So, any rentals going are getting higher rates. 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. Car hire in Croatia is essential in these situations. Happy exploring! Thanks for sharing the info of traveling through Croatia. Most big chain companies dont even offer that option, and the ones that do charge a lot of money for it and it can only be arranged by advance request. If you are asking in terms of car robberies and other theft-related things, you should not be worrying it is very safe there! The cheapest months to pick up your car hire in Croatia are February and January . First, you need to check with your credit card company if you are covered for renting a car in Croatia. Reviews online are mixed but reviews are mixed for every car rental company so was hoping to hear from someone personally. 2. 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. Do many companies deliver cars to hotels or is it just pick ups from main towns and airports? Things to Check Before You Rent a Your Car 7. For example, the road distance from Umag, in the northwest to Dubrovnik in the southeast is over 700 km. In fact, snow can be pretty heavy during the winter in Croatia! What are my options? 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. But, they pre-charged 60 for the fuel (in case we don't refill). Thanks for any information that may help. We like the idea of driving ourselves so we can explore a little going both ways to Rovinj. 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. Oh, and dont forget about Split and Plitvice! I dont have any personal experience renting with Sixt, but I dont think Sixt is worse (or better) than others. Neum is a coastal town in Bosnia and Herzegovina. Thank you. I am positive is has to do with the illiquidity of the lending market ie banks lending to companies. Just like with many other services in Croatia (accommodation, tours, activities, etc), the car rental business is very seasonal. Parking can be a pain in most European cities and some old Croatian towns are no exception there are very few free parking spaces and you will most likely not find them in touristy places. Hi Frank, We are planning a trip to Croatia and related areas with the kids aged 4 and 7, they are good travellers. A bit concerned about the large damage deposits charged to our credit card. Thank you so much for supporting this project! Zdravo, traveller (thats Hello in Croatian!). Will I not be able to pick up the car even if I have enough money in my bank account on my debit card? 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). We also have a couple of nationwide companies. Do you know a car company that will do this? Priti, Let me know did you drive without IDP? to charge you extra for crossing from Croatia into Bosnia or Montenegro. This fee covers any damage that can occur onboard the ferry. Most start at around 70. Parking in Dubrovnik is extremely expensive (50-75 kn per hour). 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! We will be traveling around 3 weeks and will also travel to Slovenia. Weve been looking on carrentals.com, but arent sure about the rules. So I know it is very dificulty parking in Dubrovnick. 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. Things to Consider When Renting a Car in Croatia, 5. Dont even ask why this is the case, as it makes no sense to me. We are looking for a car rental for just one day from Dubrovnik to Split and back. We use Oryx for long-term car rental, and so far we had a good experience with them. 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. So you do not need to buy additional insurance, even if some companies insist that you should buy it. PRO TIP: Many car rental companies will try to upsell you extra insurance saying that you need it to cross the border. I also listed 2 prices for high and low season, so youre prepared no matter what time of year youre traveling! I dont want them telling us we need to return the car if we arent ready. Parking in popular destinations in Croatia can be a real hustle, and it costs money. This post might also contain affiliate links to other sites, like accommodation or activities. from Zagreb to Split is about 200 kunas (~US $30). 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. The pandemic caused a complete collapse of demand for hire cars as overseas travel came to a standstill. Enjoy your holidays! Again, tools like AutoEurope and RentalCars can help you figure out the logistics of your trip a whole lot easier. 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 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. Copyright 2023 | Built on Wordpress using Generatepress Theme | Web Hosting by WPX Hosting, Where to go in Croatia: 16 Places Not To Miss, Driving in Croatia: All You Need to Know Before You Go, Travel Croatia on Budget: Money-saving Tips. 6 years ago Save Most companies charge a one-way fee for a short hire. great blog you and your wife is running here, I am also an expat living in Croatia where i run a few websites, i was wondering if you could contact me on E-mail. Disclaimer: Please note that some of the links on this page might be affiliate links, which means that at absolutely no extra cost for you we will earn a small commission for a sale generated through the website. However, we will keep the information as it is, and updated for the time when the travel to Croatia returns to normal. We created this blog to help you plan your perfect trip to Croatia. Car rental companies don't keep enough cars with automatic transmissions. Additional Fees for Car Rentals in Croatia, 6. A Land Rover Discovery or an off-road Jeep is the perfect car for the job. 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! 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. Expect to pay around 30 for this service. If their prices are the most competitive, just go with it. Since roads in Croatia are great, well-marked, and easy to navigate, GPS is not really necessary to have. Having a difficult time seeing if this is even possible. Hour. 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! NOTE: If you are planning to cross the border through the city of Neum, you do NOT need to pay any cross-border fee. Please let us know in the comments below. I thinks the electronic payment system is too much hustle for a short stay in Croatia we have some traffic jams at the toll booths, however they are not excessive nor they happen often. Any suggestions? Well be making an overnight stop at Velika Kladusa in Bosnia on our way. We are travelling in may 2018: Hi Frank, So how much can you expect to pay to rent a car in Croatia? Just last summer, a friend asked me to negotiate a deal on a car rental in Dubrovnik. What do you think of these two issues? You can rent a car in Dubrovnik and drive to Montenegro, or take your car rental from Croatia to Bosnia and back. Depending on the length of time rented, daily rates ranged from $41 to $75. Thanks for the notes. From what I can tell, it offers the most competitive prices. Some companies also charge extra insurance for senior drivers above 70 years of age. I still have a question So I have a valid Canadian Drivers license and dont need the International Driving Permit to drive in Croatia (Norwegian citizens, by the way), Sorry for all the questions, any reply would be greatly appreciated :). The same is true about breaking into the car to steal your belongings. But, some other companies have a cross-border fee even for the EU member states. All ZipCar trips come with secondary insurance, maintenance and gas included on all trips. Rovinj is generally more expensive than some places (more touristy but with good reason) so keep that in mind, too. Hello,Frank and Vera.Nice information.Thanks.We are a family of four,none of us can drive.We are looking for a car to take us from Split to Dubrovnik stopping at Mostar (to save a day and a day trip)but all I find is that I can save money only if one person skips as a silly rule that car or van can have only 3 persons or less or next 8 persons or less paying exorbitant amounts.Please point me to some cheaper alternatives.My time is also limited for me to allow me to travel by bus. We want to rent a car in Zagreb, than go to Bosnia, Albania, Montenegro, Macedonia and Serbia. Hi Charlie, The question is which one will you be the most comfortable in? However, in the case of accident, you will be directly charged by car rental company for any damages. 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!). I'm going on a road trip from San Francisco to New York in a month and I was checking several car rental companies. I highly recommend investigating this option before signing any insurance papers that the car rental company gives you. You didnt mention my main concern about renting a carautomatic transmission. This is really the question of hard negotiation with car rental companies, as they prefer (of course!) Do all/most of the companies allow this, or are there certain rental companies that are better for these pick-up/drop-off locations? Its a good idea to familiarise yourself with these limits, but as a rule, always keep your eyes peeled for speed limit signs that will guide you according to the appropriate speed limit. Great web site you have, learning a lot about Croatia travel. 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). Just take a look at the above picture wouldnt you want to rent a car and drive along that beautiful coastline? You really dont have to have it but I always do just in case since it clearly says Croatia is member. I am not sure about Albania and Kosovo. It takes extra time to price out five companies, but prices can vary widely depending on . 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. Your car should come with a green card accepted in both countries. I would like to rent a car in Venice and drop off in Dubrovnik. They have many highways and the views you can catch from a simple 10 km road trip are stunning! If your credit card comes with full coverage for a car rental, you must wonder whether you need to purchase additional insurance when renting a car. Have you heard of them and are they okay? Contacts (Split Airport Office) | t: +385 21 895 164 | e: [emailprotected] | Website. They'll do the same when you return the car (unless you are fully covered, in which case they don't really care.). The vieeeews! PRO TIP: Never try booking at the last minute during peak season in Croatia (which is June to September) as you may not find a vehicle to rent, and if you do, the price will be heavily escalated due to the high demand! NOTE: When driving on small countryside roads, pay attention to animals they can jump on the road completely unpredictably. Renting a car from Zagreb can cost almost double the price of renting a car from Dubrovnik or Zadar. I`m trying to find a car rental company that allows border crossings to as many Balkan countries as possible. However, parking fees apply in Split, Dibrovnik, or Zagreb even for hotel parkings. What Documents Do You Need to Rent a Car in Croatia, 4. 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. Since my company often rents with Oryx, and I know people there, I called and asked for the best deal they could make me for a day rental. Be it coastline, waterfalls, lakes or some stunning landscape, you will want to see it in your own time, not from a window of a bus. Drop Off. The simple answer is No! My husband and I are planning a 10 day trip to Croatia in June and were trying to figure out our itinerary. They also have a smartphone app with all the rest stops in the country-check it out on their website! 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! 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. It is one of the largest car rental providers in Croatia. 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. 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. A car is definitely the best way to explore Croatia. It usually amounts to 20 per rental. The rates go up as the demand increases and as the inventory decreases. colleen. Pick Up. Aaaand, last but not least, plan for some waiting time at the border, they might have a line (you will have 2 border controls actually one into Bosnia and one after entering Croatia again). Renting a smaller, compact car is more practical. And then you will need to claim it with your credit card company. I wanted to rent a camper, but no automatic transmission and no AC for the whole unit. But its just a bad luck, for the most time car rental goes fine. That must be a bit exaggerated, no? But I dont have a credit card. If you plan to stay do most hotels/hostels/etc provide some sort of parking? So, book your car as soon as possible if you can't drive a manual. For Dubrovnik, the best is to leave the car somewhere in Lapad, or Gruz, and use public transport or explore on foot. New research shows that the cost of hiring a car abroad has shot up by an average 125%. 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. All roads are asphalted, and wide enough, with clear road signs. Its able to handle a variety of different terrains while still providing you with the maximum amount of comfort. Since you wont have a car on the island of Hvar (if I understood well), you can travel from Hvar Town, and Stari Grad. document.getElementById( "ak_js_1" ).setAttribute( "value", ( new Date() ).getTime() ); This site uses Akismet to reduce spam. This time Im driving up the coast and back but of course will have to transit Bosnia I suspect they will claim we need to buy it but I plan to refuse. Can we do it? Is a cross-Balkan road trip futile? Some All car rental companies in Croatia will insist on charging you an additional cross-border fee. Your information has been invaluable. AIR Awareness Outreach; AIR Business Lunch & Learn; AIR Community of Kindness; AIR Dogs: Paws For Minds AIR Hero AIR & NJAMHAA Conference A Fiat Panda or a Hyundai i30 would work well in this situation and wouldnt cause too much of a hassle if you decide to drive into a small village. The combination of Covid and global car manufacturing shortages has created a perfect storm in the car hire industry. Where are you coming from to Plitvice? Contacts | t: ++385 99 733 0862 | Website. I recommend driving a mini Fiat 500 or a Fiat Punto as they can easily navigate the tiny back roads without any hassle. 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. For drivers under the age of 25, the blood alcohol level limit is 0% while driving. Costing just 124 on average for a week's rental and fuel, those looking for an adventure on wheels could roam around the tropical southeast Asian country for over eight . Alternatively, you can maybe try to request it directly from the insurance company with whom the car is insured *if you can get this information). Anyways, . Very informative! I was surprised to find out that car rental companies charge extra for taking a car on a ferry. Hertz. how much is gas in and around Zagreb through Dubrovnik in the high season of travel? An RV or Camper Van is the perfect vehicle to rent in this situation. Hello. If you pay for full coverage directly with the car rental company, they won't even bother to check the car for possible damages. ), 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. In the country I live in, it was recommended by the Sixt office that it would be better to set up the contract for fewer days so I wont be stuck with the entire bill. ATTENTION: We all know that the views are marvelous and you want to snap some pictures for your memories, but PLEASE make sure you move your car to the side and you are not blocking the road, ok? it might be true. Travellers will be paying on average 317 to rent a compact family car (e.g. Top car rental brands. This is a bucket list trip. Prices have risen so high about 88 percent from a year ago that rental cars are now one of the key factors driving the biggest rise in inflation since 2008. I keep reading good reviews about Last Minute Car Rental, but something seems amiss with it being significantly cheaper and the reviews not being very plentiful. Some subjects we've already covered above, but nevertheless, we'll summarise our best Croatia car rental advice and tips below. You need to be over 25 to rent a car in Ireland via most rental companies. 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.