Car hire in Croatia is the best way to take in the Dalmatian Coast at your own pace, from the walls of Dubrovnik to the turquoise lakes of Plitvice, the Roman heart of Split and the island-dotted Adriatic. Compare cheap car hire in Croatia from trusted suppliers in a single search, with real-time availability, no hidden fees and free cancellation on most bookings. Prices start from around £4 per day for a small car in the off-season, so sorting your hire car before you fly is what keeps the trip cheap and the itinerary yours.
This guide covers everything you need for car hire in Croatia: how the ticket-based motorway tolls work, the rules for taking a car to the islands by ferry, the driving rules and documents, realistic costs by car class, and where to base your trip. One thing to settle up front, “car hire” and “car rental” mean exactly the same thing in Croatia, and you will see both terms used here and at every rental desk in the country.
How Much Does Car Hire in Croatia Cost?
Car hire in Croatia costs from around £4 per day for a small economy car in the off-season, rising to roughly £25 to £50 per day for a compact outside summer and £60 to £100 in the July and August peak. The cheapest months are November to March, and the dearest are the summer holidays. Split, Zadar and Zagreb tend to be cheaper than Dubrovnik for car hire in Croatia. The table below gives a realistic guide for cheap car hire in Croatia booked online ahead of travel.
| Car class | Typical price (booked ahead) | Best for |
|---|---|---|
| Economy / Compact | From £4/day | Couples, coastal roads, low fuel costs |
| Intermediate / Full-size | £25 to £55/day | Families, road trips, comfort |
| SUV | £45 to £85/day | Groups, luggage, inland touring |
| Automatic / Premium | £55 to £110/day | Comfort, automatics, long drives |
| Rates are indicative for cars booked online in advance and vary by location, season and supplier. July and August are the most expensive; the winter months are far cheaper. Automatics cost around £15 to £20 a day more than manuals. | ||
For the cheapest car hire in Croatia, book ahead, choose a manual over an automatic (automatics are scarce and carry a £15 to £20 daily premium), pick up and drop off at the same location to avoid a one-way fee that can run from £150 to £350, and travel outside July and August. A young driver surcharge of around £7 to £10 per day applies to most drivers under 25.
Tolls in Croatia: Take a Ticket, Pay on Exit
Croatia does not use a motorway vignette. Instead it runs a distance-based toll system: you collect a ticket when you join a tolled motorway and pay at a booth when you exit, with the cost depending on how far you have driven and your vehicle class. Keep that ticket safe, as you cannot exit without it. This is the part of car hire in Croatia that catches first-timers out, especially anyone expecting the sticker-vignette system used in nearby Slovenia or Austria.
At the exit you can pay in euros, by debit or credit card, or with an ENC electronic device if your hire car has one fitted. As a guide, the full A1 run from Zagreb towards Split costs in the region of 25 euros for a standard car. For the 2026 season the familiar barrier-and-booth system is still in place. Croatia is rolling out a new free-flow system, branded Crolibertas, that will let you drive through without stopping, but that is not due to go fully live until March 2027, so for now plan to stop and pay at the booth.
One route quirk worth knowing: the A1 motorway does not reach all the way to Dubrovnik. It ends near Ploce, and from there it is about another 90 minutes on the coastal road, now via the Peljesac Bridge, which lets you skip the old border crossing through Bosnia. Factor that final stretch into your timings if Dubrovnik is your destination.
Taking a Hire Car to the Croatian Islands
Most suppliers do allow you to take a hire car on the car ferries from the mainland to islands such as Hvar, Brac and Korcula, but car hire in Croatia comes with two ferry rules that trip people up. First, you usually cannot use a hire car on inter-island ferries (hopping island to island) or take it abroad by sea, only mainland-to-island and back. Second, there is often an extra island or ferry fee, sometimes charged after the trip, so confirm it with your supplier in advance rather than being surprised at the end of your car hire in Croatia.
Car ferries in summer get busy and many require a reservation, so book the crossing ahead in July and August. For a trip focused on a single island, weigh up whether you even need the car on the island at all, as some travellers leave the hire car at the mainland port and rent locally or use taxis instead. On the larger islands a car earns its place; on small ones it can be more hassle than help.
Driving in Croatia: Rules of the Road
In Croatia you drive on the right and overtake on the left, the same as most of mainland Europe and the opposite of the UK. The motorways are modern and well maintained, signage is clear, and the coastal Adriatic Highway (the D8) is one of Europe’s great scenic drives, a highlight of any car hire in Croatia. Here is what matters most before you set off.
Speed limits
Speed limits in Croatia are 50 km/h in urban areas, 80 km/h on rural roads, 110 km/h on dual carriageways and 130 km/h on motorways, unless signs state otherwise. Speed cameras and traps are common and fines can be steep, so watch the signs closely. Headlights must be used in poor visibility, and from late autumn to spring dipped headlights are required during the day.
Seat belts, phones and alcohol
Seat belts are mandatory for all passengers, children under 12 cannot sit in the front, and younger children need an appropriate child seat. Using a hand-held mobile phone while driving is illegal, so set up a hands-free cradle first. Croatia enforces a strict drink-drive limit of 0.05% for most drivers and zero tolerance for drivers under 24, so it is safest to avoid alcohol altogether when driving.
Documents and emergencies
Carry your full driving licence, passport and the rental and insurance papers at all times. UK, EU and EEA licences are accepted and an International Driving Permit is not required for UK drivers, though it does no harm to carry one. There is no requirement to display a country sticker, so ignore any older advice suggesting otherwise. The single emergency number across Croatia is 112.
What You Need to Hire a Car in Croatia
To hire a car in Croatia you must be at least 21 years old and, with most suppliers, have held a full licence for at least two years. Drivers under 25 usually pay a young driver surcharge, and a few premium categories set a higher minimum age. You will present your licence, passport and a credit card in the main driver’s name at pickup, and a security deposit is held to cover the insurance excess.
Every rental for your car hire in Croatia includes basic cover with a high excess. You can reduce that excess with the supplier’s damage waiver or, more cheaply, a standalone car hire excess policy bought before you travel. Since Croatia uses the euro, the tolls, fuel and parking that come with car hire in Croatia are all priced in euros. Inspect the car for existing damage and photograph it before you drive away, and return it on time with the agreed fuel level to avoid extra charges.
Where to Base Your Car Hire in Croatia
Croatia stretches a long way down the Adriatic, so most visitors pick a region and drive it properly. With six main airports at Dubrovnik, Split, Zadar, Pula, Rijeka and Zagreb, car hire in Croatia gives you plenty of starting points. These are the areas worth building a trip around.
Split and central Dalmatia
The best all-round base for car hire in Croatia: Diocletian’s Palace in Split, the ferries to Hvar and Brac, and easy reach of the Krka waterfalls and the Makarska Riviera. Split airport has the widest choice of rental desks and keen prices.
Dubrovnik and the south
The walled old town is the star, though it is pedestrian-only and parking is pricey, so car hire in Croatia earns its keep here on day trips to the Peljesac wine peninsula, the island of Korcula and the Konavle valley. Remember the motorway does not reach this far south.
Istria and the north
The Istrian peninsula in the north feels almost Italian, with hilltop towns, truffles and the Roman arena at Pula. Inland, Zagreb makes a base for the Plitvice Lakes, while a coastal run on the Adriatic Highway ties the whole country together.
For official driving advice and current conditions, the UK government travel advice for Croatia is the most reliable source, and the RAC’s guide to driving in Croatia is a useful summary of the local rules.
Frequently Asked Questions: Car Hire in Croatia
How much does it cost to hire a car in Croatia?
Car hire in Croatia costs from around £4 per day for a small economy car in the off-season, rising to roughly £25 to £50 per day for a compact outside summer and £60 to £100 in July and August. The cheapest months are November to March. Booking ahead and choosing a manual secures the best price, as automatics cost £15 to £20 a day more.
How do toll roads work with a hire car in Croatia?
Croatia has no vignette. You take a ticket when you join a tolled motorway and pay at the booth when you exit, based on the distance driven. Keep the ticket safe, as you cannot exit without it. Pay in euros, by card, or with an ENC device. A new free-flow system called Crolibertas is due in March 2027, but for the 2026 season you still stop and pay at the booth.
Can I take my hire car on a ferry to the islands?
Usually yes, from the mainland to an island and back, but most suppliers do not allow inter-island ferry trips or taking the car abroad by sea. An extra island or ferry fee often applies, sometimes charged afterwards, so confirm it with your supplier first. In summer, reserve the car ferry crossing in advance as they get busy.
What age do you need to be to hire a car in Croatia?
You must be at least 21 to hire a car in Croatia, and most suppliers require a full licence held for at least two years. Drivers under 25 usually pay a young driver surcharge of around £7 to £10 per day, and some premium car classes set a higher minimum age.
Do I need an International Driving Permit for car hire in Croatia?
No. UK, EU and EEA driving licences are accepted in Croatia as they are, so UK licence holders do not need an International Driving Permit. Carrying one does no harm, but it is not required. You should always carry your passport and the rental and insurance documents in the car.
Compare Cheap Car Hire in Croatia
From the Dalmatian Coast to Istria and the islands, Croatia was made for the road trip, and a hire car is the only way to reach the beaches, waterfalls and walled towns at your own pace. Sort your car before you fly, keep your toll ticket safe, and check the ferry rules if the islands are on your list. Getcarhire.com compares cheap car hire in Croatia across trusted suppliers in one search, with free cancellation on most bookings, so you can lock in the right car at the right price and spend your time driving, not comparing.
