Win a trip to Santorini for two, $3,000Enter free
Skip to main content

Car Rental in Croatia

Croatia is built for a road trip - the Adriatic coast road strings together walled towns, islands and mountain backdrops for hundreds of kilometres. Rentals are affordable outside peak summer, the motorways are excellent, and the two things to plan for are July-August demand on the coast and the short Bosnian border crossing at Neum on the way to Dubrovnik.

Search cars from $29
By Sophie5 min readPublished
Table of contents
The Adriatic coast road in Croatia curving along cliffs above the sea
Photo: Tiia Monto · CC BY 4.0

In Brief

Is it worth renting a car in Croatia?

Yes - a car is the best way to do the Croatian coast, from around $29/day for a small manual outside peak season. The A1 motorway makes Zagreb to Split a fast three hours, while the old coastal road (D8) is the scenic slow option. Book early for July-August, when coastal fleets sell out and prices double, and carry your passport if you drive to Dubrovnik: the road passes through a short strip of Bosnia at Neum unless you take the Peljesac bridge. Skip the car inside Dubrovnik and Split old towns - parking is scarce and expensive.

Key takeaways

  • From about $29/day for a small manual; July-August coastal rates run far higher.
  • You drive on the right; manuals are standard, so reserve an automatic early.
  • Driving to Dubrovnik? Take the Peljesac bridge or carry passports for the Neum strip.
  • Motorway tolls are pay-per-distance - take a ticket entering, pay by card exiting.

$29/day

economy class, before extras

Live prices
See Croatia car hire
  • Free cancellation on most cars
  • Compare every supplier at once
Flights to CroatiaCompare airlines and dates

How much does car rental cost in Croatia?

Rough daily prices by car type. Rates rise in peak season - book early for the best deal.

Car typePrice / dayGood to know
Small manual$29-50/dayFine for the coast road and easiest to park in old towns; cheapest option.
Compact automatic$45-85/dayThe automatic premium is real here - reserve months ahead for summer.
Compact SUV$50-90/dayComfort for long A1 stretches and the winding island roads.
Mid-size / estate$55-100/dayBoot space for families doing the full Zagreb-to-Dubrovnik run.
Peak summer (any class)roughly double shoulder-season ratesJuly-August coastal demand empties the fleet; book by spring.

Transmission: Manuals dominate the fleet; automatics exist but cost more and sell out first in summer.

Driving in Croatia: what to know

  • The A1 is tolled - ticket in, pay out

    Croatia's main motorway from Zagreb down the coast uses distance-based tolls: take a ticket at the entry gate and pay by card or cash when you exit. Zagreb to Split costs roughly $28 one way. There is no transponder to arrange for a short trip - just keep the ticket handy.

  • Crossing into Bosnia at Neum

    The old coastal road to Dubrovnik passes through about 9km of Bosnia at Neum, a real border with passport checks. Most rentals allow it, but confirm at the desk that your insurance green card covers Bosnia. The toll-free Peljesac bridge now bypasses Neum entirely and is the simpler route.

  • Ferry queues eat summer afternoons

    Island car ferries from Split to Brac, Hvar and Korcula load first-come, first-served for cars in summer, and midday queues can mean missing a sailing or two. Arrive well before departure, or park on the mainland and cross as a foot passenger if you only need a day trip.

  • Stay out of the old towns

    Dubrovnik, Split, Trogir and Rovinj have car-free or resident-only historic cores, and the garages nearest the walls charge steeply in summer. Park at the edge lots and walk in - in Dubrovnik that means the garages above the old town, a downhill walk in and a steep one back.

  • The D8 coast road rewards patience

    The old Adriatic highway between Split and Dubrovnik is slow, twisty and spectacular, hugging cliffs above the sea through the Makarska riviera. Locals overtake confidently; let them past at the frequent lay-bys and take the viewpoints. Use the A1 when you need to make time, the D8 when you don't.

  • Police checks and limits are real

    Speed enforcement is common on the coast in summer, the blood-alcohol limit is low at 0.05 percent, and headlights are required in winter months. Fines are collected on the spot for foreign drivers, so keep documents and the rental contract in the car.

Best drives in Croatia

The routes worth renting a car for - see our road trips guide for more.

  • Split → Dubrovnik (D8 coast road)

    The classic Adriatic drive past Omis, the Makarska riviera and the Peljesac bridge - a slow, scenic 4-5 hours.

  • Istria loop

    Rovinj, Pula's amphitheatre, hilltop Motovun and truffle country - an easy 2-3 day circuit in the north.

  • Zagreb → Plitvice Lakes → Zadar

    Waterfall boardwalks at Plitvice then down to the coast - the standard first leg of a full-country trip.

  • Peljesac & Korcula

    Vineyard roads down the Peljesac peninsula to the Orebic ferry for Korcula town - wine stops all the way.

Car rental in Croatia: FAQ

The questions travelers ask most before renting a car here.

Small manual cars start around $29/day in shoulder season, compact automatics run $45-85, and SUVs and estates $50-100. July and August are the trap: coastal demand roughly doubles rates and the cheap cars sell out first. Add motorway tolls (about $28 Zagreb to Split) and paid old-town parking, and book by spring for a summer trip.

Usually yes, and the common case is the 9km Neum strip on the old coastal road to Dubrovnik, which most rental firms permit. Confirm at pickup that your green card insurance lists Bosnia, and carry passports for the border checks. If you'd rather skip it, the Peljesac bridge keeps the whole Dubrovnik drive inside Croatia at no extra toll.

For the coast, yes - buses connect the cities but a car is what unlocks the beaches, hill villages and vineyard roads in between, and it turns the Split-Dubrovnik leg into a highlight instead of a transfer. Inside Dubrovnik, Split or Zagreb you don't need one at all, so a common plan is to pick the car up on the way out of the first city.

Mostly, yes. The A1 motorway is modern and quiet, signage is clear, and Croatia drives on the right. The tests are the twisty old coast road, confident local overtaking, tight old-town streets and scarce summer parking. Slow down on the D8, park outside historic centres, and watch the low 0.05 percent alcohol limit and you'll find it a relaxed country to drive.

May-June and September-October: the sea is warm by June and still warm through September, the coast road is quieter, ferries have space, and rental prices sit well below the July-August peak. Winter is the cheapest of all and fine for Zagreb, Istria and Plitvice, though many island and coastal businesses close. If you must go in peak summer, book the car months ahead.

Continue Planning Your Trip