Croatia is a likely destination on anyone’s European bucket list, and is easily one of the best places to visit in Europe.
Better still, despite being home to some big tourist hot spots like Split and Dubrovnik, Croatia is very affordable.
We’ve road tripped the country a few times over the years, and ALWAYS on a budget!
And whether you’re looking to splash on a luxury visit, or a budget adventure, renting a car in Croatia and driving around is perhaps the best thing to do here.
It truly is a spectacular country with wonderful roads (especially in comparison to a lot of neighboring countries!).
There are some great rental firms all across Europe, but it can be hard to know who is the best to choose from.
So we’ve combined our own personal experience when renting vehicles across Europe, as well as scouring the internet for experiences from other fellow renters
To compile what we believe to be the absolute BEST car rental firms Croatia has to offer.
As well as how to book and how to save money; let’s get straight into it …
We love to keep car rental searching as easy and straightforward as possible, so we’d recommend trying out a car rental search firm like Discover Cars.
It’s a super user–friendly platform where you can explore rental options from some of the world’s best car rental companies.
Simply enter your availability and your pick up/drop off locations and see what’s available! You can then filter the results by what is most important to you - budget, size, features etc.
Discover Cars are a very trusted company, operating in 150 countries worldwide. And there’s plenty of other reasons to use this platform for your rental:
Active Rent a Car is a great choice for a local Croatian car rental firm, and a fantastic alternative to the larger names that dominate the car rental market.
In fact they’re renowned for being the leader in Croatian car rental! They’ve got 12 rental locations across the country in 8 different cities, so you’re never going to be far from an Active rental branch.
Throughout your rental there’s 24 hour customer service on hand to assist at any time. And if your vehicle is damaged or stolen, then Active will send a replacement out to you.
Active Rent a Car also offers one way rentals but there is an additional fee of €70 for these.
There are 14 different vehicle classes to choose from, and around 1000 vehicles on the Active fleet.
The smallest car on the fleet is a VW Up! which seats 4, and the largest is a Mercedes C class with space for 8.
Each vehicle on the fleet has to go through a 12-point quality check to ensure they’re operating at maximum capacity.
Enterprise is a big name in the car rental game, so if you want to go for a trusted brand then they’re a good choice.
Car rental in the Balkans is a very competitive market, so Enterprise makes sure they offer some of the lowest prices and best value car rental in Croatia (they also offer rentals in a variety of other countries including Portugal and Germany).
There’s a good choice of pick up and drop off locations around the country, especially at airports
Most of their rental rates include unlimited mileage, as well as 24/7 roadside assistance, and a damage waiver. They do however, charge a surcharge for additional drivers.
Like other car rental firms, you’ve got your classic categories like mini, economy, compact, and standard.
It’s good to consider exactly where you want to explore in Croatia, as some terrains might lend themselves better to certain vehicles. For example if you want to visit some of the more mountainous areas, you might benefit from a 4x4.
There’s also larger vehicles on the fleet that can seat up to 9 people, perfect for those big family trips.
Another great choice for local car rental in Croatia, Autowill offers flexible cancellation, and a convenient and seamless pick up and drop off service.
Aside from their accessible offices at major airports and cities, Autowill offers a service where, for an additional fee, you can arrange pick-up and drop off of the vehicle at a location of your choice. No matter what time you need your vehicle, Autowill will accommodate you with after hours pick up and drop off.
Autowill also offers long term rentals, and a flexible cancellation policy where you can cancel within 24 hours of your booking date.
Like lots of these other Croatia car hire firms, Autowill categorize their vehicles by small & medium, SUVs, vans, electric vehicles and big vehicles.
Some examples of cars on the fleet include the VW Polo, Skoda Octavia, Opel Astra, VW T Roc and Dacia Jogger.
Sixt is very much a brand leader when it comes to Croatia car rental. They’ve been going since 1912 and have now expanded into 105 countries.
They’re a top pick for long term car rental in Croatia, as they offer discounted rates for longer rentals.
Not only are they really accessible with 17 city locations across the county, they also have locations at all major airports in Croatia, as well as lots of train & bus stations so you can get straight on the road as soon as you arrive.
Sixt is also a good choice if you aren’t entirely sure of your itinerary. Their flexible ‘pay later’ policy means you can cancel any time up to the day of the booking. A damage waiver is included in rental rates.
As one of the biggest car rental firms in the world, there’s of course going to be a wide variety of vehicles on the Sixt fleet.
You can choose from saloons, coupes, estates and also electric vehicles. There’s lots of different sized vehicles from a Fiat 500 and Mini Cooper, to a Mercedes C class, and BMW X3.
Alamo are well versed in car rental as they’ve been in the business for almost 40 years. This well-established company prides themselves in having no hidden fees, inclusive rates and top customer service (they’ve actually won awards for this!)
Alamo was also the first brand in the industry to introduce internet booking and online check in!
Rates include free breakdown cover too making them an affordable and budget friendly choice.
For future reference, Alamo is also a great option if you're after car rental in Greece or Sweden (among other destinations).
Alamo has a large fleet with 40 different vehicle classes, such as economy, mini, intermediate, SUV, standard, full size and compact.
Most of the vehicles have capacity for 5, like the Citroen C3, Fiat Panda and Mazda 3. There’s some 7 seaters on the fleet like the Peugeot 5008, and even some 9 seaters such as the Renault Traffic full size van.
You can opt to pre-pay for your rental to get a discounted rate.
With over 400 locations across Europe, and unlimited mileage on most rates, Dollar is another great pick for car rental in Croatia.
Their ‘best rate guarantee’ ensures that you always get a great car at a low rate. Dollar regularly has deals and special offers on so you can always get a budget friendly rate.
Their flexible rentals mean you can rent for as little as a day, or up to months at a time, and cancel and amend your booking with ease.
Again, like most other Croatia car rental firms there’s several vehicle categories to choose from. Some popular models include the Hyundai i20, Kia Picanto and Seat Arona.
Flizzr has car rental locations in 20 countries across Europe and 4 locations at major airport terminals in Croatia, so they’re super accessible when you’re arriving in the country.
They also have super budget friendly rates starting at just £5/day!
There’s a broad range of vehicles available at Flizzr of all shapes and sizes. Examples on the fleet include Opel Corsa, Toyota Rav 4 and Peugeot 108.
Keddy is Europcar’s simplified ‘cousin’, aiming to offer the best rates and fairest prices.
And as you’re still renting under the Europcar name you know you’re in safe hands.
This means you get access to all of Europcar’s pick up and drop off locations too (Keddy also offers rentals in other countries such as Scotland and Norway).
As Keddy is owned by Europcar you can take advantage of their huge fleet. There’s smaller vehicles with capacity for 4 and 5 such as a Fiat 500 and Nissan Micra.
There’s large SUVs like the VW T Roc, as well as people carriers with space for up to 9 passengers.
When you’re searching for your vehicle on Keddy you can read reviews about specific vehicles to help you make the best and most informed decision.
Right Cars have depots all over the world, including 9 locations in Croatia at both airports and in the city.
They offer a cheaper rate to those who pay online in advance, as opposed to paying on collection.
Right Cars also has an easy to join membership and loyalty scheme which gives you access to 10% off rentals all year round, as well as Fastrack vehicle collection.
From mini and compact vehicles like the VW Up to SUVs and estates like the Seat Arona and Skoda Octavia, there’s something at Right Cars for every type of traveler and every size cohort.
Oryx has 8 branches across Croatia, and with a simple booking process and flexible service, are the most awarded rent-a-car in Croatia.
They also often have last minute car rental deals on, so if you’re thinking of heading to Croatia soon, see if you can bag a bargain now!
Oryx have one of the widest range of vehicles to choose from on the Croatia car rental market, from mini vehicles to premium sedans.
There’s also larger vans and people carriers on the fleet, as well as more luxury vehicles like the Audi A6.
There’s a mixture of automatic, manual and electric vehicles to choose from.
The cheapest car rental in Croatia can start at as little as $6 per day, for smaller, economy cars. Of course it will depend on where you are renting from, and what time of year you are traveling in.
Car rental in Croatia may be slightly pricier than some other European countries, especially in the tourist spots, but it’s definitely an affordable way to get around and explore the country.
Renting a car is a great way to see all the incredible nature and beauty that Croatia has to offer. Having your own vehicle also gives you more freedom to explore other places that are off the beaten track, so you can really discover some Croatian hidden gems.
Big attractions like the Krka National Park and Plitvice Lakes, which are absolutely must-sees, are best accessed by a car. You can get to them via an official tour, but having your own vehicle will save you a heap of money.
You must be at least 18 years old, and have held your license for at least a year. Drivers under 25 will likely incur a young drivers surcharge, or may be limited to the type of vehicles they can rent.
That's a wrap on our top recommendations when it comes to hiring a car in Croatia!
Now it’s over to you…
Which one will you go for?
Have we left out any great rental companies?
Let us know in the comment section below.
Not only is Croatia beautiful, but it's also one of the more affordable destinations in Europe. As well as getting a great price on your car rental, you'll be able to travel cheaply when it comes to food, activities, and accommodation too.
Of course, there are also endless places to visit, so what are you waiting for?
Here are some other car rental guides you may find helpful:
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