Car rental in Croatia

Car Rental in Croatia: A Jewel of the Mediterranean

The nation of Croatia makes up part of the Adriatic coast, and is right in between the central and south-eastern areas of Europe. While it might be small in size when compared to other countries, its 22,000 square miles pack quite the cultural punch. A land of a very varied geography, make sure you plan your itinerary from well ahead, so you can make the most of your trip to the country. When you visit Croatia, you will see why it has been rated as one of the top 20 travel destinations in the world.

Car hire in Croatia would be a good idea to get to see as much of what the place has to offer in one go. As a large part of the country falls on the coast, you can, of course, expect beautiful seaside scenes. In fact, many of the tourists visiting Croatia tend to flock to the seaside resorts. There are also a multitude of islands just off the coast, many of which are an easy hop from the mainland. The main islands have car ferries so that you can take your rental vehicle to explore.

Croatia is a country renowned for its natural beauty, and this does not stop at the coast. The lakes of Plitvice National Park are well worth a visit, and the spacious area is perfect for a hike in this stunning setting. For manmade wonders, tourists should make their way down to the walled city of Dubrovnik, which is around 1,300 years old, and the historical centers of Motovun, Porec, Split and Korcula.

Fans of the massively successful TV series Game of Thrones will find plenty to enjoy, exploring the many places where scenes from the show were filmed.

Getting Around Croatia

Over the last two decades, that is since the early 2000s, Croatia has invested a large amount of money into improving the existing infrastructure and creating new roads and motorways. Provided you have a car, Zagreb, the capital city of Croatia, is one of the most easily accessible cities in Europe. This is due to a number of highways connecting the city to other regions within the country and to Europe as a whole. Interestingly, Zagreb forms part of four of the ten Pan-European corridors.

Hiring a car to travel around Croatia could not be easier – or cheaper. For example, provided you are aged between 25 and 70 years old, you can find a price to suit every budget and traveling arrangement, whether you are on a romantic couple’s city break, family vacation, or a jaunt with friends. Picking up the car from Zagreb airport, you can drive away for as little as $3 per day. Here are some of the best deals on cheap car hire in Croatia:

• Chevrolet Spark or similar (mini class) – $4/day
• Opel Corsa or similar (economy class) – $5/day
• Volkswagen Golf or similar (compact class) – $7/day
• Skoda Octavia or similar (intermediate class) – $8/day
• Audi A4 or similar (standard class) – $17/day

Driving Matters

In Croatia, driving comes with a number of legal requirements. For example, it is your duty as a driver carry the following items in your car at all times:

• any type of headlamp beam deflectors
• high-visibility jackets that must be used in the case of accidents or incidents taking place on roads with heavy traffic
• a warning triangle
• a well-stocked first aid kit.

When hiring a vehicle, make sure that you have all of these items in the car.

Also, while as in most other countries lights must be turned on at night time or periods of low visibility, lights must also be used during the daytime between the last Sunday in October and the last Sunday in March, for safety reasons. This is an important rule and one you should remember if traveling and driving in Croatia between those dates, as failure to turn the lights on could result in a hefty fine on the spot!

When in the car, all passengers must be wearing their seatbelts and children under 12 are not allowed to sit in the front. Young passengers under 5 years of age must be safely seated in a car seat which is suited to their age and size. In built-up areas, the speed limit is 50 kilometers per hour (30 miles per hour), unless otherwise indicated.

Croatia is a veritable treasure trove of gems for visitors, and the country has something to offer for every traveler. Planning your itinerary well, and selecting the right rental car, means that you can make the most of your trip to Croatia!

Extra Information:

1. Driving is on the right.
2. The currency is the kuna, with $1 US being worth around 6 kuna.
3. The language is Croatian, but in most places – especially the coastal resorts – English is widely and well spoken. Tap water is safe to drink in Croatia – in fact it is among the cleanest in Europe. The sea is also extremely clean, rating very highly for the Mediterranean.