Driving is on the right with overtaking on the left. The state of the roads is good with many new roads being added. They include the new Zagreb-Split motorway with connections to Zadar and Sibenik, and the motorway between Istria and Italy. Also consider that you may want to take the time to use scenic routes such as the Jadranska Magistrala Adriatic coastal road. Although these routes are very pretty if you are driving through elevated areas you should be aware that falling rocks can be a hazard. For more information about motorways in Croatia visit http://wapedia.mobi/en/Highways_in_Croatia.
Vehicles entering a roundabout have right of way as do all forms of public transport and school buses. Headlights should be used at night and times when visibility is less than 100 metres. Between the end of October and the end of March dipped headlights should be used during daylight hours.
Avoid rush hours in the cities of Zagreb and Split, as between 7– 8am and 3– 4pm traffic can get quite congested. Do not drive on tram lines and only use your horn in cases of immediate and extreme danger. Police are empowered to collect fines on the spot for speeding and other offences. It is illegal to use a mobile phone while driving unless you have a hands-free device.
Car hire Croatia might be a little bit more expensive than the rest of Europe due to higher insurance costs but on the whole it is well served with collection points at all the major cities and airports. If you want to go to Croatia from a neighbouring country then check with our staff whether it is possible to do so.
Avoid driving off-road in the countryside where possible as there can be a threat of landmines left over from the war with Serbia. Do not stop to help people at the side of the road as incidences of crime in these situations have been reported.
A reflective jacket is to be kept in the car and worn and if you are in an accident. Do not move the car unless it is in a dangerous position. Call 112 and wait for the police to arrive. In the meantime get the name of the other driver as well as their address and insurance details.
It is mandatory for the driver and all passengers to wear seatbelts in the front seat and back seats. Children under 12 must not sit in the front seat.
Motorway signs have the letter A followed by two digits. They have a green background with a picture of motorway in white. State roads have the letter D and country roads have the letter Z followed by four digits.
7.45 HRK for 95 Octane, 7.51 HRK for 98 Octane and 6.88 for Diesel. Credit cards are sometimes accepted for payment. Some petrol stations are 24 hours but most are open between 6am-8pm.
The blood alcohol level is 0% following a strict zero tolerance policy.
If you are driving across from one of the borders then you need to purchase insurance or make sure that your green card covers Croatia. Old style EU licences must be accompanied by an International Driving Permit. You must carry your passport on you at all times as a form of identification.
A United Kingdom or EU driving licence is valid for the first six months in Croatia. Otherwise you need to have an International Driving Permit or an approved translation of your existing driving licence.
Osiguranje – Insurance
Ulaz Zabranjen – No Entry
Bezolovni benzin - Unleaded super fuel 91/95
Brzacesta – Expressways
Autocesta – Highways
Državna cesta - State roads
županijska cesta - country roads
Cesta namijenjena isključivo za promet motornih vozila - Roads dedicated for motor vehicles
There are tolls on various motorways, bridges and tunnels including route E59 and the E70 out of Zagreb. There is also a toll on the E71 between Zagreb to Split.
The open toll system, where you pay immediately on entering, is used on bridges and tunnels and on shorter motorway sections. The closed toll system, where you get a toll card on entering and pay on exiting, operates on larger motorways.
50 kilometres per hour in built up areas
80 kilometres per hour on open roads
130 kilometres per hour on motorways
Caravans and cars towing a trailer must not go faster than 80 kph.
Police can collect on-the-spot fines for speeding.
The conversion from kilometres to miles per hour is one kilometre = 0.62 miles per hour. Therefore the speed limit on motorways is 80 miles per hour.
The minimum age to drive is 18 but the minimum age to hire a car is usually 23. If you are under 25 you will be required to pay a young drivers surcharge.
The emergency services are on 112. Emergency road help with advice in English is on 987. Traffic information in English is available at 98.5FM during the tourist season. Otherwise road traffic info is provided 24 hours a day by Hrvatski Auto-Klub on 041 415 800.
The British embassy is in Ivana Lučića 4, 10000 Zagreb and can be contacted on 385-1-600-9100. Their website is http://ukincroatia.fco.gov.uk/en/
The US embassy is at 2 Thomas Jefferson Street, 10010 Zagreb and they can be contacted on 385-1-661-2200. Their website is http://zagreb.usembassy.gov/
There are paid for parking zones in all the major cities and the authorities have the power to clamp you if you do not obey the rules. From Monday to Friday between 7AM- 7PM and Saturdays between 7AM-2PM parking costs 14 HRK per hour in the Red zone, which is the closest to the city centre.
It is half that price to park in Yellow zones and costs 3HRK in the Green zone. Parking is usually free on Sundays. Red zones have a maximum time of one hour, it is two hours for Yellow zones and three hours for Green zones. Just purchase a ticket from the machine and display it on your windshield.