why is car hire so expensive in croatia

The vieeeews! The companies will authorize your credit card for a security deposit (unless you purchase full coverage insurance). 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. Motorway A1 going south only reaches as far as Ploce. 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. We've rented a car from Vetura a couple of times in the past and would recommend them if you are in Istria. Zdravo, traveller (thats Hello in Croatian!). Drop Off. I have a question regarding car hire companies.. which company is the best to use in split airport? Can we do it? Hi! I dont have any personal experience renting with Sixt, but I dont think Sixt is worse (or better) than others. Do you have any advice about this issue? I am not sure about Albania and Kosovo. Thanks for your site and all the information you provide. Planning our summertime visit for July!! Whenever we rented a car, we always found better deals on these aggregators' websites than on car rental companies' websites. First, you need to check with your credit card company if you are covered for renting a car in Croatia. 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. 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. If they find any new scratches, and other damages, they'll charge you for repairs. 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. Opting for car hire in Croatia is your best option for travelling quickly and comfortably to the country's hidden reaches. Here are a few tips for driving in the cold: If youre driving inland during winter, youre likely to encounter snow at some point. Do not try to take off or stop in any hurry. 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. Things to Check Before You Rent a Your Car 7. I'm going on a road trip from San Francisco to New York in a month and I was checking several car rental companies. Thank you for creating this wonderful site. Ask beforehand how much this will cost you as car rental companies sometimes charge extra for this service. Uber Carshare was one of two credited car share . Rather, get up a little speed before the hill and keep a steady pace going up. This surcharge usually amounts to 25 per rental. It is practical to have a car in these situations. The exact amount of safety deposit for car hire Croatia depends on a vehicle, and a car rental company, but the amount usually comes to anywhere between 1.000 and 3.500 if you don't take extra insurance. I will stay in old town. Any suggestions for an automatic rental car size that will fit 4 adults and 4 suitcases? I know it will be a busy season when I am in Croatia. And here are our reasons why! Additionally, I assume that my state issued insurance will not cover and costs. If they treat their employees well, the employees must treat the customers well. We are interested in picking up a car in Dubrovnik (probably) or Split (possibly) and dropping it off in Porec. Insurance4CarHire has some of the best independent insurance prices and offers very comprehensive coverage! 2. Are there any discounts on the public buses for a 3 year old? you will need to pay either by credit card or cash. It's worth booking online even a few hours before you go to pick the car up. When planning your road-trip, use this site to schedule which stations youll need to stop at along the way. I think you will be better taking a ferry to Rovinj, and renting a car there. Yes, they do. A big portion of your traveling budget is going to go towards fuel if youre taking a road trip. Having a difficult time seeing if this is even possible. RentalCars will then compare all the available cars and give you the prices for the city you are arriving in. Re: Car hire seems very expensive! how much is gas in and around Zagreb through Dubrovnik in the high season of travel? UPDATE: In big cities you can now pay for your parking via SMS, how cool is that? Mid- and full-size cars make a good choice if you plan on traveling long distances, as they provide more room. This fee covers any damage that can occur onboard the ferry. There may be a fault that the company is not aware of. Although most of Croatia is navigable by road, there are certain places you may need to use a ferry. Depending on the length of time rented, daily rates ranged from $41 to $75. Supply and demand. The company has offices in all major Croatian towns, including Zagreb, Split, Zadar, Rijeka, Pula, and Dubrovnik. Car theft is rare in Croatia I wouldn't worry about that. We are travelling in may 2018: Hi Frank, 1. 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. 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! That said, we all should use common sense in any country we travel to, things like locking the door before you leave and not leaving an expensive laptop in the front seat would definitely help. If you are wondering about the road conditions, I can say that they are close to perfect! I wondered about driving from Zagreb to Trieste we could base ourselves for two nights, leave the car their and just do a day train trip to Venice. I was surprised to find out that car rental companies charge extra for taking a car on a ferry. In high season, expect to pay around 60 a day for a mini-size car, and 70 per day for an economy-size car. This seems like a scam, though. There is also a free app that will help you keep up to date on road conditions, toll calculator, gas stations map and much more. 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. My husband and I are planning a 10 day trip to Croatia in June and were trying to figure out our itinerary. Contacts (Zagreb Airport) | a: Rudolfa Fizira 21, Zagreb | t: +385 1 6219 900 | e: [emailprotected]. Were a Canadian-Croatian couple living in and exploring Croatia. 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. We will be traveling around 3 weeks and will also travel to Slovenia. Where to pick up your car. As I mentioned before, you can request one from the car rental company for a small extra fee, No drinking and driving is permitted in Croatia! This is really the question of hard negotiation with car rental companies, as they prefer (of course!) This simply means that you'll need to secure your car well in advance if you plan on visiting Croatia in July and August. If youre going to be on the road for hours, youre going to need to know the rules of the road and other crucial driving tips to get by. Generally speaking, the roads in Croatia are in very good condition. You can arrange different pick-up and drop-off locations. Having your own rental car allows you to change your plans at any point during your trip and allows for spontaneity. thanks for stopping by. 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 . -Anna. However, parking fees apply in Split, Dibrovnik, or Zagreb even for hotel parkings. Do you know if you can also drive car rentals into albania and kosovo? 2. if yes, can it be done through the rental company? If you need this service, you will need to arrange this directly with the car rental company. Having the convenience of your own transportation makes a huge difference when traveling in Croatia! How Much Does It Cost to Rent a Car in Croatia? PRICE: HRK 1700 (US $250.5) HRK 1750 (US $258) per day. This is the most scenic road in Croatia. Cheers! Luckily for us road-trippers, there are an abundance of gas stations throughout Croatia. In Croatia, you can encounter the same kind of situations when renting a car as you would encounter in other European countries. We fly into and out of Zagreb. The pandemic caused a complete collapse of demand for hire cars as overseas travel came to a standstill. 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. This means that the earlier you book your car, the less you will pay. Contacts (Split Airport Office) | t: +385 21 895 164 | e: [emailprotected] | Website. Most have offices in the larger Croatian towns and at airports. We are heading over in October.. to the lokva rogocznica area I believe, looking forward to getting out and about. Im hoping to rent a car this August (5 Aug, 2019) at Plitvice Lakes and travel to Zagreb and drop off there. Which car rental company will be best for you depends on what youre wanting to do with your rental car. For drivers under the age of 25, the blood alcohol level limit is 0% while driving. A car is definitely the best way to explore Croatia. This part of Bosnia actually separates Croatian territory into two parts, separating the Dubrovnik region from the rest of Croatia. If true is that still current? 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. I just want to be sure the if we do that, that Sixt in Croatia will allow me to extend the rental. That was how much Hotwire told me it would cost to rent a car for a three-day weekend when I searched last month. . They pre-charge your card for an insane amount of money and, when you return it, they always find something wrong so they can keep some of the money they've pre-charged. Hello. Heres everything you need to know about renting a car in Croatia! Ill be travelling from split to dubrovnik back up towards mostar and back to split. E65) is the most popular national road. It belongs to Bosnia, and, thus, it counts as a cross border transfer (yes, even if it is like 6 km). Prices have increased accordingly. Hiring a car in Croatia gives you the freedom to travel as you please and make impromptu stops along the way, without having to hassle with a tour guide! 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 . However, I would take this cost as definitely one of the costs worth negotiating about with the car rental companys representative. 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! Some companies can charge triple the price for gas, so better do it yourself in advance. Be sure to factor these costs into your budget! If you had any questions about hiring a car in Croatia, I hope Ive cleared them all up for you! Check Rentalcars for deals: https://goo.gl/aozEKx. Thats why Ive created this guide to help you make informed Croatia car hire decisions. Top car rental brands. Do rental companies have an extra charge to take a car onto a ferry connecting to islands like Hvar and Korcula? This means that, for example, you can take a road trip from Zagreb to Dubrovnik, but take a plane back from Dubrovnik to Zagreb. Book as far in advance as possible! Any car in Croatia need to be insured, and green card (needed for traveling to non-EU countries like Montenegro and Bosnia) comes with the basic car insurance. Some companies also charge extra insurance for senior drivers above 70 years of age. Advertisement. Frankaboutcroatia.com is a participant in the Amazon Services LLC Associates Program, an affiliate advertising program designed to provide a means for sites to earn advertising fees by advertising and linking to Amazon.com and affiliated sites. Since roads in Croatia are great, well-marked, and easy to navigate, GPS is not really necessary to have. From Split to Dubrovnik is ~ 60 kunas (~ US $8). PRO TIP 2: Oh, and dont forget to double check if the car is equipped with functioning AC this is something you will definitely need during a hot Croatian summer! But do I still need the IDP if I plan to drive and stay (one night) in Bosnia? Thanks for the great tips! You can see the updated list of speed cameras here. Why Hire a Car in Croatia 1. Majority of hotels provide parking (often free of charge in small coastal towns). But this service will cost you money! Return car to the same location. The same goes for picking up or dropping off the car out of office hours. In my humble opinion, Croatia is one of the most beautiful destinations to travel through by car! 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. I am positive is has to do with the illiquidity of the lending market ie banks lending to companies. 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. Needless to say, our friends returned the car a day earlier in a similar condition and they have never charged them anything. We definitely know we need to rent a car and we want to go exploring, but we dont know what our starting and end point should be and the best route to plan for that would make the most sense with a rental car. By the way, Croatia has loooots of road webcams, so it would be hard to trick the system in any way. The comparison aggregator can sort by car type, price, and a variety of other options so that youre not left sifting through results for hours. I also noted you would recommend a car for families. There are tolls on various motorways in Croatia including E59, E70, and E71. Split is the best place. how much the parking costs and how easy is it to find it depends on the season, the city, distance to the center, etc. 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. (And the last time no one checked for the green card at those borders the ones around Neum). However, we will keep the information as it is, and updated for the time when the travel to Croatia returns to normal. 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. Also, Nova rent a car Croatia has been voted the best rental car company in Croatia to work for. Hi Mercedes, Hi, Frank: So, youll only need to apply for an international drivers license if your current drivers license is not written in Latin letters. If you are thinking of renting a car in one country and returning it in another, think twice because it actually might be more complicated than you would expect. Everything is pretty organized and the personnel usually speak AT LEAST basic English. Or, do you think a car is the way to go? Hello Summer can be quite a bit more expensive, unfortunately. If youre going to be traveling long distances, make sure the car is equipped with cruise control. Looking to hook into many of your other recommendations on accommodation and preferred spots. Her blog MissTourist.com is created with the purpose to inspire people to travel more and to share her advice of how to travel "smart". Headlights should also be used at night and when visibility is less than 100 meters, Winter tires are required from November to March, however, your car rental company should sort this out before you hire the vehicle. Be sure to adjust the wing mirrors, rearview mirror and the seat to your liking before leaving on your journey. Thanks. 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! And we even had full insurance. Also, do you know if its possible to rent cars starting in Korcula? You are quite knowledgeable about travel in Croatia. I have an Indian Driving License but no IDP. 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! To. And if you head south youll end up driving on this road sooner or later. Basically, it is only possible between a limited number of countries, towns, and branch offices, usually when and where one car rental company has a partner company in another country. 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. If something happens on the road (I am sure you will be just fine the roads are great and the drivers are polite! Dubrovnik is the only exemption. 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. I still have a question So I have a valid Canadian Drivers license and dont need the International Driving Permit to drive in Croatia Do you know where can I parking the car and how much a diary? Paid parking (marked as P with a blue background) is quite easy to find and it usually costs anywhere between 1 and 2 EUR per hour (parking machines usually accept only coins and in kunas, the local currency). Booking within a week of your trip will likely cost you more. I am happy to see you are interested in visiting Croatia, one of my favourite countries! If you only plan to stay in big towns like Zagreb, Split, or Dubrovnik, you'll probably be better off without a car. But I dont have a credit card. The average price to hire a car in Croatia is just 56.80 per day, whilst the most expensive hire car in Croatia is a Mercedes GLE car for a (premium) class from Green motion costing 658.20 per day. Thanks Peter. Im curious what your experience is and if youd recommend this company. Thanks in advance for your reply, were looking forward to experiencing Croatia! Cheers 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 looking for cheap car hire in Croatia? you dont need to purchase additional insurance if your credit card provides the coverage. No matter what time of year you decide to go, there is a range of exciting and invigorating experiences you can have along the way. Compare car hire in Croatia and find the cheapest prices from all major brands. It takes time for your car to get up to speed in snow or ice and it takes longer for the car to slow down. AIR Awareness Outreach; AIR Business Lunch & Learn; AIR Community of Kindness; AIR Dogs: Paws For Minds AIR Hero AIR & NJAMHAA Conference because well have to probably catch a taxi or something back to our hotel after we drop it off, so ideally wed be as close as possible to accommodations to keep the fare down. So, if you dont want to take the risk, extra insurance just for this will be about 15-20 EUR extra. Hour. How Much Does It Cost to Rent a Car in Croatia? Michael Jenkins. This post might also contain affiliate links to other sites, like accommodation or activities. Hi For toll vignettes for Croatia/Hungary/Slovenia/Italy, is there an automobile association in Croatia where we could buy them for all neighboring countries? Car rental companies also offer additional equipment to rent like GPS, WiFi hot spot packages, child and baby seats, an extra driver, etc. 2. We haven't yet rented through Nova, but we see lots of their cars on the roads here. 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! If not, you can always download an. According to Paula Twidale, senior vice president of AAA Travel, average rates have risen as high as 134 dollars per day.2. 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. In some cases it may be better to rent a car from a company situated near your hotel and pick up the car only once youve settled in. Thank you. 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. But, some other companies have a cross-border fee even for the EU member states. There are a few general rules that apply in Croatia that you should adhere to at all times on Croatian roads. Besides sea and beaches with beautiful islands there are also many beautiful places that you can look after which lies in country side. Within the final 48 hours, prices almost always go up. 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. i would like to rent a car in split; what is the closest rental car pickup/dropoff location to the downtown area? Hertz. Where are you coming from to Plitvice? If it`s not exaggerated, do you know how long we should count on border crossings to take? Will I not be able to pick up the car even if I have enough money in my bank account on my debit card? document.getElementById( "ak_js_1" ).setAttribute( "value", ( new Date() ).getTime() ); This site uses Akismet to reduce spam. Thanks for sharing the info of traveling through Croatia. PRO TIP: If crossing through Bosnia or Montenegro, do not forget to switch off the internet on your mobile both countries are not part of the EU and the roaming charges are really high! Intend on a day or 2 in Zagreb without car before we depart for home. Hi Anna, insist that the car rental company gives you this paper. What would you suggest? Croats might break some speed limit rules here and there, but I do not recommend you follow their example as locals they know all the ins and outs, where speed cameras are located and all the other tricks. 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. We always use Rentalcars.com when searching for and booking a car online, and we highly recommend using this site. 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. Make sure the size of the car is appropriate. Some subjects we've already covered above, but nevertheless, we'll summarise our best Croatia car rental advice and tips below. I have a question re car rental concerning Personal Liability Insurance. 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. 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! However, buying insurance from them isnt your only option. Smaller cars also have a much better fuel efficiency which will save you money along the way! You better make sure to book your car rental in Croatia well ahead. Adriagate. I am interested to know what the parking is like if you do use a rental car, especially in the bigger towns/cities. The most expensive month in which to hire a car is August with prices for for a Compact class) starting at 45.06. Picking up the car, and getting on the road, Further reading: more Croatia car rentaland other traveltips, Ultimate Packing List For Vacation In Croatia, Croatia Travel Budget: How Much Money You'll Need In Croatia, Where To Have Local, Cheap And Delicious Meals In Croatia, How To Choose Your Destination In Croatia, A Complete Guide To Accommodation In Croatia, cross-border fee for EU countries, UK, and Switzerland: 20 , cross-border fee for Montenegro, Bosnia, and other non-EU countries: 50 , pickup and return out of working hours: 30 . 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. 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. All roads are asphalted, and wide enough, with clear road signs. They are brokers and work with all major car rental companies in Croatia. What do you think about? Hi Morten, and another question on if not driving car so easy to commute to one city to another city ? Youll be able to travel off the beaten track and see sights that many tourists miss! Dropoff options (Enterprise rental) are Lucko or Airport. I highly recommend investigating this option before signing any insurance papers that the car rental company gives you. However, you can expect to pay around 10-15 kn per hour (1,5-2 euro) in majority of towns in high season close to the city center. Daily fees for extras are as follows*: 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.