Driving in Croatia

The blood alcohol limit in Croatia is 0.05% (0.5 g/L) for drivers aged 25 and over. Drivers under 25 and professional drivers must have a blood alcohol level of zero. Random breath tests are routine on Croatian roads. Penalties can include on-the-spot fines, licence suspension, and potential detention.

🚫 The safest approach when driving a hire car in Croatia is to avoid alcohol entirely.

Winter tyres are legally required for all vehicles on certain Croatian roads from 15 November to 15 April. Although most rental cars at Osijek Airport include them automatically during winter, make sure to still confirm at pickup, as some motorways and inland routes around Osijek require winter tyres and even snow chains in severe conditions. You can also add winter equipment as an optional extra when booking.

Tolls on Croatian motorways are paid at staffed or automated booths at the end of each motorway section. You can use both cash (Croatian euro) and card payments at most tolls on the A3 and A5 routes. A few older or smaller booths on secondary routes may be cash-only, so keep a small amount of cash in the car as a backup option.

ℹ️ Ask at the rental desk whether an ENC (Electronic Toll Collection) transponder is available for your vehicle if you plan to use the motorways regularly for a longer period. Doing so can save time at busy booths during the summer.