With car hire prices so high try to book a deal that only requires you to pay a small deposit now. 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. You can arrange different pick-up and drop-off locations. 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. 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. If you're around this age, it's worth checking the terms and conditions when you book the car to make sure you get the best deal for you. Things to Consider When Renting a Car in Croatia, 5. Thats why Ive created this guide to help you make informed Croatia car hire decisions. Car rental companies belong to this group of businesses. We will be traveling around 3 weeks and will also travel to Slovenia. More on that below in the text. Hi Yulia. What do you think about? Daily fees for extras are as follows*: However, I would take this cost as definitely one of the costs worth negotiating about with the car rental companys representative. For example, the road distance from Umag, in the northwest to Dubrovnik in the southeast is over 700 km. Renting a Car in Ireland: My BS-Free 2023 Guide - The Irish Road Trip Since you wont have a car on the island of Hvar (if I understood well), you can travel from Hvar Town, and Stari Grad. Driving the next day driving to Umag. Roads in Croatia are in excellent condition, so regarding the roads, any car will do. As for the way Croats drive they might seem a bit too hasty for some foreign drivers, but other than that, they are very polite, so no worries there! If I want to spend a night in Mostar with a rental car, would they charge me more? The earlier you book your vehicle, the better rate you will have. half had done so in Spain, where a week's rental costs 355 in Malaga . Car Hire in Croatia - Cheap Rental Deals | easyCar.com And the latter has good reviews. Car Hire Croatia - Book Cheap Car Rental Croatia | Rhino There are very few companies doing cross-country rentals, and the fees are just way too high. 2. if yes, can it be done through the rental company? Thanks Peter. I am positive is has to do with the illiquidity of the lending market ie banks lending to companies. Any advice would be highly appreciated. You would need a local sim card with some credit on it, but once you have that, it is easy-peasy you just need to send an SMS to a specific number (associated with your parking space) with your license plate as text, and the money will be withdrawn from your phone balance! There's plenty to consider and we'll demystify car rental insurance in Ireland below. Currently, you can expect to pay around 10 kunas (US $1.40 USD) per liter. Why is Spain car hire so expensive? 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! There are tolls on various motorways in Croatia including E59, E70, and E71. Yulia is traveling the world for over 12 years now and she LOVES to share her tips from around the world with the others! You really dont have to have it but I always do just in case since it clearly says Croatia is member. Car Sell-Off. Ask beforehand how much this will cost you as car rental companies sometimes charge extra for this service. How Much Does It Cost to Rent a Car in Croatia? The big bang brands (Hertz, Europcar, Avis.) Book early to secure the best rate (same for the extra services you might need such as GPS navigator, baby seat etc.). i would like to rent a car in split; what is the closest rental car pickup/dropoff location to the downtown area? Do you know what the deal is? Hour. -Anna. Each was for 100 Euro; we bought one for the car body. Report inappropriate content ratheniska ireland Level Contributor 146 posts 3. We created this blog to help you plan your perfect trip to Croatia. Many guests staying in our apartment in Komarna do just this. Thanks! A validdrivers license from your home country is sufficient to drive in Croatia. Flying into Zagreb and renting an automatic from Sixt. There are a few general rules that apply in Croatia that you should adhere to at all times on Croatian roads. While Croatia is a small country, it's also pretty long. They try to charge extra. All ZipCar trips come with secondary insurance, maintenance and gas included on all trips. Currently, the lowest age any rental company charges is 60 years old. 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. Hi Lyla, 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. Are there camping grounds? 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). Weve been looking on carrentals.com, but arent sure about the rules. Parking in Dubrovnik is extremely expensive (50-75 kn per hour). 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). 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! A car is definitely the best way to explore Croatia. The same goes for any extra equipment you might need (like baby seats, or WiFi router). Buses are ok if travelling to Dalmatia, but not on islands or in Istria. But seriously, just follow common sense rules and you will be fine! In case of car problems outside of Croatia, what car rental companies do you think would be the best to go with? In my opinion, the best time to road-trip through Croatia is from May to June or from September to October. I am concerned reading the reviews of car rental places in Split. The combination of Covid and global car manufacturing shortages has created a perfect storm in the car hire industry. Is it anything to worry about, have you heard of ant issues getting it back? Well be making an overnight stop at Velika Kladusa in Bosnia on our way. Hello. There are over 20 car hire locations in Croatia, and the most popular city is Dubrovnik. So you do not need to buy additional insurance, even if some companies insist that you should buy it. Or, that's what car rental companies will try to make you do. Read full disclaimer here. But to experience all those places and take advantage of Komarna's awesome location, you'll need a car. NOTE: If your accommodation provides free parking that is an extra bonus-make sure to ask them in advance! Hi Anna, Car rental companies also offer additional equipment to rent like GPS, WiFi hot spot packages, child and baby seats, an extra driver, etc. Where to hire a car in bulawayo? Explained by Sharing Culture And before you know it, they took 30 for cleaning the vehicle?! And then you will need to claim it with your credit card company. I cant provide no other proof but a common sense. Do many companies deliver cars to hotels or is it just pick ups from main towns and airports? They'll do the same when you return the car (unless you are fully covered, in which case they don't really care.). There are some businesses we don't trust and always believe that in dealing with them we'll certainly get screwed up. Uber Carshare was one of two credited car share . Easter car rental prices up 135% while some locations may run out of Car Hire in Croatia - Discover Cars 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. 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!) Do not forget to take your credit (not debit) card because you will probably need it for a deposit (that is, if you are not going to purchase the full insurance). This fee covers any damage that can occur onboard the ferry. 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. I have A question. Hi James, As mentioned before, if youre under the age of 22, or over the age of 70, youll be eligible for additional fees (about 25 EUR per day surcharge). We only recommend the things we actually use ourselves and never accept useless sponsored crap. 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. I am happy to see you are interested in visiting Croatia, one of my favourite countries! 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. Where can we find a location in Zadar to buy them? We like the idea of driving ourselves so we can explore a little going both ways to Rovinj. 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. 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. Advertisement. Dont even ask why this is the case, as it makes no sense to me. Here you can check the updated rates for all the highways in the country (in English!). The cheapest month to hire a car in Croatia is January with prices starting at 13.26 for an Economy class cars. Renting a car from Zagreb can cost almost double the price of renting a car from Dubrovnik or Zadar. Do not power up hills. 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. Italy revealed as the most expensive location to hire a car I have an Indian Driving License but no IDP. Because the rules mentioned on Alamo mention IDP required. I would like to ask about the car parking fee in the city how much average for the cost ? Additional Fees for Car Rentals in Croatia 6. Why is Car Hire So Expensive in Tasmania? | Uber Carshare Contacts | t: +385 98 983 6950 | e: [emailprotected] |Website. The rates go up as the demand increases and as the inventory decreases. Expect to pay anywhere between 15 and 20 more a day for an automatic 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. 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. The cool part about price comparison companies is that you can be sure you are protected by the reseller if something goes wrong. To recap on this one, Croatia is probably one of the easiest countries with the most rewarding views to drive through in Europe! Besides sea and beaches with beautiful islands there are also many beautiful places that you can look after which lies in country side. Car Rental Prices Are Up. What Are The Alternatives? In fact, snow can be pretty heavy during the winter in Croatia! We will not have rental car in Hvar. I think that the rental companies are among those businesses who were highly financed/leveraged for their stock by the car firms/banks. Well, that highly depends on what type of car youd like to drive and which season youll be visiting this beautiful country! We are looking for a car rental for just one day from Dubrovnik to Split and back. During the planning phase of the trip, Tim checks the rates for the major companies and chooses the one with the best price. Thanks and congatulations for your blog. PRO TIP: Many car rental companies will try to upsell you extra insurance saying that you need it to cross the border. When planning your road-trip, use this site to schedule which stations youll need to stop at along the way. We want to rent a car in Croatia, but take that car into Montenegro, and then leave from Montenegro. Chris Brown, editor of Auto Rental News, an industry publication, says MirrorTrip could eventually solve the car rental drop-off problem. The average cost over the course of the entire year is 29. But this service will cost you money! So, again, to have your car rental sitting in a parking lot makes no sense. Before we even start talking about WHAT you should know before learning everything about car rentals in Croatia, let me make it super clear WHY I think it is the best way to travel in that country: The only problem is, renting a car in a foreign country can be tricky! Thank you! 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! Croatia - Why so expensive? - Rovinj Message Board - Tripadvisor Youll also need a suitable car for the job! Any concerns regarding credit card physical appearance? Punch your travel plans into the GPS. It is safe to rent a car in Croatia. Intercity buses are a convenient, frequent, fast, and cheap way to go from one town to another. Of course, every company charges different rates, so youll have to do a lot of comparing to find the best and least expensive car hire. Compare the prices of the best car hire companies. That must be a bit exaggerated, no? My Husband and I shall be travelling to Croatia next week for the first time . Take into consideration the number of people that will be traveling in the car, and the amount of luggage each of them will bring. 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. It takes extra time to price out five companies, but prices can vary widely depending on . In the UK and USA liability coverage is in the millions, however there is little or no PLI offered in Croatia. D8 (ex. 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. Shop around! Thank you for such good information. From. We always use Rentalcars.com when searching for and booking a car online, and we highly recommend using this site. You can drive a rental car from Croatia to Bosnia, Montenegro, or any other European country. Regards. Do they have provisions of hiring a driver or private tour? It connects Rijeka to the northwest with Dubrovnik to the southeast. Everything is pretty organized and the personnel usually speak AT LEAST basic English. Hi Mercedes, You generally don't need to worry about driving in Croatia as the road infrastructure is great here. PRICE: HRK 200 (US $29.5) HRK 227 (US $ 33.5) per day. Can spouses drive a car rented in Croatia for free or do I need to purchase the extra driver for my husband? I am trying to decide between buses or a rental car for my family of 3 (2 adults and a 3 year old). Do rental companies have an extra charge to take a car onto a ferry connecting to islands like Hvar and Korcula? However, if you don't succeed, then expect to pay around 50 per rental or 10 per day depending on the company. Car hire in Croatia starts from just 8.20 per day for a (economy) class car from Budget. Car Rental in Croatia: 2023 Guide On Renting A Car In Croatia With our secure online booking system you can search the cheapest prices online for Car Hire Croatia. 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. They knew their average demand and had enough cars available for practically everyone to use. This means that the earlier you book your car, the less you will pay. I would like to have some foundation if Im going to argue with the company. Because I feel that if it is 17 per ferry ride then we were overcharged perhaps? You need to be over 25 to rent a car in Ireland via most rental companies. Every car company has different rules when it comes to cross-country car hire, and they approach every rental individually. However, parking fees apply in Split, Dibrovnik, or Zagreb even for hotel parkings. I and my husband are going from zagreb to dubrownick by car and intend stop in Plitvice Lakes, Split, Zadar, etc. 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? I highly recommend investigating this option before signing any insurance papers that the car rental company gives you. 1. The speeds are measured in kilometers per hour and your rental car will reflect that, too. Here are a few tips for driving in the cold: If youre driving inland during winter, youre likely to encounter snow at some point. 7 Things You Should Know Before Renting a Car in Croatia! Thanks for any information that may help. And if you head south youll end up driving on this road sooner or later. Whether you want to travel the country or road trip across the continent, therell be a car hire option for you! The most important motorways include: National roads are marked with the letter D, and the road signs are mostly yellow. Additional Fees for Car Rentals in Croatia, 6. If it covers it, then the procedure in the case of any damage is the following: the car rental company will charge you directly for any damage that might occur. a VW Golf) for a week this summer (27 July - 3 August 2019), across all destinations . Would appreciate your thoughts/tips, and if you have any other advice Id be very grateful. This will be for August 2019 dates. Best time to hire a car. Reviews online are mixed but reviews are mixed for every car rental company so was hoping to hear from someone personally. Without extra insurance, you as a customer are partly liable for any damage. 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. why is car hire so expensive in ireland - senorzorro.com It is one of the largest car rental providers in Croatia. 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 . Most have offices in the larger Croatian towns and at airports. In high season, expect to pay around 60 a day for a mini-size car, and 70 per day for an economy-size car. It means you have greater flexibility if you want to rebook later. 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. Again, the only way to do stay in one place and explore the wider region is by car. Am I still permitted to drive in Croatia and Bosnia? 6 years ago Save Most companies charge a one-way fee for a short hire. Is a cross-Balkan road trip futile? 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. If not, you can always download an. to charge you extra for crossing from Croatia into Bosnia or Montenegro. Do I need to get any specific insurance while there? Renting a car in Croatia is easy, if perhaps a bit more on the pricey side compared to other European countries. Waze works miracles! You better make sure to book your car rental in Croatia well ahead. 12 Things You Should Know about Renting a Car in Europe Contacts | t: ++385 99 733 0862 | Website. There are a few situations that we can think of where you'll be better off without a car. Were a Canadian-Croatian couple living in and exploring Croatia. 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. If I were to rent a car, I want to confirm that my US State (Wisconsin) license will be enough. Car rental companies also offer additional equipment to rent like GPS, WiFi hot spot packages, child and baby seats, an extra driver, etc. Im happy to hear this, thank you! Is this essential (I will be using the ferries a lot) as the Full Protection seems pretty comprehensive? Renting a smaller, compact car is more practical. Just like with many other services in Croatia (accommodation, tours, activities, etc), the car rental business is very seasonal. We offer affordable rates on a premium fleet of luxury and economy vehicles.You can choose to rent daily, weekly or even long term. Revealed! The Cheapest Time To Book A Hire Car Is Is there a company that will let us pick up in Zagreb and drop off in Split? Have you heard of them and are they okay? This is a bucket list trip. NOTE: In most cases, your car insurance does NOT include possible damages that can happen on the ferry. If you are asking in terms of car robberies and other theft-related things, you should not be worrying it is very safe there! Bob did they get back to you about the car insurance and what the cost would be. Just last summer, a friend asked me to negotiate a deal on a car rental in Dubrovnik. 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. Smaller cars also have a much better fuel efficiency which will save you money along the way! I think we need to head there straight from Zagreb and rental car seems to be our best option (quickest and flexibility). 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? Expect to pay around 30 for this service. Oryx is a company based in Zagreb but with offices all over Croatia. Car hire in Croatia is essential in these situations. Go, inspect the car along with them, and pay attention. However, in the case of accident, you will be directly charged by car rental company for any damages. All roads are asphalted, and wide enough, with clear road signs. 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. 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: Very insightful and in depth post. 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). But, some other companies have a cross-border fee even for the EU member states. Nobody told us that we should vacuum the car ourselves. Frank, Save on luxury, economy and family car hire. You can try to negotiate with a car rental company to waive these fees. Hi, would you know if car rentals can charge you an island fee? I'm going on a road trip from San Francisco to New York in a month and I was checking several car rental companies. The simple answer is No! Motorway A1 going south only reaches as far as Ploce. The type of car that you should rent depends a lot on your own preferences. Rental Car Shortage: Why Are Car Rental Prices so High? | Money Things to Check Before You Rent a Your Car, BONUS Best Car Types for Driving in Croatia, Some practical info on driving in Croatia, 8 Things You Should Know About Plitvice Lakes, Croatia, Where to Stay in Rovinj, Croatia (and Why! You can get international drivers licence in AAA office for about $30. 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! 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. For toll vignettes for Croatia/Hungary/Slovenia/Italy, is there an automobile association in Croatia where we could buy them for all neighboring countries? 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). Split is the best place. Is this easy to do? 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 think you will be better taking a ferry to Rovinj, and renting a car there. 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. The simple answer to this question is Yes, you should rent a car in Croatia! On this site, youll find countless resources and travel tips. The minimum driving age in Croatia is 18. It should be as going anywhere else. 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.