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. Check that there is a full tank of gas in the car before you leave, as that is the policy with rental cars. Renting a car in Croatia is easy, if perhaps a bit more on the pricey side compared to other European countries. Renting a car in a foreign country is a puzzle so this has given me extra ideas on how I will go about it. You also need a valid driving licence (more on requirements in the guide below) and a valid ID. 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. Thankyou for sharing this amazing information. NOTE: When driving on small countryside roads, pay attention to animals they can jump on the road completely unpredictably. 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". Although I dont know of any issues crossing the border with a rental car from Croatia to Monte Negro. I suggest you look further inland, especially if you are renting a car. It simply gives you much more flexibility. 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. And we even had full insurance. It usually amounts to 20 per rental. If youre going to be on the road for hours, youre going to need to know the rules of the road and other crucial driving tips to get by. 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. Of course, car rental companies write their rules and can insist to either play by their rules or rent a car somewhere else. Thanks for the great blog/information! Hi James, I would like to rent a car in Venice and drop off in Dubrovnik. Parking in popular destinations in Croatia can be a real hustle, and it costs money. However, parking fees apply in Split, Dibrovnik, or Zagreb even for hotel parkings. There shouldnt be any problems if you choose a company that allows border crossing, such as RentalCars. Maybe you can rent it there and then drop it off in Zagreb. This seems like a scam, though. You bring both US drivers licence and international with you. In order to rent a car in Croatia, youll need a valid drivers license from your home country; an international driving licence is only required if your license is not written with Latin letters (for example, if it is in Chinese or Cyrillic). What Documents Do You Need to Rent a Car in Croatia, 4. You can see the updated list of speed cameras here. A validdrivers license from your home country is sufficient to drive in Croatia. This means that the earlier you book your car, the less you will pay. Thanks for the notes. and how difficult to find in tourist spots? Insurance4CarHire has some of the best independent insurance prices and offers very comprehensive coverage! Is this easy to do? Zip car charges rental rates per hour, in many cases starting at $11 per hour, or daily rates starting at . Im hoping to rent a car this August (5 Aug, 2019) at Plitvice Lakes and travel to Zagreb and drop off there. I have A question. 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. This piece of document proves that your car has at least a minimum level of insurance required and it is recognized and accepted by different European countries. This simply means that you'll need to secure your car well in advance if you plan on visiting Croatia in July and August. Cheers "The business model seems to benefit both the rental . I still have a question So I have a valid Canadian Drivers license and dont need the International Driving Permit to drive in Croatia They charge an extra insurance for taking a car on the ferry. thanks for stopping by. If you decide to cover that with public transport, it will take a longer time, and sometimes travel isn't straightforward. A Land Rover Discovery or an off-road Jeep is the perfect car for the job. We offer deals on extras, child seats, GPS, additional driver and insurance packages to help you have an safe . 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. Below is a list of some of the car hire agencies in Croatia. AIR Awareness Outreach; AIR Business Lunch & Learn; AIR Community of Kindness; AIR Dogs: Paws For Minds AIR Hero AIR & NJAMHAA Conference 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!). For more, be sure to subscribe to my newsletter. Weve been looking on carrentals.com, but arent sure about the rules. . PRO TIP 1: Also, take into consideration that renting a manual car is almost half the price of renting an automatic. Do Croatian companies have offices in Hungary/Italy/Slovenia? Be sure to factor these costs into your budget! Dear Frank, 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. Thanks! I got an offer for VW Golf for 75 a day; only to find that same car on the Rentalcars website for 50 . Here are the very few rental companies that charge a senior driver fee in some countries. 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. Thanks. Thank you. With all this variability in mind, the average price to rent a car has typically been expected at between 50 to 100 dollars per day.1 However, recent events have caused an upswing in that average. However, I would take this cost as definitely one of the costs worth negotiating about with the car rental companys representative. Again, the only way to do stay in one place and explore the wider region is by car. They knew their average demand and had enough cars available for practically everyone to use. What I cant ascertain from the websites is if we can take the car into Italy and costs of going through the border. If you are wondering about the road conditions, I can say that they are close to perfect! It may be more than a little stressful trying to figure it out after youve departed, Make sure that your drivers license is with you and valid for at least the next 6 months. However, if you leave it too late you can miss out," he says. I recommend driving a mini Fiat 500 or a Fiat Punto as they can easily navigate the tiny back roads without any hassle. Im curious what your experience is and if youd recommend this company. They try to charge extra. 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. With car hire prices so high try to book a deal that only requires you to pay a small deposit now. You can then individually check the reviews for each car rental company. Additionally, I assume that my state issued insurance will not cover and costs. you ask. You can't visit all the interesting sights by bus, because it is complicated and slow. Things to Check Before You Rent a Your Car 7. I just dropped you a word via email. Can we do it? If you pay for full coverage directly with the car rental company, they won't even bother to check the car for possible damages. It is gorgeous, though. Both countries are non-EU, and roaming charges are huge. We like the idea of driving ourselves so we can explore a little going both ways to Rovinj. And if you purchase anything using these links, we earn a little commission with no extra costs for you. So, Nova is definitely worth a try if you are looking to rent a car in Croatia. Do you know a car company that will do this? So, what do I do with my car when I arrive at a destination? Summer can be quite a bit more expensive, unfortunately. Looking for inexpensive means for two adults and one child. Hi Im Yulia! Their prices are competitive, and what's even better, you have all offers in one place, and you can easily compare them, and shop for the best car rental Croatia deal. We always use Rentalcars.com when searching for and booking a car online, and we highly recommend using this site. 3. Yulia is traveling the world for over 12 years now and she LOVES to share her tips from around the world with the others! I have a question regarding car hire companies.. which company is the best to use in split airport? The companies will authorize your credit card for a security deposit (unless you purchase full coverage insurance). The cheapest month to hire a car in Croatia is January with prices starting at 13.26 for an Economy class cars. By the way, Croatia has loooots of road webcams, so it would be hard to trick the system in any way. 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. Mid- and full-size cars make a good choice if you plan on traveling long distances, as they provide more room. If you don't want to take a chance, this extra insurance will cost you around 20 per rental. 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. Keep cold-weather gear, a blanket, as well as food and drinks in the car when youre driving. Can you tell me if there are any restrictions from the rental car companies about this countries and which one is the best for this type of trips? Do not try to take off or stop in any hurry. Hour. Again, tools like AutoEurope and RentalCars can help you figure out the logistics of your trip a whole lot easier. We figured as we had prepaid for the car this would be covered. This surcharge usually amounts to 25 per rental. It might be cheaper. If true is that still current? Thank you for this wonderful blog! Please let us know in the comments below. 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. The Tasmanian Government stepped in, offering a $1,000 Hire and Drive Reimbursement grant to encourage Tassie locals to consider sharing their cars. If you press your foot down on the accelerator too hard, it will cause your wheels to spin. Also, do you know if its possible to rent cars starting in Korcula? Is a cross-Balkan road trip futile? 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. It is safe to rent a car in Croatia. Places to visit in the car this Easter with the family! Which places would you recommend to see if we have about 7 days in the area, including outside of Croatia if we can squeeze it all in? My son would need the car to get back to the airport in Zagreb. Here you can check the updated rates for all the highways in the country (in English!). 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. Thanks. 1. Dropoff options (Enterprise rental) are Lucko or Airport. But, some other companies have a cross-border fee even for the EU member states. 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. Do you have any advice about this issue? When it comes to insurance your credit card typically covers it your US insurance company does not. How much does a car rental in Croatia cost? What route do you recommend taking? A meal at McDonalds starts at around 10 euros for the most basic budget version, if someone is earning 20-30 euros an hour they're considered very lowly paid. If their prices are the most competitive, just go with it. They are brokers and work with all major car rental companies in Croatia. Some All car rental companies in Croatia will insist on charging you an additional cross-border fee. Also, Nova rent a car Croatia has been voted the best rental car company in Croatia to work for. Thanks for the great tips! With our secure online booking system you can search the cheapest prices online for Car Hire Croatia. 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). Thanks and congatulations for your blog. ), Best Hotels in Split, Croatia Accommodation Recommendations, 5 Unmissable Things to do in Pula, Croatia, Where To Stay In Plitvice Lakes The Best Hotels, Iceland Car Rental Everything You Need to Know Before You Go, 6 Top Places to Stay in Dubrovnik, Croatia. You only need an international driver license if your driver license is not written with Latin letters. Car theft is rare in Croatia I wouldn't worry about that. Frank, If you prefer to book directly with a car rental company, as opposed to renting through a broker, you'll find all major international car rental companies in Croatia. What do you think of these two issues? Here are fare examples for the most popular highways: Hint: if you are going on the weekend when the traffic is bad, you can also take an older smaller but prettier road timewise it will take you the same long, but its charming! 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. What would you suggest? It takes time for your car to get up to speed in snow or ice and it takes longer for the car to slow down. Before the pandemic, rental agencies had a good number of cars available. Hi, would you know if car rentals can charge you an island fee? It happened to us just this past winter in Spain. If you plan to stay do most hotels/hostels/etc provide some sort of parking? My questions 1) Is there any actual regulation relating to your statement that rental car agencies are NOT supposed to charge for the green card (to cross international boundaries). 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 Charlie, So how much can you expect to pay to rent a car in Croatia? You should count tolls into your budget however, the fees are a lot lower than in many other countries. . 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. In the low season, for the same cars, you'll pay 20 and 25 respectively. In case of car problems outside of Croatia, what car rental companies do you think would be the best to go with? This will save you a lot of hassles along the way! A/C is a must-have as summers here are really hot. Make sure the size of the car is appropriate. But I dont have a credit card. 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. A one-way car rental fee amounts to as much as 120 per rental. It should be as going anywhere else. For Dubrovnik, the best is to leave the car somewhere in Lapad, or Gruz, and use public transport or explore on foot. Car rental companies don't keep enough cars with automatic transmissions. To my knowledge, majority of bus companies offer up to 80% discount for kids up to 3 years old. Thanks in advance. I am interested to know what the parking is like if you do use a rental car, especially in the bigger towns/cities. 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. 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. ), you can call a road assistance number with English speaking operators 1987. That was how much Hotwire told me it would cost to rent a car for a three-day weekend when I searched last month. 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. Travellers will be paying on average 317 to rent a compact family car (e.g. 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 . ), Awesome Things to Do in Split, Croatia (+5 Unusual Ones! Reviews online are mixed but reviews are mixed for every car rental company so was hoping to hear from someone personally. Smaller cars also have a much better fuel efficiency which will save you money along the way! And by the way do you have any tips for us? The only way to reach Dubrovnik from Ploce is to drive along national road D8, also known as Jadranska magistrala (Adriatic coastal road). Most start at around 70. I think we need to head there straight from Zagreb and rental car seems to be our best option (quickest and flexibility). half had done so in Spain, where a week's rental costs 355 in Malaga . I dont want them telling us we need to return the car if we arent ready. 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!) 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 . When planning your road-trip, use this site to schedule which stations youll need to stop at along the way. From Split to Dubrovnik is ~ 60 kunas (~ US $8). Some information on this site isn't maybe completely accurate at the moment, due to the changed circumstances caused by coronavirus pandemic. However, in the case of accident, you will be directly charged by car rental company for any damages. Let me start by assuring you that there is no right or wrong choice here the road conditions in Croatia are close to excellent, so any car you rent will do. So, any rentals going are getting higher rates. Copyright 2014-2023 MissTourist | All Rights Reserved |. But do I still need the IDP if I plan to drive and stay (one night) in Bosnia? Any suggestions to keep a 5 five year old will be appreciated. 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. I have an Indian Driving License but no IDP. The minimum driving age in Croatia is 18. We fly into and out of Zagreb. You'll absolutely need a car in Croatia if you decide to stay in any small coastal village, like our village Komarna. Learn how your comment data is processed. Portugal is the most expensive country in Europe to hire a car, according to new research. Hi Frank, We are planning a trip to Croatia and related areas with the kids aged 4 and 7, they are good travellers. Thats why Ive created this guide to help you make informed Croatia car hire decisions. Ive noticed that Croatian car rental companies do not offer PLI coverage that compares with, say, the UK or USA. I also listed 2 prices for high and low season, so youre prepared no matter what time of year youre traveling! The exact sum depends on the company; please check with the company or it will also say on the site right away if you are using any of the price comparison websites, Check if the company youre hiring your car from is charging additional fees for, Ask the car rental company if there are any, Check if there is a fee for picking up the car in premium locations, for example, car hire in, Inspect the car thoroughly for scratches and dents on the exterior. I am traveling to the Bellevue Hotel in Losinj with an adult son. However, car rental in many places is still surprisingly cheap. D8 (ex. Best Car Rental Companies 4. What Documents Do You Need to Rent a Car in Croatia 3. Car hire in Croatia is essential in these situations. 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). For the latest news how coronavirus influences travel in Croatia, and what measurements we are taking, check our Visiting Croatia in times of Covid-19 post. Priti, Let me know did you drive without IDP? Prices have increased accordingly. You will then need to claim this cost with your insurer (in this case, your credit card company). Thanks for all the info. 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. Some companies can charge triple the price for gas, so better do it yourself in advance. Sometimes you'll want to stay at one centrally-located place and make day trips to popular sights in the region. you will need to pay either by credit card or cash. PRO TIP: When driving in cities, both big and small, try to avoid the rush hours the traffic is absolutely crazy then! There are a few situations that we can think of where you'll be better off without a car. 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. Can spouses drive a car rented in Croatia for free or do I need to purchase the extra driver for my husband? 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!). Hour. Some companies don't charge any extras for taking a car across the border to another EU member state, as well as to Switzerland and the UK. Opting for car hire in Croatia is your best option for travelling quickly and comfortably to the country's hidden reaches. Fifty-five percent of executives are very or extremely concerned about labour shortages, according to KPMG. Thanks so much!! 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 Supply and demand. I highly recommend investigating this option before signing any insurance papers that the car rental company gives you. What do you think about? Hi Lyla, 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. Thank you. In the UK and USA liability coverage is in the millions, however there is little or no PLI offered in Croatia. Get a quote for 3 days. All ZipCar trips come with secondary insurance, maintenance and gas included on all trips. 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. Paid parking (marked as P with a blue background) is quite easy to find and it usually costs anywhere between 1 and 2 EUR per hour (parking machines usually accept only coins and in kunas, the local currency). This article was super helpful. In a whiplash-inducing turn of. Do you have any experience renting a car from the company Sixt? In general, a car rental that might cost $30-80 per day might be a lot cheaper to rent by the week.) Daily fees for extras are as follows*: But, in my opinion, Google maps are the best and the cheapest navigation solution in Croatia. NOTE: If your accommodation provides free parking that is an extra bonus-make sure to ask them in advance! A bit concerned about the large damage deposits charged to our credit card. Hi Frank, Finding your site very useful thanks. According to Paula Twidale, senior vice president of AAA Travel, average rates have risen as high as 134 dollars per day.2. Do they have provisions of hiring a driver or private tour? There are many others throughout the country, but those are the ones with the heftiest toll fees. Renting a car in Croatia can also be the most economical way to travel through the country depending on the time of year you visit, the number of people in your group, and how long in advance you book your Croatia car rental. In New South Wales, the average daily cost of a rental car listed on Kayak between December 1 and January 31 was 72 per cent more expensive compared to the same time last year. In order to reach Dubrovnik the shortest way is actually to pass through Bosnia in Neum. If youre going to be traveling long distances, make sure the car is equipped with cruise control. This will be for August 2019 dates. Croatia is an absolutely incredible place to go on a road trip! I really recommend these businesses as theyve made booking rental cars a breeze whenever Ive hired a car abroad!
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