Vehicles & Routes

Yes, you can rent automatic cars in Dubrovnik. However, as the rental fleet in Croatia is predominantly manual, automatic cars are limited in supply and cost about €15-20 more per day. The best tip is to book them well in advance, especially for a summer trip.

Yes, most car hire companies permit one-way/inter-city car rentals from Dubrovnik to Zagreb. Driving the hired vehicle from one Croatian city to another typically incurs a one way fee, which is included in the final rental price. However, longer routes like Dubrovnik to Zagreb typically incur a higher drop off fee, typically ranging between €100–€200.

Yes, taking a rental car on a ferry from Dubrovnik to nearby islands such as Korčula, Mljet, Hvar, and Brač is generally permitted. Such routes require prior authorisation from the supplier and will most definitely incur an additional inter-island crossing fee of up to €100 per rental.

A small compact or economy car is strongly recommended for cruising Dubrovnik’s residential streets, the D8 coastal road and parking spaces near the Old Town. If you’re staying inside the city during your trip, for the most part, a small car would work the best as larger vehicles are harder to manoeuvre and significantly harder to park.

An SUV is only worth considering if you are driving into mountainous terrain on the Pelješac Peninsula or heading to Montenegro, or if you are carrying extra luggage that wouldn’t otherwise fit in a small car.

Yes, the addition of the Pelješac Bridge allows seamless journeys from Dubrovnik to Split, all while remaining within Croatian territory. The border crossings at the Neum corridor through Bosnia are no longer necessary, and most travellers now skip it entirely. The bridge route is faster, simpler, and involves no cross-border charges or insurance considerations.