Driving a Car Around Croatia

Driving a car is definitely the best way of travelling around Croatia – the country is small and you can visit many different places starting from Zagreb to Istria or all way down to Dalmatia on the south.

You can travel by car around Croatia pretty quickly – from Zagreb it takes about 4 hours to reach Split, less than 3 hours to Zadar or to Istrian towns Poreč, Pula and Rovinj and just over two hours to get to Plitvice Lakes National Park. Only Dubrovnik is pretty far away to drive – but the motorway is great, offering outstanding countryside scenes.

Motorways and Roads in Croatia

The motorway system to south connects Zagreb with Pula, Rijeka, Zadar and Split, and more to the south to town Ploče where motorway A1 ends, which is about 100 km north of Dubrovnik where you need to continue driving on the coastal Adriatic road to get to Dubrovnik. The motorway to the east connects Zagreb with eastern towns in Slavonia.

If you want to skip the motorway when travelling to the south, you can drive all way down along the coast, from Rijeka to Dubrovnik, on the Adriatic road – the most picturesque route in Croatia, curvy and exciting road with beautiful scenery, worth of experience if you like long driving and exploring at the same time.

General Traffic Law in Croatia

  • driving on the right-hand side line
  • speed limits: motorways 130 km/h, open roads up to 80 km/h, built-up areas 50 km/h
  • documents: valid driving license and car insurance
  • alcohol and driving in Croatia: zero tolerance for all drivers less than 24 years old. The legal limit over that age is 0.05%.
  • seat belt is required at all time when driving
  • headlights should be used at night and when the visibility on the road is less than 100 meters. From October to March, headlights should be used also during the daylight.
  • using of hand-held cell phones while driving is prohibited.
  • right turning on red lights is strictly forbidden in Croatia, unless an additional green light (in the shape of an arrow) allows it.
  • when drive through unmarked intersections, right of way is always to the vehicle entering from the right

Toll chargesThe Croatian motorway system is not free of charge. Check the price list for toll charges.

Is Your Driving License Valid in Croatia?

If your licence was issued in an EU country, you can use it anywhere in the EU, including Croatia.

Before you travel abroad, make sure your driving licence is still valid. If your driving licence expires during a trip abroad, it automatically becomes invalid and may not be recognised in other countries.

If you want to drive in Croatia on a licence issued in a country outside the EU, contact your embassy or consulate in Croatia.

Drinking and Driving in Croatia

Zero alcohol tolerance for all drivers less than 24 years old. The legal limit over that age is 0.05%. Police routinely spot-check drivers, and will administer breathalyzer tests at even the slightest accident.

Drivers who refuse to submit to a breathalyzer test are automatically presumed to have admitted to driving while intoxicated. In cases of accidents resulting in death or serious injury, Croatian law obligates police to take blood samples to test blood alcohol levels.

The rule is simple – don’t drive when drink in Croatia.

Driving in Croatia

Useful Information for Drivers in Croatia

The Croatian Motorways (HAC- Hrvatske Autoceste)

Hrvatske autoceste or Croatian Motorways Ltd is a Croatian state-owned company tasked with management, construction and maintenance of motorways in Croatia. The Croatian Motorways will provide you with useful information on safe ride advices, traffic conditions, rest areas, tunnels and weather forecast, including toll motorway pricelist and driving rules and behavior on motorways.

HAC – FREE INFO LINE: 0800 0422

The Croatian Auto Club (HAK -Hrvatski Auto Klub)

They will provide you with road assistance, live traffic conditions, webcam images, interactive map, radar control points, weather forecast, petrol prices, rest stations locations, information about nearest points of interest (police stations, airports, campsites, ATMs, banks, hospitals, pharmacies, tourist boards) and more useful information for your holiday in Croatia.

ROAD EMERGENCY ASSISTANCE CALL NUMBER +385 1 1987

Download FREE CROATIA TRAFFIC INFO APP from iTunes with detailed traffic and travel information including roadside assistance service (available in English, Italian, German and Croatian).

Motorways in Istria – Bina Istria

The motorways in Istria, called Istrian Ypsilon, are under the supervision of company Bina Istra (they are not a part of The Croatian Motorways).

FREE CALLS: 0800 600 601

Green Card System Car Insurance in Croatia

When entering the territory of the Republic of Croatia, drivers of vehicles with registration plates from EU countries do not have to have a copy of Green Insurance Card.

Other drivers of vehicles must have a copy of their Green Insurance Card valid for the entire area of ​​the European Economic Area.

If you are coming from a country that is not in Green Card System Car Insurance,  an insurance can normally be purchased at the main border crossings.

However, some of the smaller crossings may not have this facility or have limited hours when the service is available.

Find out more on Green Card System Car Insurance.

Driving in Croatia

Rent a Car for Summer Holidays ON TIME

In summer season all towns and other places are very crowded in Croatia and the interest for car rental is huge. To avoid a disappointment for not having a car that could get you to numerous amazing places, don’t wait too long and book your car in advance. Especially if you want to hire a particular type of car or you plan to rent a car on island.

Renting a car in Croatia is easy and there are numerous car rental companies with many different options for your best driving experience.

YOU CAN FIND BEST RENTAL CAR DEALS HERE.

Driving Around Istria

When driving around Istria you can reach all Istrian towns Pula, Poreč, Rovinj and Umag hitting the motorways A8 and A9 called Istrian Ypsilon –interconnecting the western Istrian coast from Savudrija in the north to Pula in the south.

Istrian Ypsilon also connects western Istrian coast to green inland and its beautiful hilltop towns. Moreover, by driving on A8 to the east you’ll get to Učka Tunnel and town of Rijeka where you enter motorway A6 to Zagreb.

Driving Around Dalmatia

The high quality south motorway A1 (called Dalmatina) makes your driving around Dalmatia very comfortable – it connects numerous Dalmatian coastal towns you can easily discover in a short time- from Zadar, Šibenik and Trogir, and more on south to towns of beautiful Makarska Riviera and famous Dubrovnik.

The motorway Dalmatina ends at town Ploče (100 km on the north from Dubrovnik) where you continue driving on the coastal Adriatic road.

If you prefer road driving and want to explore passing by places, or you want to avoid road toll, you can drive all the way from Rijeka to Dubrovnik on the Adriatic road – picturesque old road worth of visiting beautiful towns and places on your way, but pretty long drive from the north to the south.

Driving around Dalmatia: Krka Waterfalls

Driving around Dalmatia: Krka Waterfalls