Destinations / Croatia
Driving in Croatia as a visitor
Usually yes. Croatia expects visiting drivers to carry an International Driving Permit alongside their national licence, and rental desks ask for one. It matters most when your licence is not printed in the Latin alphabet.
Standard delivery included. Need it sooner? Express lands by for $25 more.
Reviewed July 2026 · A translation of your own licence, carried with it. Not a government permit.
What Croatia expects
| Permit needed | Expected |
|---|---|
| Convention format | 1949 Geneva & 1968 Vienna |
| Valid for | Up to 3 years |
| Drives on the | Right |
| Emergency number | 112 |
| Top speed limit | 130 km/h motorways |
What the rental desk will ask you for
| Your own licence | The original card. A photo of it, or a photocopy, gets turned away. |
|---|---|
| Licence translation | Expected. Hand it over with the licence, never instead of it. |
| Booklet format they know | 1949 Geneva & 1968 Vienna |
| Minimum age | 18. Under 25 usually pays a young-driver surcharge. |
| Deposit | A credit card in the driver's name. The hold is taken in EUR. |
Rules that catch visitors out
| Lights | Headlights on in winter and in poor visibility. |
|---|---|
| In the car | Reflective vest and triangle required. |
| Alcohol | 0.05% alcohol limit; zero for drivers under 24. |
| Tolls | Toll motorways along the Adriatic. |
On the road in Croatia
At the pump
Stations sell Eurosuper 95/100 petrol and Eurodizel diesel, mostly attended (self-serve growing); cards are widely accepted. Prices run roughly EUR 1.40-1.55 per litre, with rural and island stations sparser, so refuel before long stretches.
After a crash
Call 112 (or police 192) and report any accident involving injury or significant damage; for minor damage-only crashes, move vehicles clear and complete a European Accident Statement form. Leaving the scene of an injury accident is a serious offence.
Sources: rac.co.uk · croatiaweek.com · zagrebparking.hr · tyremap.com
Common questions
Do you need an International Driving Permit in Croatia?
Usually yes. Croatia expects visiting drivers to carry an International Driving Permit alongside their national licence, and rental desks ask for one. It matters most when your licence is not printed in the Latin alphabet.
Which IDP format does Croatia accept?
Croatia recognises the 1949 Geneva & 1968 Vienna format. Your permit is prepared in that format.
Will a rental desk in Croatia ask for one?
Split and Dubrovnik desks request an IDP for non-EU licences.
How fast can you get one?
Express orders are emailed within 5 minutes. The exact delivery moment is quoted before you pay and the order is refundable for 30 days.