Car rental in Croatia - Dream Holidays on the Adriatic

The age requirements for renting a vehicle in this country can vary depending on which company you have selected for your car rental in Croatia. Some suppliers have certain requirements for drivers up to the age of 26, in which case a Young Driver Surcharge might be added to be paid locally when you arrive to collect your car. Senior citizens should note that some providers may also apply a Senior Driver Surcharge to older drivers, which is also payable locally at the time of collecting the vehicle. It's easy to find out if the local rental company will charge you an additional young or senior driver's fee; all you have to do is click on the blue and white info (i) button next to the car details after making a quick search in the Auto Europe booking engine, after which you will find all the age related details clearly stated in the Driver Information section. Please note that it is of paramount importance that you always enter the age of the main driver when making a search because we require from you the most accurate information possible relating to your booking.

Yes. With one of Auto Europe's very popular one-way car rental offers you'll have the opportunity to pick up your vehicle in one place such as Zadar and drop it off somewhere else like Dubrovnik, for instance. Some of the local car rental companies charge an additional fee for cars collected and dropped off in different locations and the rates shown in our search engine results include the amount (including VAT), which in the majority of cases is paid locally. Other suppliers might also permit an international one-way car hire when the pick-up and drop-off points are located in different countries, which is significantly more expensive. When making a quick search in the Auto Europe booking engine, please state your intentions to travel to other countries at the time of making your booking either online or by calling one of our award-winning rental specialists, because this is the only way that we can confirm whether or not it will be possible for you to cross the border with the rental company you have selected at the time of booking. Certain travel restrictions might apply, which is why it is important to inform us of your travel plans and read the terms and conditions of your booking very carefully beforehand.

Yes. In most cases, the main driver will be asked to present a valid credit card in his or her name at the time of collecting rental vehicle. The reason for this is because the local supplier will want to block a sizeable security deposit for the duration of the rental period, which could be charged in the event of the vehicle getting stolen or damaged in any way. But rest assured because the amount of this deposit will be promptly released back onto the card once the vehicle has been returned undamaged. In the case of top-end vehicles in our Luxury category, some suppliers might demand a second credit card (also in the main driver's name) due to the high value of such vehicles. It couldn't be easier to find out which cards your chosen supplier will accept. All you need to do is click on the blue and white info (i) button in the Auto Europe booking engine search results where you'll see all related details in the Mandatory Deposit Information and Supplier Payment Policy Information sections (subject to the local vehicle provider's payment policies). For more detailed information, please take a look at our dedicated page about credit cards and security deposits when renting a car in Croatia.

When it comes to driving, Croatia is very similar to many other European travel destinations, with the road rules and traffic regulations mostly the same. In general, the roads and motorways in Croatia cover the main areas of interest to tourists (most notably the coast) are very well maintained. Like in most European countries, driving is on the right with overtaking on the left. It is against the law to use a mobile phone whilst driving except with a hands-free kit and young passengers must also travel using an adequate child or booster seat. Furthermore, everyone in the vehicle (including those sitting in the back) must always wear a seatbelt when the vehicle is in motion. Needless to say, drink-driving is illegal with a limit of no more than 0.5g/l of blood alcohol level. If you run into trouble with your car, such as an accident, breakdown or the tank runs out of petrol, the first thing for the driver to do is wear the hi-visibility jacket located in the boot and place the warning triangle at least 20 metres behind the car. Petrol stations are very common in Croatia and are generally open from early morning until late at night, with some in the larger towns and cities operational around the clock, particularly near the airports. If the worst happens and you are involved in an accident or need road-side assistance for whatever reason, then please call both Auto Europe and your local car rental supplier.

Yes. All the motorways throughout Croatia (and some bridges) are designated as toll roads, with payment made at the respective booths with the amount clearly displayed on the approach. Tolls in Croatia can be paid in cash or using a card, with some lanes reserved for an electronic toll collection device (please consult your supplier if you intend to use the motorways a lot during your trip). The amount you pay is determined by the category of vehicle you are driving. For further information on the motorways and other toll roads in Croatia, please visit the main Croatian Motorways website. Please note that it is solely the driver’s responsibility to pay all tolls and any overdue tolls will be sent to the car hire supplier which, in turn, will be forwarded to the driver, along with any additional administrative fees.

Coverage is a very important consideration when booking a car rental in Croatia. The good news is that all the rates published on the Auto Europe website already include the minimum amount of insurance required under Croatian law, so you already protected as soon as your booking is confirmed. This incorporates the basics, such as Liability Insurance, Theft Protection (TP) with or without excess and Collision Damage Waiver (CDW), also with or without excess (excess amounts are set by and depend on each respective car hire supplier. For added peace of mind, many of our customers purchase our extremely popular Full Damage Protection coverage for just a few extra euros in order to be fully insured should something happen on the road.

Something to look out for when you arrive to collect your vehicle is the possibility that the local car rental staff might try to sell you their own products which will probably be surplus to your requirements if you have already opted for Auto Europe's coverage during the booking process. Please remember that whatever they try to sell you (such as Personal Accident Insurance, Personal Effects Coverage, Super CDW, Seguro Relax Insurance, Road Assistance, etc.) is completely optional and cannot be refunded by Auto Europe once you have signed for it locally. Please consult our car rental coverage guide for more detailed information before deciding which option is best for you.

Yes, of course! Adding an extra driver to your rental contract is always a sensible idea if you are travelling long distances or embarking on a relaxing road-trip with friends or family members. Auto Europe facilitates this very easily during the booking process and all you have to do to check the cost (if any) is click on the blue and white info (i) icon in the car details after making a quick search, after which you'll find all the Additional Driver details in the Driver Information section. Please note that the fee (which varies according to which car hire company you have chosen) is paid directly to the supplier when you arrive to collect your car rental in Croatia. However, Auto Europe offers Free Additional Driver deals throughout the year in selected destinations, so make sure you check these out before finalising your booking.

Of equal importance is the fact that only people included in the terms and conditions of the rental contract can drive the vehicle. Anyone who is not will be excluded from the collision damage coverage (CDW) and theft protection (TP) if they drive the car and something happens such as the theft of the vehicle or any damage caused during an accident, etc. Any driver who is not on the contract will liable for the full amount of the damage caused in the event of a collision or theft of the car, so it's best to avoid that by taking advantage of Auto Europe's special offers at the time of booking, or alternatively you can pay the additional driver's fee locally.

Yes, but only on local ferries. Please bear in mind that additional fees might apply which will vary from supplier to supplier. Travelling across borders on international ferries (to neighbouring Italy, for example) is strictly prohibited. Before travelling on local ferries, it is essential that you notify both Auto Europe and your chosen supplier prior to doing so. Furthermore, we strongly recommend that you book your ferry tickets in advance because they often these sell out very quickly, particularly during the summer months.

No, but you will need to purchase a green card from your car rental supplier. Not having it will mean that you are not authorised to take the car out of Croatia and therefore will not be following the rules of the rental agreement. Before confirming your reservation, it's always best to check that the car hire company allows you to take the car into those countries because each vehicle provider has its own rules and regulations.

Yes, if you are planning to drive a car rental in Croatia between the months of November and April. It is highly recommended that you fit winter equipment to your vehicle and many of the local car hire suppliers will do this for you with the cost being included in your quotation.