Cheap Car Rental Zagreb Airport –
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An International Driving Permit (IDP) or an English translation will be required if your original driving license uses a non-Latin alphabet (eg, Arabic, Cyrillic, Chinese). If applicable, you must carry both an IDP and your domestic driver’s license for pickup and when driving. EU and EEA license holders are generally accepted without an IDP for driving in Croatia.

⚠️ Non-Latin driving licences must usually be accompanied by an IDP when collecting the vehicle.

The minimum age to hire vehicles at Zagreb Airport is usually 21 years. Sometimes, drivers as young as 18 years old may be accepted by some companies, but large or premium vehicle categories may be restricted to those over 25. As the age limit differs by company, vehicle type, and location, a per-day Young Driver Surcharge of about €10 to €25 applies accordingly.

ℹ️ Drivers under 25 are commonly charged a Young Driver Surcharge depending on the supplier and vehicle category.

Plenty of one-way deals are available for effortless pickup at Zagreb Airport and drop-off in Split, be it at SPU Airport, the train station, or the port. A drop-off fee will apply based on your selected car and the distance between the two locations. An average drop-off fee of €50–€150 is charged, but you can also find the exact amount in the supplier’s terms and conditions. 

You can add one or multiple extra drivers to your rental car when booking online. Sometimes, a first additional driver may be allowed at no cost, but an extra €8-10 is usually charged per day. Additional drivers are subject to the same age and license requirements as the main driver. You can add them from the list of optional extras on the booking summary page.

Not always. Cars displayed online are shown for guidance and may differ from the actual versions available at the rental counter.  What you are guaranteed is the category you booked, such as mini, economy, or SUV. So when a quote offers “Renault Clio or Similar”, it means you may receive the same car or a different model with the same specifications. Look for the ✔ Guaranteed Car Model label to book a specific make or model when searching for deals on our website.

✅ “Or Similar” means the supplier guarantees the booked vehicle category, not necessarily the exact model shown online.

Yes. Companies often allow a 1-2 hour grace period for delayed car rental returns. This period can be shorter in some cases. The supplier may charge an hourly fee or a full-day rental after the grace period. That is why you should notify the supplier by phone so that the necessary arrangements can be made without triggering extra charges.

⚠️Inform the supplier in advance if you expect delays to avoid additional late-return charges.

You can take a hired car for a cross-border trip from Croatia to another country, but only with the supplier’s authorisation. An additional cross-border fee and insurance, based on your destination, will also be required. Travelling to a cross-border location without the supplier’s permission will void your insurance, leaving you fully responsible for any damages or injuries, along with possible penalties for violating the agreement.

⚠️ Cross-border trips must be approved by the rental company before departure.

A full-to-full fuel policy is usually followed by most suppliers, under which you are provided a car with a full fuel tank and must also return it full. For a same-to-same policy, you need to return the vehicle with the same amount of fuel it had at pickup. In any case, a higher-than-local price and service fee are often charged for returning the car with less fuel than the agreed-upon policy in the contract.

Toll on Croatian motorways is collected based on the distance travelled. Drivers collect a ticket when entering the motorway and pay based on distance when exiting. Cash and credit cards are the most commonly accepted payment methods at toll booths. An ENC (electronic transponder) device costs €15 and provides access via dedicated lanes, but it is generally not provided by rental companies. Keep your entry ticket safe to avoid being charged the maximum possible toll for that section from the furthest entry point.

ℹ️ Croatia does not use a vignette or sticker system for motorway tolls, unlike Slovenia and Austria.

Yes. Croatian law requires all children under 12 years old or shorter than 150 cm to use an approved child restraint system appropriate for their weight and height. The law applies to all vehicles, including rental cars. Non-compliance can result in fines of €100–€300. 

⚠️ Child seat (typically €4–€15 per day) can be added from the available optional extras on the booking summary page.

Yes, basic insurance is mandatory and is automatically included in almost all rental deals. That usually consists of a Third-Party Liability, Collision Damage Waiver (CDW), and Theft Protection. But the excess (the amount a renter is liable for in the event of damage) may still be high. So, an optional Super CDW or full protection policy is recommended to reduce or eliminate those out-of-pocket expenses.

⚠️ Standard insurance often includes an excess amount payable by the renter in case of damage.

Yes, Visa, Mastercard, and Amex credit cards may offer car rental cover, provided you decline the rental company’s Collision Damage Waiver (CDW) and book and pay using your card. Using a different card at the counter cancels your coverage. Most cards also don’t cover booking durations longer than 30–31 days. Ask your credit card issuer about what’s covered before you travel to Croatia.

⚠️ Always confirm coverage limits, exclusions, and rental duration rules with your credit card provider before travel.

Yes. Cross-border travel is generally allowed into neighbouring countries, including Slovenia, Bosnia and Herzegovina, Italy, and Montenegro. But renters must get prior approval from the rental company, pay a cross-border fee, and obtain a Green Card for insurance purposes. 

⚠️The Green Card may not be required for EU-to-EU crossings (e.g., Croatia to Slovenia or Italy), but it may be necessary for non-EU destinations such as Bosnia and Montenegro.