why is car hire so expensive in croatia
Driver's Age. PRO TIP 1: Also, take into consideration that renting a manual car is almost half the price of renting an automatic. A one-way car rental fee amounts to as much as 120 per rental. 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. You also need a valid driving licence (more on requirements in the guide below) and a valid ID. We returned a car a week ago and just got charged 42 for being on an island. The only downside is you may not be in the mood for a swim as it gets rather cold, and many of the tourist attractions and hotels will be closed for the winter (though beautiful Plitvice National Park is open during the winter, which is awesome, totally recommended!). In my opinion, the best time to road-trip through Croatia is from May to June or from September to October. We are interested in picking up a car in Dubrovnik (probably) or Split (possibly) and dropping it off in Porec. Any questions regarding car rental in Croatia? Do I need to get any specific insurance while there? 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. Neum is a coastal town in Bosnia and Herzegovina. In general, a car rental that might cost $30-80 per day might be a lot cheaper to rent by the week.) Below is a list of some of the car hire agencies in Croatia. Alternatively, you can maybe try to request it directly from the insurance company with whom the car is insured *if you can get this information). it might be true. However, you will need to pay a cross-border fee. Hi Yulia. EasyRent. 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. 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. We use Oryx for long-term car rental, and so far we had a good experience with them. I am positive is has to do with the illiquidity of the lending market ie banks lending to companies. It's certainly worth trying especially during the low-demand periods. Less cars, less working capital, expected lower demand. This Company Just Solved The One-Way Car Rental Problem - Forbes The cheapest month to hire a car in Croatia is January with prices starting at 13.26 for an Economy class cars. 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. I have an Indian Driving License but no IDP. Ive never been to Croatia but it is definitely on my destination list. I always suggest you follow the rules and let the locals pass if they really want to. For the purpose of writing this post, Ive checked prices on various car rental companies' websites, and for almost all dates I randomly picked I found cheaper deals on the Rentalcars website. Is it just meWhy are rental cars so expensive this year? Thank Yulia for the wonderful advice. Get an assistant to tell you where the lights, aircon, indicators, and other controls are so you dont have to figure it all out on your own. Choose your pick-up location, compare and find the car that best suits you and your budget. So thats why Im worried. For example, the road distance from Umag, in the northwest to Dubrovnik in the southeast is over 700 km. Thanks and congatulations for your blog. But I find it strange they have charged you afterwards. 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! Some companies don't charge any extras for taking a car across the border to another EU member state, as well as to Switzerland and the UK. Any suggestions for an automatic rental car size that will fit 4 adults and 4 suitcases? If something happens on the road (I am sure you will be just fine the roads are great and the drivers are polite! I really recommend these businesses as theyve made booking rental cars a breeze whenever Ive hired a car abroad! Just double checking , is that valid for Indian License too ? However, if you feel like having an international drivers license, its easy to obtain, and it costs little. Your car should come with a green card accepted in both countries. It should be as going anywhere else. is it the one located at Ul. (Norwegian citizens, by the way), Sorry for all the questions, any reply would be greatly appreciated :). We like the idea of driving ourselves so we can explore a little going both ways to Rovinj. In case of car problems outside of Croatia, what car rental companies do you think would be the best to go with? Having a difficult time seeing if this is even possible. Additionally, I assume that my state issued insurance will not cover and costs. Make sure you do have sufficient funds on your card, and extra money left for your trip. Hi Im Yulia! And before you know it, they took 30 for cleaning the vehicle?! NOTE: If your accommodation provides free parking that is an extra bonus-make sure to ask them in advance! There many UNESCO heritage, Roman built palaces and beautiful catholic churches and all these will be easy for if you have car on rental. Check Rentalcars for deals: https://goo.gl/aozEKx. 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. Better safe than sorry! I just dropped you a word via email. Thank you. If their prices are the most competitive, just go with it. So if you do need to book at the last minute, don't worry too much. Its able to handle a variety of different terrains while still providing you with the maximum amount of comfort. If true is that still current? There are many others throughout the country, but those are the ones with the heftiest toll fees. Would appreciate your thoughts/tips, and if you have any other advice Id be very grateful. But, some other companies have a cross-border fee even for the EU member states. In a whiplash-inducing turn of. This part of Bosnia actually separates Croatian territory into two parts, separating the Dubrovnik region from the rest of Croatia. It is gorgeous, though. Thanks for the great blog/information! From Split to Dubrovnik is ~ 60 kunas (~ US $8). By the way, Croatia has loooots of road webcams, so it would be hard to trick the system in any way. Parking in Dubrovnik is extremely expensive (50-75 kn per hour). Luckily Croatia has plenty of ferry routes that can transport you and your car, so you can continue your road-trip! Ask beforehand how much this will cost you as car rental companies sometimes charge extra for this service. Expect to pay anywhere between 15 and 20 more a day for an automatic transmission. 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 . My family and I plan to visit Croatia from March 26- April 4. 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! They have many highways and the views you can catch from a simple 10 km road trip are stunning! 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. First, you need to check with your credit card company if you are covered for renting a car in Croatia. a VW Golf) for a week this summer (27 July - 3 August 2019), across all destinations . It simply gives you much more flexibility. If you are wondering about the road conditions, I can say that they are close to perfect! Thanks! Compare the prices of the best car hire companies. 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. It means you have greater flexibility if you want to rebook later. Why Hire a Car in Croatia 1. The pandemic caused a complete collapse of demand for hire cars as overseas travel came to a standstill. Do you know what the deal is? How Much Does It Cost to Rent a Car in Croatia? 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. Note: Drivers from the UK need a full driving licence, their driving licence code, proof of address like a bank statement and photo ID to rent a . You can rent a car in Dubrovnik and drive to Montenegro, or take your car rental from Croatia to Bosnia and back. There may be a fault that the company is not aware of. I know it will be a busy season when I am in Croatia. Why Are Car Rentals So Expensive? (Top 10 Reasons) - The Cold Wire But I prefer to use a comparison aggregator like CarRentals or AutoEurope to do the hard work for me (they are basically a Skyscanner for cars-they will check all the prices for your dates for all the car rental companies in the area). Holidaymakers face sky-high car hire rates abroad now more than double I'm going on a road trip from San Francisco to New York in a month and I was checking several car rental companies. Enjoy your driving in Croatia! Do not power up hills. Thank you for creating this wonderful site. But, they pre-charged 60 for the fuel (in case we don't refill). Renting a smaller, compact car is more practical. 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. The average cost over the course of the entire year is 29. That was how much Hotwire told me it would cost to rent a car for a three-day weekend when I searched last month. The company has offices in all major Croatian towns, including Zagreb, Split, Zadar, Rijeka, Pula, and Dubrovnik. Re: Car hire seems very expensive! If you don't have a budget for it, you simply won't rent a car. 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. 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? Renting in Plitvice Lakes might prove difficult. 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. They all come at an additional cost. Having your own rental car allows you to change your plans at any point during your trip and allows for spontaneity. If you use Google maps for navigation, dont forget to turn the roaming off if, and when traversing through Bosnia, or Montenegro. you dont need to purchase additional insurance if your credit card provides the coverage. This is more difficult than it might seem. And now it is time to start booking a rental car for the road-trip of a lifetime! 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. Youll feel much more independent without feeling like you need to rely on anyone else. Priti, Let me know did you drive without IDP? 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. Great web site you have, learning a lot about Croatia travel. And if its not on your itinerary already, be sure to add the incredible Istria region to your Croatian bucket list. We are heading over in October.. to the lokva rogocznica area I believe, looking forward to getting out and about. Ive listed the price in HRK (Croatian Kuna) and USD but please note that the USD exchange rate might significantly change, so make sure to check the up-to-date rates here. You will be able to pay in kunas or in eur and pay in cash or by card. Report inappropriate content ratheniska ireland Level Contributor 146 posts 3. Hi Mercedes, 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. Hi Lyla, However, I would take this cost as definitely one of the costs worth negotiating about with the car rental companys representative. I just want to be sure the if we do that, that Sixt in Croatia will allow me to extend the rental. I think you will be better taking a ferry to Rovinj, and renting a car there. It is one of the largest car rental providers in Croatia. So, if you dont want to take the risk, extra insurance just for this will be about 15-20 EUR extra. In the low season, for the same cars, you'll pay 20 and 25 respectively. But it's not worth $1,200. 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! 2. Punch your travel plans into the GPS. This seems like a scam, though. Currently, the lowest age any rental company charges is 60 years old. Things to Consider When Renting a Car in Croatia 5. Places to visit in the car this Easter with the family! Also, do you know if its possible to rent cars starting in Korcula? New research shows that the cost of hiring a car abroad has shot up by an average 125%. 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). Zip car charges rental rates per hour, in many cases starting at $11 per hour, or daily rates starting at . So, what do I do with my car when I arrive at a destination? 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. why is car hire so expensive in ireland - senorzorro.com Croatia is an absolutely incredible place to go on a road trip! If you need this service, you will need to arrange this directly with the car rental company. It usually amounts to 20 per rental. During the planning phase of the trip, Tim checks the rates for the major companies and chooses the one with the best price. There shouldnt be any problems if you choose a company that allows border crossing, such as RentalCars. Without extra insurance, you as a customer are partly liable for any damage. Make sure you arent in a rush when returning your car. They have English-speaking operators. Here you can check the updated rates for all the highways in the country (in English!). Unfortunately, Im foreign is not going to help you much if youre pulled over for not following the laws of the road. Adriagate. Car rental companies also offer additional equipment to rent like GPS, WiFi hot spot packages, child and baby seats, an extra driver, etc. It might sound obvious, but in order to find a cheap car rental, youll need to book well in advance as this lowers the prices dramatically! Im hoping to rent a car this August (5 Aug, 2019) at Plitvice Lakes and travel to Zagreb and drop off there. Car hire in Croatia is essential in these situations. The only thing you need when crossing the border is the green card a proof that your car has a minimum level of insurance required to be in Bosnia. how much is gas in and around Zagreb through Dubrovnik in the high season of travel? Easter car rental prices up 135% while some locations may run out of And the latter has good reviews. 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! great blog you and your wife is running here, I am also an expat living in Croatia where i run a few websites, i was wondering if you could contact me on E-mail. 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. It is practical to have a car in these situations. Thanks for sharing the info of traveling through Croatia. Last week of June our family (mum, dad & two teens) have a quick trip to Croatia from NZ for our sons sport. 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). 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. Buses are ok if travelling to Dalmatia, but not on islands or in Istria. Looking to hook into many of your other recommendations on accommodation and preferred spots. i would like to rent a car in split; what is the closest rental car pickup/dropoff location to the downtown area? You can try to negotiate with a car rental company to waive these fees. Renting a car in Croatia is easy, if perhaps a bit more on the pricey side compared to other European countries. If you, for example, hold a US driver's license, or any other for that matter, you can drive with a US driver's license in Croatia. Search PRICE: HRK 200 (US $29.5) HRK 227 (US $ 33.5) per day. We fly into and out of Zagreb. Driving the next day driving to Umag. 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 . were all very expensive, about $2000 for a 2 weeks rental, while renting the car from a british agency like Car Hire 3000 was way cheaper ($300). The same goes for any extra equipment you might need (like baby seats, or WiFi router). Read full disclaimer here. Where are you coming from to Plitvice? What will be the name of the town where ferry will take us and car rentals will be available. I have a question re car rental concerning Personal Liability Insurance. Dinka imunovia 2A, 21000, Split, Croatia? This simply means that you'll need to secure your car well in advance if you plan on visiting Croatia in July and August. usa - Why is car rental in the US so much cheaper when booking from