want to sue!! Most start at around 70. Although most of Croatia is navigable by road, there are certain places you may need to use a ferry. But, they pre-charged 60 for the fuel (in case we don't refill). PRICE: HRK 662 (US $97.5) HRK 1003 (US $149) per day. 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. Very insightful and in depth post. Oryx is a company based in Zagreb but with offices all over Croatia. Renting in Plitvice Lakes might prove difficult. It is one of the largest car rental providers in Croatia. We use Oryx for long-term car rental, and so far we had a good experience with them. Hi Keshala, yes, there is an additional fee for taking a car hire to the islands. Am I still permitted to drive in Croatia and Bosnia? If you choose to rent a car at the airport, it usually will often cost more as the car rental company has to pay extra for a license to operate at the airport. I am interested to know what the parking is like if you do use a rental car, especially in the bigger towns/cities. 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. CLICK HERE FOR THE BEST CAR RENTAL DEALS IN CROATIA! I booked a rental with enterprise for my holiday on Oct 11th. Thanks for the great blog/information! RentalCars will then compare all the available cars and give you the prices for the city you are arriving in. What are my options? If you decide on a winter road trip in Croatia, my best advice is to stick to the coastal towns. I wondered about driving from Zagreb to Trieste we could base ourselves for two nights, leave the car their and just do a day train trip to Venice. I got an offer for VW Golf for 75 a day; only to find that same car on the Rentalcars website for 50 . One of the reasons that car rentals are so expensive is that car rental agencies sold off most of their cars during the COVID-19 pandemic. We are travelling in may 2018: Hi Frank, This seems like a scam, though. Thanks Peter. Great Post very informative! Car rental companies don't keep enough cars with automatic transmissions. Do I need to get any specific insurance while there? Intend on a day or 2 in Zagreb without car before we depart for home. The cheapest month to hire a car in Croatia is January with prices starting at 13.26 for an Economy class cars. (Norwegian citizens, by the way), Sorry for all the questions, any reply would be greatly appreciated :). I will be visiting Croatia and Bosnia in late June and checked with the Bosnia embassy in my country regarding the requirement for IDP. It can come in handy in big towns, like Zagreb, Split, or Dubrovnik. 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: Since you wont have a car on the island of Hvar (if I understood well), you can travel from Hvar Town, and Stari Grad. Can we do it? The problem with all car rental companies here is that the demand is very strong for a short period in July and August, and sometimes companies overbook the vehicles. If you had any questions about hiring a car in Croatia, I hope Ive cleared them all up for you! while if you were to use a small local company, it might just ignore your claims. Best time to hire a car. So, book your car as soon as possible if you can't drive a manual. 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! Choose your pick-up location, compare and find the car that best suits you and your budget. Dont even ask why this is the case, as it makes no sense to me. How much does a car rental in Croatia cost? Compare car hire in Croatia and find the cheapest prices from all major brands. 2) We were also told for our week long rental which I had already paid for insurance through Expedia, that we would really need to buy two additional insurances (one was car body, the other for tire damage) or they could charge us for small scratches etc. 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. We are interested in picking up a car in Dubrovnik (probably) or Split (possibly) and dropping it off in Porec. The average price to hire a car in Croatia is just 56.80 per day, whilst the most expensive hire car in Croatia is a Mercedes GLE car for a (premium) class from Green motion costing 658.20 per day. You will then need to claim this cost with your insurer (in this case, your credit card company). What do you think about? Here are the average prices that you can expect to pay to rent a car in Croatia for a day. They all come at an additional cost. 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. 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. This will be for August 2019 dates. I suggest you look further inland, especially if you are renting a car. Thanks in advance. I am positive is has to do with the illiquidity of the lending market ie banks lending to companies. You would need a local sim card with some credit on it, but once you have that, it is easy-peasy you just need to send an SMS to a specific number (associated with your parking space) with your license plate as text, and the money will be withdrawn from your phone balance! New research shows that the cost of hiring a car abroad has shot up by an average 125%. I also noted you would recommend a car for families. Priti, Let me know did you drive without IDP? Thanks. Some blogs suggest staying out of old town, in Lappad for exemple. If you don't want to take a chance, this extra insurance will cost you around 20 per rental. I think that the rental companies are among those businesses who were highly financed/leveraged for their stock by the car firms/banks. We have CHASE credit cards and full coverage on our card now. We offer deals on extras, child seats, GPS, additional driver and insurance packages to help you have an safe . Motorways are marked with the letter A, while motorway road signs are always green in color. They have English-speaking operators. It connects Rijeka to the northwest with Dubrovnik to the southeast. If you only intend to cross into Bosnia in Neum then you don't need to pay a cross-border fee. Decide what's the purpose of your trip, and how many places would you like to see during your visit, and you'll have a better idea of whether you need to rent a car in Croatia. Your on line travel guide is terrific. In certain instances, rental companies offer discounts if you hire at the last minute, but this is a risky move as prices might increase due to demand so I dont recommend it. I and my husband are going from zagreb to dubrownick by car and intend stop in Plitvice Lakes, Split, Zadar, etc. Things to Consider When Renting a Car in Croatia, 5. It is safe to rent a car in Croatia. Adriagate. Book as far in advance as possible! Do Croatian companies have offices in Hungary/Italy/Slovenia? NOTE: When driving on small countryside roads, pay attention to animals they can jump on the road completely unpredictably. This is especially true for periods of high demand (June through September). 1. Any concerns regarding credit card physical appearance? It belongs to Bosnia, and, thus, it counts as a cross border transfer (yes, even if it is like 6 km). The cool part about price comparison companies is that you can be sure you are protected by the reseller if something goes wrong. Thanks for the notes. Hi Yulia. Thank you for this wonderful blog! Yulia is traveling the world for over 12 years now and she LOVES to share her tips from around the world with the others! Since roads in Croatia are great, well-marked, and easy to navigate, GPS is not really necessary to have. ), you can call a road assistance number with English speaking operators 1987. I think we need to head there straight from Zagreb and rental car seems to be our best option (quickest and flexibility). Thanks! Toll fees can be paid in both cash and credit/debit card, which makes life a whole lot easier for those on a road trip! If you press your foot down on the accelerator too hard, it will cause your wheels to spin. My wife and I are driving our own car from Italy into Slovenia, Croatia, Montenegro and Bosnia-Herzgovina and are wondering how we get a green card to show that we have the required insurance.We would very much like to hear from you. Do you know a car company that will do this? By the way, Croatia has loooots of road webcams, so it would be hard to trick the system in any way. Copyright 2014-2023 MissTourist | All Rights Reserved |. I am aware that Kosovo is a no-go by rental car, but I wasn`t aware that Albania and Macedonia could be an issue? Sometimes you'll want to stay at one centrally-located place and make day trips to popular sights in the region. Great web site you have, learning a lot about Croatia travel. But it's not worth $1,200. Im happy to hear this, thank you! 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). In order to reach Dubrovnik the shortest way is actually to pass through Bosnia in Neum. 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". hello. Most things are more expensive there. The same goes for any extra equipment you might need (like baby seats, or WiFi router). Hi Im Yulia! This is the most scenic road in Croatia. Additional Fees for Car Rentals in Croatia 6. Its able to handle a variety of different terrains while still providing you with the maximum amount of comfort. Enjoy your driving 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. This holds true ESPECIALLY if you are visiting in the high or shoulder season (so, May to October). For 5 passengers and 5 pieces of baggage(3 big, 2 small) we were considering a station wagon like Renault Clio Estate or Seat Leon Estate. I have an Indian Driving License but no IDP. It might be cheaper. Here are the very few rental companies that charge a senior driver fee in some countries. Any suggestions to keep a 5 five year old will be appreciated. But to experience all those places and take advantage of Komarna's awesome location, you'll need a car. Better safe than sorry! I wanted to rent a camper, but no automatic transmission and no AC for the whole unit. What I cant ascertain from the websites is if we can take the car into Italy and costs of going through the border. NOTE: When renting a car, you have to return it with a full tank of gas or youll be subject to additional charges (which add up to a lot more than the price of a tank of fuel). Do you know where can I parking the car and how much a diary? Car hire in Croatia is essential in these situations. 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. Here are a few tips for driving in the cold: If youre driving inland during winter, youre likely to encounter snow at some point. I have noted that you say drivers license of our country is sufficient to allow us to drive in Croatia. Until fleet sizes are restored, visitors to popular tourism markets such as Tasmania next month can expect to pay as much as $2823.99 for a week-long rental of a Mitsubishi Pajero four-wheel drive . Which car rental company will be best for you depends on what youre wanting to do with your rental car. This article was super helpful. 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. 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. 2. Thanks for sharing the info of traveling through Croatia. This means that the earlier you book your car, the less you will pay. Car rental companies also offer additional equipment to rent like GPS, WiFi hot spot packages, child and baby seats, an extra driver, etc. Search The simple answer is No! Make sure to ask for all receipts, a list of damages, police reports, photos, etc., and anything that your insurance company may require as proof before reimbursing you. We share here the best information about traveling to and in Croatia, including destination guides, travel tips, activities, accommodation, and the best places to eat and visit. Thank you. Thank you for supporting our blog! If you don't have a budget for it, you simply won't rent a car. Learn how your comment data is processed. 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. The winters there are a lot milder than inland and the coast will be very quiet as many of the locals go on holiday from October to March. PRO TIP: Many car rental companies will try to upsell you extra insurance saying that you need it to cross the border. Also, Nova rent a car Croatia has been voted the best rental car company in Croatia to work for. We will not have rental car in Hvar. Do you have any advice about this issue? . And then you will need to claim it with your credit card company. As for the car rental company, we always use Rentalcars.com. The majority of rental cars in Croatia are manual. Would I need an international driver license? The average cost over the course of the entire year is 29. A bit concerned about the large damage deposits charged to our credit card. (And the last time no one checked for the green card at those borders the ones around Neum). Be sure to factor these costs into your budget! Are there any issues you see in the two border crossings or other issues with our plan to travel by car versus public transportation to Rovinj? Is this easy to do? 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. I am told that should my son decide to leave earlier than I plan to (4/18-4/28/19) Id still have to pay the full contracted price. I know it will be a busy season when I am in Croatia. And the latter has good reviews. From. Thankyou for sharing this amazing information. Rory Sexton, managing director at Zest Car Rental, agrees, adding that prices tend to align with demand. I dont want them telling us we need to return the car if we arent ready. You can see the updated list of speed cameras here. The only problem youll have is you wont be able to drive through small villages, but many of them are better to explore on foot! But you'll need to pay a young driver's surcharge. Book online today with the world's biggest online car rental service. Ive booked a car through rentalcars, and Ive also decided to buy the Full Protection cover with them, though a friend warned me that at the car rental office (itll be with Alamo), that there they will try to sell me Ferry insurance as well. 4. Keep cold-weather gear, a blanket, as well as food and drinks in the car when youre driving. 3. any issue regarding crossing over into Slovenia with a car rented 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! 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. However, if you don't succeed, then expect to pay around 50 per rental or 10 per day depending on the company. If they treat their employees well, the employees must treat the customers well. The companies will authorize your credit card for a security deposit (unless you purchase full coverage insurance). PRO TIP: If crossing through Bosnia or Montenegro, do not forget to switch off the internet on your mobile both countries are not part of the EU and the roaming charges are really high! I have a question re car rental concerning Personal Liability Insurance. A Land Rover Discovery or an off-road Jeep is the perfect car for the job. However, if you leave it too late you can miss out," he says. 4. does waze work well? Hello I was surprised to find out that car rental companies charge extra for taking a car on a ferry. We always use Rentalcars.com when searching for and booking a car online, and we highly recommend using this site. Parking in popular destinations in Croatia can be a real hustle, and it costs money. Without extra insurance, you as a customer are partly liable for any damage. We are looking for a car rental for just one day from Dubrovnik to Split and back. Hidden additional fees that you werent aware of can leave you way over budget after your road trip. ), Awesome Things to Do in Split, Croatia (+5 Unusual Ones! The earlier you book your vehicle, the better rate you will have. If the tank isn't full, a car rental company will charge you a fee. You can arrange different pick-up and drop-off locations. Check that there is a full tank of gas in the car before you leave, as that is the policy with rental cars. In some cases it may be better to rent a car from a company situated near your hotel and pick up the car only once youve settled in. I`m trying to find a car rental company that allows border crossings to as many Balkan countries as possible. Getting a car on rental seems to important if you are traveling in Croatia. Some companies also charge extra insurance for senior drivers above 70 years of age. If you break down or have to pull over for some reason, you need to know youll be able to keep warm and sustain yourself until help arrives, Make sure your tires are properly inflated and have a decent amount of tread, Try to keep at least half a tank of fuel in your tank at all times, Never warm up your vehicle in an enclosed area like a garage, rather wait until the car is outside to warm it up, Do not use cruise control when driving on ice or in snowy areas. Some subjects we've already covered above, but nevertheless, we'll summarise our best Croatia car rental advice and tips below. 3. Well, that highly depends on what type of car youd like to drive and which season youll be visiting this beautiful country! This means that, for example, you can take a road trip from Zagreb to Dubrovnik, but take a plane back from Dubrovnik to Zagreb. 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. Hi Trude, We figured as we had prepaid for the car this would be covered. Flying into Zagreb and renting an automatic from Sixt. While the basic insurance covers you for driving on the Croatian islands, it actually doesn't cover the possible damage that can occur on the ferry itself during the crossing. You really dont have to have it but I always do just in case since it clearly says Croatia is member. AIR Awareness Outreach; AIR Business Lunch & Learn; AIR Community of Kindness; AIR Dogs: Paws For Minds AIR Hero AIR & NJAMHAA Conference For toll vignettes for Croatia/Hungary/Slovenia/Italy, is there an automobile association in Croatia where we could buy them for all neighboring countries? and the rental car rates are not getting any lower, trust me! Some of these car rental tips are specific to Croatia, so be sure to pay careful attention so there are no unexpected surprises on your trip! EasyRent. Although many small villages have basic facilities, like a grocery store, a bar, and a restaurant, you will need to drive to the closest town if you need an ATM machine, pharmacy, fresh meat or fish, or large supermarket. There are very few companies doing cross-country rentals, and the fees are just way too high. Elise. In case of car problems outside of Croatia, what car rental companies do you think would be the best to go with? They all come at an additional cost. Do all/most of the companies allow this, or are there certain rental companies that are better for these pick-up/drop-off locations? Also try a quote to Split airport rater than the city centre as there tends to be more competition there. But I prefer to use a comparison aggregator like CarRentals or AutoEurope to do the hard work for me (they are basically a Skyscanner for cars-they will check all the prices for your dates for all the car rental companies in the area). A few questions: Most have offices in the larger Croatian towns and at airports. 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. And we even had full insurance. I still have a question So I have a valid Canadian Drivers license and dont need the International Driving Permit to drive in Croatia Parking in Dubrovnik is extremely expensive (50-75 kn per hour).