why is car hire so expensive in croatia why is car hire so expensive in croatia

Here are the average prices that you can expect to pay to rent a car in Croatia for a day. If you choose to rent a car at the airport, it usually will often cost more as the car rental company has to pay extra for a license to operate at the airport. PRICE: HRK 1700 (US $250.5) HRK 1750 (US $258) per day. Renting a car from Zagreb can cost almost double the price of renting a car from Dubrovnik or Zadar. You didnt mention my main concern about renting a carautomatic transmission. In fact, snow can be pretty heavy during the winter in Croatia! We were thinking we would fly into either Dubrovnik or Zagreb and and take the scenic route by driving around the country and staying in hotels along each stop. Would I be better off taking the ferry to Rovinji and renting the car there and dropping off in Dubrovnik? I would like to have some foundation if Im going to argue with the company. is it the one located at Ul. If you decide on a winter road trip in Croatia, my best advice is to stick to the coastal towns. Because your insurance covers it all. We returned a car a week ago and just got charged 42 for being on an island. Although I dont know of any issues crossing the border with a rental car from Croatia to Monte Negro. Dubrovnik is the only exemption. document.getElementById( "ak_js_1" ).setAttribute( "value", ( new Date() ).getTime() ); This site uses Akismet to reduce spam. Croatian Auto Club (HAK) provides road assistance, should you need it. 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. 2. Keep cold-weather gear, a blanket, as well as food and drinks in the car when youre driving. Komarna is perfectly located to make day trips to Dubrovnik, the Peljesac peninsula, island Hvar, Brac, Korcula, and Mljet, and even a couple of sights in neighboring Bosnia, like Mostar and Kravica Waterfalls. ), Awesome Things to Do in Split, Croatia (+5 Unusual Ones! The most expensive month in which to hire a car is August with prices for for a Compact class) starting at 45.06. I see so may small cars that only hold 2 suitcases. Whether you want to travel the country or road trip across the continent, therell be a car hire option for you! There are a few general rules that apply in Croatia that you should adhere to at all times on Croatian roads. 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. However, buying insurance from them isnt your only option. And I hope youll visit Croatia soon! It might be cheaper. Copyright 2014-2023 MissTourist | All Rights Reserved |. Opting for car hire in Croatia is your best option for travelling quickly and comfortably to the country's hidden reaches. Parking in popular destinations in Croatia can be a real hustle, and it costs money. However, you will need to pay a cross-border fee. Car hire in Croatia starts from just 8.20 per day for a (economy) class car from Budget. However, the minimum age for renting a car in Croatia is 21. i would like to rent a car in split; what is the closest rental car pickup/dropoff location to the downtown area? 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! 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. I'm going on a road trip from San Francisco to New York in a month and I was checking several car rental companies. You only need an international driver license if your driver license is not written with Latin letters. Smaller cars also have a much better fuel efficiency which will save you money along the way! Hi Frank, fellow Canadians here, looking to rent a car to go from Split to Plitvice Lakes, then on to Rijeka where we will drop it off 2 days later. What is the best way to take a ferry from Hvar to mainland, where we can pick a rental car for further driving into Plitvice lakes, Rovinj etc. If you don't want to take a chance, this extra insurance will cost you around 20 per rental. But, in my opinion, Google maps are the best and the cheapest navigation solution in Croatia. The A1 motorway connects Zagreb with Ploce to the south; The A6 motorway connects Zagreb with Rijeka to the west, The A8 motorway connects Rijeka with Kanfanar in Istria (this road is mostly a 4-lane motorway although there are still a few sections with a single-carriageway road), The A9 motorway connects Pula with the Slovenian border via Kanfanar, The A3 motorway connects the Slovenian border to the west with the Serbian border to the east via Zagreb. But to experience all those places and take advantage of Komarna's awesome location, you'll need a car. Yes, they do. 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). 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. I dont want them telling us we need to return the car if we arent ready. Most start at around 70. They try to charge extra. I`ve heard that border crossings can be a challenge from Croatia to Monte Negro, from Serbia to everywhere and so on. Reviews online are mixed but reviews are mixed for every car rental company so was hoping to hear from someone personally. Sometimes our readers like to know if they can pick up a rental car in one country, and then drop it off in another country. Thanks in advance for your reply, were looking forward to experiencing Croatia! I highly recommend investigating this option before signing any insurance papers that the car rental company gives you. This also means that rental prices increase dramatically in these two summer months. We have a question about car rentals. Another thing to consider is traffic and limited parking in the town centers. You can see the updated list of speed cameras here. Where to pick up your car. You can rent a car in Dubrovnik and drive to Montenegro, or take your car rental from Croatia to Bosnia and back. Having a difficult time seeing if this is even possible. Do not try to take off or stop in any hurry. I have an Indian Driving License but no IDP. You bring both US drivers licence and international with you. You can drive a rental car from Croatia to Bosnia, Montenegro, or any other European country. 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. Car hire in Croatia is essential in these situations. I recommend using an economy car that doesnt guzzle petrol but provides plenty of comforts. Any recommendations or providers you would suggest? This means that, for example, you can take a road trip from Zagreb to Dubrovnik, but take a plane back from Dubrovnik to Zagreb. Renting in Plitvice Lakes might prove difficult. It happened to us just this past winter in Spain. I have noted that you say drivers license of our country is sufficient to allow us to drive in Croatia. Just like with many other services in Croatia (accommodation, tours, activities, etc), the car rental business is very seasonal. Again, tools like AutoEurope and RentalCars can help you figure out the logistics of your trip a whole lot easier. This shortage has had a flow on effect to the tourism industry, with many visitors cancelling their trips due to a lack of hire car availability. I just want to be sure the if we do that, that Sixt in Croatia will allow me to extend the rental. I`m trying to find a car rental company that allows border crossings to as many Balkan countries as possible. As I mentioned earlier, I recommend looking at RentalsCars.com so you can filter your options to find the best deals for whatever your plans are. 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. Hope this helps! We are heading over in October.. to the lokva rogocznica area I believe, looking forward to getting out and about. Thanks for the great tips! They are brokers and work with all major car rental companies in Croatia. 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? Are you wanting to road trip across Croatia or do you need to look for car hire companies that allow cross-border travel? Unfortunately, Im foreign is not going to help you much if youre pulled over for not following the laws of the road. 1. The company has offices in all major Croatian towns, including Zagreb, Split, Zadar, Rijeka, Pula, and Dubrovnik. Great web site you have, learning a lot about Croatia travel. Hidden additional fees that you werent aware of can leave you way over budget after your road trip. 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. For example, if renting with Oryx, you can arrange on request, a drop off of their car rental in one of the following towns outside Croatia: Budapest (Hungary), Ljubljana and Maribor in Slovenia, Belgrade in Serbia, Sarajevo, and Mostar in Bosnia & Herzegovina, and Podgorica and Tivat in Montenegro. Rather, get up a little speed before the hill and keep a steady pace going up. how much the parking costs and how easy is it to find it depends on the season, the city, distance to the center, etc. 2) We were also told for our week long rental which I had already paid for insurance through Expedia, that we would really need to buy two additional insurances (one was car body, the other for tire damage) or they could charge us for small scratches etc. This part of Bosnia actually separates Croatian territory into two parts, separating the Dubrovnik region from the rest of Croatia. Make sure you do have sufficient funds on your card, and extra money left for your trip. This is more difficult than it might seem. There are many ferries in Croatia and, as you might use that option to get to one of the islands, I decided to write about this as well. Because the rules mentioned on Alamo mention IDP required. If you are not used to manual ones, it will be worth your while to learn how to drive a manual or take someone along who can drive a manual car, as it will save you a pretty penny! Im happy to hear this, thank you! PRO TIP: Make sure you have winter tires on your car rental-they are mandatory from mid- November to mid-April! Youll feel much more independent without feeling like you need to rely on anyone else. Are you looking for cheap car hire in Croatia? Thanks. Getting a car on rental seems to important if you are traveling in Croatia. Are there camping grounds? 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 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. 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 . If something happens on the road (I am sure you will be just fine the roads are great and the drivers are polite! 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. Just take a look at the above picture wouldnt you want to rent a car and drive along that beautiful coastline? A multilane motorway crosses the country from east to west, and south to north. Hi Im Yulia! And by the way do you have any tips for us? Uber Carshare was one of two credited car share . Hi Frank, Finding your site very useful thanks. All roads are asphalted, and wide enough, with clear road signs. If you plan to stay do most hotels/hostels/etc provide some sort of parking? 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. Once in the town, you can use public transport to move around, or you can simply explore a town on foot. The companies will authorize your credit card for a security deposit (unless you purchase full coverage insurance). 6 years ago Save Most companies charge a one-way fee for a short hire. Weve been looking on carrentals.com, but arent sure about the rules. Hi Lyla, Report inappropriate content ratheniska ireland Level Contributor 146 posts 3. I have A question. If you have rented cars abroad before, you probably know that most car hire companies offer an insurance policy to go along with the car, but these are generally very overpriced and sometimes cost more than hiring the car. Rovinj is generally more expensive than some places (more touristy but with good reason) so keep that in mind, too. In June, it was about 88% more expensive to rent a car or truck than during the same time last year, contributing to the inflation hitting US consumer prices, according to newly . If you have a question, it is always best to drop it in below in the comments this way other readers can benefit from the answer as well! For drivers under the age of 25, the blood alcohol level limit is 0% while driving. New research shows that the cost of hiring a car abroad has shot up by an average 125%. Although looks are great, there are a few other things you should take into consideration when choosing a rental car: READ MORE: Where to Stay in Rovinj, Croatia (and Why!). you will need to pay either by credit card or cash. A few questions: However, parking fees apply in Split, Dibrovnik, or Zagreb even for hotel parkings. I still dont understand why this happens, but it apparently happens all the time. How Much Does It Cost to Rent a Car in Croatia? We are planning the same, Hi Frank so glad I found your site! We offer affordable rates on a premium fleet of luxury and economy vehicles.You can choose to rent daily, weekly or even long term. We only recommend the things we actually use ourselves and never accept useless sponsored crap. Pick Up. For example, the road distance from Umag, in the northwest to Dubrovnik in the southeast is over 700 km. From Split to Dubrovnik is ~ 60 kunas (~ US $8). For Dubrovnik, the best is to leave the car somewhere in Lapad, or Gruz, and use public transport or explore on foot. and the rental car rates are not getting any lower, trust me! Contacts | t: +385 98 983 6950 | e: [emailprotected] |Website. We want to rent a car in Croatia, but take that car into Montenegro, and then leave from Montenegro. Of course, car rental companies write their rules and can insist to either play by their rules or rent a car somewhere else. NOTE: If you are planning to cross the border through the city of Neum, you do NOT need to pay any cross-border fee. There's plenty to consider and we'll demystify car rental insurance in Ireland below. Would I need an international driver license? half had done so in Spain, where a week's rental costs 355 in Malaga . Thank you. Many of my cards are issued with chips and printed numbers. Flying into Zagreb and renting an automatic from Sixt. Currently, you can expect to pay around 10 kunas (US $1.40 USD) per liter. And before you know it, they took 30 for cleaning the vehicle?! Do you know where can I parking the car and how much a diary? The same goes for any extra equipment you might need (like baby seats, or WiFi router). On this site, youll find countless resources and travel tips. 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. Thank you for supporting our blog! In general, a car rental that might cost $30-80 per day might be a lot cheaper to rent by the week.) I am trying to decide between buses or a rental car for my family of 3 (2 adults and a 3 year old). Hertz. Your information has been invaluable. Well be making an overnight stop at Velika Kladusa in Bosnia on our way. So, if you dont want to take the risk, extra insurance just for this will be about 15-20 EUR extra. Choose your pick-up location, compare and find the car that best suits you and your budget. Some information on this site isn't maybe completely accurate at the moment, due to the changed circumstances caused by coronavirus pandemic. You can try to negotiate with a car rental company to waive these fees. you ask. The cheapest month to hire a car in Croatia is January with prices starting at 13.26 for an Economy class cars. A network of national toll-free roads usually runs parallel to the toll motorway. Campings in Croatia are awesome, well-equipped, and youll find them all along the coast. 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? Car Sell-Off. Its possible to arrange it, but youll pay extra. E65) is the most popular national road. 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. However, even in these situations, we would recommend that you rent a car for a day and take it on Croatian roads to explore beyond your basedestination. Thanks for all the info. 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. You'll be able to take in the sights, travel off the beaten path, see more in less time, and have the freedom to stop wherever and whenever you feel. Check Rentalcars for deals: https://goo.gl/aozEKx. What kind of car insurance would we need to rent a car in Croatia? Places to visit in the car this Easter with the family! Sixt Croatia is a part of the Sixt global network. Please let us know in the comments below. Don't forget to refill your car before you drop it off. insist that the car rental company gives you this paper. Neum is a coastal town in Bosnia and Herzegovina. Happy exploring! Expect to pay around 30 for this service. Hi Trude, From what I can tell, it offers the most competitive prices. Read full disclaimer here. First, you need to check with your credit card company if you are covered for renting a car in Croatia. Four- and six-lane motorways connect the country from North to South, West, and East. So, book your car as soon as possible if you can't drive a manual. Thanks for your site and all the information you provide. So, I hope you liked my post, traveler! I think that the rental companies are among those businesses who were highly financed/leveraged for their stock by the car firms/banks. I and my husband are going from zagreb to dubrownick by car and intend stop in Plitvice Lakes, Split, Zadar, etc. 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 . If I were to rent a car, I want to confirm that my US State (Wisconsin) license will be enough. Thank Yulia for the wonderful advice. At the time of writing the cheapest compact car for 2 weeks in August at Almeria is 44% (or 330) cheaper in Spain than it is at Murcia. Are there any issues you see in the two border crossings or other issues with our plan to travel by car versus public transportation to Rovinj? In my humble opinion, Croatia is one of the most beautiful destinations to travel through by car! Car rental companies also offer additional equipment to rent like GPS, WiFi hot spot packages, child and baby seats, an extra driver, etc. We've rented a car from Vetura a couple of times in the past and would recommend them if you are in Istria. My son would need the car to get back to the airport in Zagreb. You better make sure to book your car rental in Croatia well ahead. Were a Canadian-Croatian couple living in and exploring Croatia. Expect to pay anywhere between 15 and 20 more a day for an automatic transmission. 3. Roadtripping is an amazing experience, especially if you're on vacation or headed toward a destination you're particularly excited about (like a Jonas Brothers concert, to give a hypothetical example). Hi, Frank: A validdrivers license from your home country is sufficient to drive in Croatia. Ive noticed that Croatian car rental companies do not offer PLI coverage that compares with, say, the UK or USA. The roads are in perfect condition and the views are breathtaking! I recall seeing a comment on another website regarding a requirement the the credit card have raised/embossed characters. However, if you don't succeed, then expect to pay around 50 per rental or 10 per day depending on the company. If you are four or more people traveling together, you will need to rent a full-size car with a big trunk, or even a van in order to comfortably fit you and your luggage. Priti, Let me know did you drive without IDP? The most popular car rental brands in Croatia are Sixt, Fleet Rent, Avantcar, ORYX and Enterprise. Having the convenience of your own transportation makes a huge difference when traveling in Croatia! And the latter has good reviews. Would love your advice on how Croatian rental car companies compare to international companies when it comes to renting a car in Croatia and driving to Hungary, Slovenia and Italy before returning in Croatia: We like the idea of driving ourselves so we can explore a little going both ways to Rovinj. Driver aged between 26 - 69. Do you have any good companies that youve personally used in the city and not the airport of Dubrovnik? But, if you take extra insurance with a car hire company in Croatia then the amount authorized on your credit card is much lower, and usually amounts to the rental cost + 200 for any additional costs, like for example parking tickets, late drop-off, or if the fuel tank isn't full. Or, that's what car rental companies will try to make you do. 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. If it`s not exaggerated, do you know how long we should count on border crossings to take? Heres everything you need to know about renting a car in Croatia! Normally, every car in Croatia is insured for accident throughout Europe, they all come with so-called green card, but car rental companies dont always include it in the rental (although they should). This will help you out a lot, especially when driving on the highways! Enjoy your holidays! But I would rather think no. 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. Ill be travelling from split to dubrovnik back up towards mostar and back to split. It simply gives you much more flexibility. You generally don't need to worry about driving in Croatia as the road infrastructure is great here. The company was the Gold Car, thanks for asking! -Anna. Again, the only way to do stay in one place and explore the wider region is by car. Ive booked a car through rentalcars, and Ive also decided to buy the Full Protection cover with them, though a friend warned me that at the car rental office (itll be with Alamo), that there they will try to sell me Ferry insurance as well. Would appreciate your thoughts/tips, and if you have any other advice Id be very grateful. Be sure to adjust the wing mirrors, rearview mirror and the seat to your liking before leaving on your journey. A bit concerned about the large damage deposits charged to our credit card. Also try a quote to Split airport rater than the city centre as there tends to be more competition there. Considering the fact that there are plenty of small towns with narrow cobbled streets in Croatia, the best advice I can give is the smaller the better! It's worth booking online even a few hours before you go to pick the car up. If true is that still current? 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). This will be for August 2019 dates. You will then need to claim this cost with your insurer (in this case, your credit card company). But its just a bad luck, for the most time car rental goes fine. The type of car that you should rent depends a lot on your own preferences. 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. In certain instances, rental companies offer discounts if you hire at the last minute, but this is a risky move as prices might increase due to demand so I dont recommend it. What I cant ascertain from the websites is if we can take the car into Italy and costs of going through the border. Your on line travel guide is terrific. Car theft is rare in Croatia I wouldn't worry about that. I really recommend these businesses as theyve made booking rental cars a breeze whenever Ive hired a car abroad! and how difficult to find in tourist spots? 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. You will be able to pay in kunas or in eur and pay in cash or by card. We are going to Croatia next month. While Croatia is a small country, it's also pretty long. Luckily Croatia has plenty of ferry routes that can transport you and your car, so you can continue your road-trip! Why is Spain car hire so expensive? You also need a valid driving licence (more on requirements in the guide below) and a valid ID. weve mentioned that automatic transmission needs to be required in advance and it costs extra. If I want to spend a night in Mostar with a rental car, would they charge me more? Oryx is a company based in Zagreb but with offices all over Croatia. To. 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. Hi Morten, Be sure to factor these costs into your budget! We LOVE your website! Hi Charlie, We always book our rental car in advance. And here are our reasons why! They also have a free smartphone app with real-time information about road conditions, congestion, and live webcams. You mentioned that you should be able to drive a croatian car rental into Bosnia and Montenegro with no further insurance other than a green card. As for the car rental company, we always use Rentalcars.com. The pandemic caused a complete collapse of demand for hire cars as overseas travel came to a standstill. Very informative! Any advice would be highly appreciated. Don't forget that prices change dynamically with the demand. Also, do you know if its possible to rent cars starting in Korcula? A big portion of your traveling budget is going to go towards fuel if youre taking a road trip. If you look for a cheap car rental in Croatia, we recommend using brokers like Rentalcars or similar websites. How Much Does It Cost to Rent a Car in Croatia? It connects Rijeka to the northwest with Dubrovnik to the southeast. Do I need to get any specific insurance while there? A/C is a must-have as summers here are really hot. We fly into and out of Zagreb. But do I still need the IDP if I plan to drive and stay (one night) in Bosnia? Book early to secure the best rate (same for the extra services you might need such as GPS navigator, baby seat etc.).