Headlights should also be used at night and when visibility is less than 100 meters, Winter tires are required from November to March, however, your car rental company should sort this out before you hire the vehicle. 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. Book online today with the world's biggest online car rental service. New research shows that the cost of hiring a car abroad has shot up by an average 125%. Top car rental brands. Hi Noah, If I were to rent a car, I want to confirm that my US State (Wisconsin) license will be enough. Hello Uber Carshare was one of two credited car share . We've rented a car from Vetura a couple of times in the past and would recommend them if you are in Istria. So, youll only need to apply for an international drivers license if your current drivers license is not written in Latin letters. Parking in Dubrovnik is extremely expensive (50-75 kn per hour). 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. In this post, youll find all you need to know about car rental in Croatia, from reasons to rent, recommended types of vehicles, car rental companies, and rates, to our best car rental tips and deals. Besides sea and beaches with beautiful islands there are also many beautiful places that you can look after which lies in country side. If you are wondering about the road conditions, I can say that they are close to perfect! But I find it strange they have charged you afterwards. Whether you want to travel the country or road trip across the continent, therell be a car hire option for you! And if you purchase anything using these links, we earn a little commission with no extra costs for you. What I cant ascertain from the websites is if we can take the car into Italy and costs of going through the border. and how difficult to find in tourist spots? Check that there is a full tank of gas in the car before you leave, as that is the policy with rental cars. Huge difference! Split is the best place. Here are a few tips for driving in the cold: If youre driving inland during winter, youre likely to encounter snow at some point. Dont even ask why this is the case, as it makes no sense to me. For drivers over the age of 25 the legal blood alcohol level limit is 0.05% as long as you dont get into an accident, Using a mobile phone while driving is illegal unless you have a hands-free device, Between the end of October and the end of March, dipped headlights should be used during daylight hours. When planning your road-trip, use this site to schedule which stations youll need to stop at along the way. You can rent a car in Dubrovnik and drive to Montenegro, or take your car rental from Croatia to Bosnia and back. In the UK and USA liability coverage is in the millions, however there is little or no PLI offered in Croatia. Am I still permitted to drive in Croatia and Bosnia? 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. Before you leave with your car rental, people at the car rental company will inspect your car for any damages, and note them on paper. Search Every car company has different rules when it comes to cross-country car hire, and they approach every rental individually. Here are 4 car types I recommend for different types of vacations: RECOMMENDED CAR TYPE: If youre going to be doing a lot of long-distance traveling between cities and seeing a lot of open roads, youll need something comfortable with room for plenty of luggage. Yulia is traveling the world for over 12 years now and she LOVES to share her tips from around the world with the others! In my opinion, the best time to road-trip through Croatia is from May to June or from September to October. Here are the very few rental companies that charge a senior driver fee in some countries. So I know it is very dificulty parking in Dubrovnick. What Documents Do You Need to Rent a Car in Croatia 3. You can drive a rental car from Croatia to Bosnia, Montenegro, or any other European country. Why is Spain car hire so expensive? 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. 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 . Besides, only traveling by car allows you to make as many stops as you want in order to discover all those beautiful places along the way. I dont have any personal experience renting with Sixt, but I dont think Sixt is worse (or better) than others. Any suggestions to keep a 5 five year old will be appreciated. Thanks for all the info. I`m trying to find a car rental company that allows border crossings to as many Balkan countries as possible. Observe speed limits, dont use your phone while driving, wear a seatbelt at all times, and have dipped headlights on 24/7 during the winter (October through March). Are you looking for cheap car hire in Croatia? 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. Car hire in Croatia starts from just 8.20 per day for a (economy) class car from Budget. Sometimes you'll want to stay at one centrally-located place and make day trips to popular sights in the region. And we even had full insurance. We LOVE your website! We are looking for a car rental for just one day from Dubrovnik to Split and back. The company has offices in all major Croatian towns, including Zagreb, Split, Zadar, Rijeka, Pula, and Dubrovnik. They have English-speaking operators. We haven't yet rented through Nova, but we see lots of their cars on the roads here. Hello. The companies will authorize your credit card for a security deposit (unless you purchase full coverage insurance). 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. A few questions: You will then need to claim this cost with your insurer (in this case, your credit card company). There's specific requirements. Advertisement. 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). Save on luxury, economy and family car hire. There shouldnt be any problems if you choose a company that allows border crossing, such as RentalCars. We are going to Croatia next month. However, if youre not afraid of a little cold, and dont want to hit the tourist hotspots, winter just might be the perfect time to head to the coast of Croatia. You can then individually check the reviews for each car rental company. So how much can you expect to pay to rent a car in Croatia? 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. Thanks for the great blog/information! The rates go up as the demand increases and as the inventory decreases. ), you can call a road assistance number with English speaking operators 1987. It isn't common, but be prudent and mindful, and don't leave your stuff in sight. Can it be avoided with our own rental car insurance proof? I also noted you would recommend a car for families. I will be visiting Croatia and Bosnia in late June and checked with the Bosnia embassy in my country regarding the requirement for IDP. Thanks. Shop around! Additional Fees for Car Rentals in Croatia 6. However, if youd like to travel in the summer, youll have the benefit of experiencing the warmest weather and youll meet plenty of other travelers along the way (but be ready to see the higher rates for accommodation and transportation, as in any other country). Thanks in advance for your reply, were looking forward to experiencing Croatia! Ask beforehand how much this will cost you as car rental companies sometimes charge extra for this service. Hope this helps! In high season, expect to pay around 60 a day for a mini-size car, and 70 per day for an economy-size car. Things to Consider When Renting a Car in Croatia, 5. However, if you don't succeed, then expect to pay around 50 per rental or 10 per day depending on the company. Even for the high season, you can secure a mini-size car for as low as 45 a day if you book 6 or more months in advance. The type of car that you should rent depends a lot on your own preferences. So, again, to have your car rental sitting in a parking lot makes no sense. There may be a fault that the company is not aware of. Great Post very informative! Currently, the lowest age any rental company charges is 60 years old. Note: Drivers from the UK need a full driving licence, their driving licence code, proof of address like a bank statement and photo ID to rent a . 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. Our best car rental in Croatia advice and tips, Different pick-up and drop-off location for car hire in Croatia, Insurance: Full coverage on a credit card, What kind of drivers license I need to rent a car in Croatia. Make sure you do have sufficient funds on your card, and extra money left for your trip. If true is that still current? Is there a company that will let us pick up in Zagreb and drop off in Split? Hi Lyla, Will I not be able to pick up the car even if I have enough money in my bank account on my debit card? Very informative! The most expensive month in which to hire a car is August with prices for for a Compact class) starting at 45.06. The speeds are measured in kilometers per hour and your rental car will reflect that, too. Return car to the same location. The cheapest months to pick up your car hire in Croatia are February and January . Do not power up hills. I would like to ask about the car parking fee in the city how much average for the cost ? 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! You should count tolls into your budget however, the fees are a lot lower than in many other countries. A big portion of your traveling budget is going to go towards fuel if youre taking a road trip. 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. We figured as we had prepaid for the car this would be covered. Prices have increased accordingly. 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. We created this blog to help you plan your perfect trip to Croatia. NOTE: When driving on small countryside roads, pay attention to animals they can jump on the road completely unpredictably. You can't visit all the interesting sights by bus, because it is complicated and slow. And before you know it, they took 30 for cleaning the vehicle?! If you use Google maps for navigation, dont forget to turn the roaming off if, and when traversing through Bosnia, or Montenegro. For more, be sure to subscribe to my newsletter. Within the final 48 hours, prices almost always go up. Compare the prices of the best car hire companies. NOTE: If your accommodation provides free parking that is an extra bonus-make sure to ask them in advance! Additional Fees for Car Rentals in Croatia, 6. There are over 20 car hire locations in Croatia, and the most popular city is Dubrovnik. Get an assistant to tell you where the lights, aircon, indicators, and other controls are so you dont have to figure it all out on your own. 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. I think you will be better taking a ferry to Rovinj, and renting a car there. 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. So, book your car as soon as possible if you can't drive a manual. Best time to hire a car. This is the most scenic road in Croatia. If you worry about car rental companies trying to screw you, well, I understand you completely. Thank you for creating this wonderful site. Are you wanting to road trip across Croatia or do you need to look for car hire companies that allow cross-border travel? were all very expensive, about $2000 for a 2 weeks rental, while renting the car from a british agency like Car Hire 3000 was way cheaper ($300). Contacts (Split Airport Office) | t: +385 21 895 164 | e: [emailprotected] | Website. 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. -Anna. I got an offer for VW Golf for 75 a day; only to find that same car on the Rentalcars website for 50 . 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. 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. Although I dont know of any issues crossing the border with a rental car from Croatia to Monte Negro. However, try to be firm and insist on using the green card, and refuse to pay extra. 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. The same is true about breaking into the car to steal your belongings. 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! From what I can tell, it offers the most competitive prices. If you press your foot down on the accelerator too hard, it will cause your wheels to spin. Just last summer, a friend asked me to negotiate a deal on a car rental in Dubrovnik. Keep cold-weather gear, a blanket, as well as food and drinks in the car when youre driving. You need to be over 25 to rent a car in Ireland via most rental companies. Renting in Plitvice Lakes might prove difficult. The cool part about price comparison companies is that you can be sure you are protected by the reseller if something goes wrong. Queues at borders can be long, particularly in high season (July, August), from my experience I would count an hour between Croatia and Bosnia in Neum, and another hour at Croatia-Montenegro border. But it's not worth $1,200. They'll do the same when you return the car (unless you are fully covered, in which case they don't really care.). Thankyou for sharing this amazing information. I am happy to see you are interested in visiting Croatia, one of my favourite countries! Have you heard of them and are they okay? I will be coming from Venice. If youll be traveling out of Croatia, make sure the car rental company allows cross border travel. I think that the rental companies are among those businesses who were highly financed/leveraged for their stock by the car firms/banks. 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? Youll also need a suitable car for the job! Roads in Croatia are in excellent condition, so regarding the roads, any car will do. 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. But do I still need the IDP if I plan to drive and stay (one night) in Bosnia? But you'll need to pay a young driver's surcharge. Hidden additional fees that you werent aware of can leave you way over budget after your road trip. 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 not try to take off or stop in any hurry. And the latter has good reviews. You will be able to pay in kunas or in eur and pay in cash or by card. This means that, for example, you can take a road trip from Zagreb to Dubrovnik, but take a plane back from Dubrovnik to Zagreb. Parking in popular destinations in Croatia can be a real hustle, and it costs money. In fact, snow can be pretty heavy during the winter in Croatia! Your car should come with a green card accepted in both countries. You can see the updated list of speed cameras here. Would I need an international driver license? You didnt mention my main concern about renting a carautomatic transmission. If you dont want to pay the extra charges (it can get quite costly, actually) youll need to bring a baby seat with you, In my opinion, the GPS option is completely unnecessary as Google maps works great in the country and it is available offline if previously downloaded. Do you have any good companies that youve personally used in the city and not the airport of Dubrovnik? We are travelling in may 2018: Hi Frank, Hi Morten, Thank you! 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. And I hope youll visit Croatia soon! However, if you leave it too late you can miss out," he says. If it`s not exaggerated, do you know how long we should count on border crossings to take? PRO TIP: Many car rental companies will try to upsell you extra insurance saying that you need it to cross the border. 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.