The required documentation is mostly the same regardless of the route or rental length:

• Full valid driving licence held for at least 1-2 years, depending on the supplier
• Passport or national ID card
• Credit card in the primary driver’s name
• Booking confirmation voucher 
• International Driving Permit (IDP), if applicable

⚠️ Important: IDP is often required if your driving licence is from a non-EU country and is not in Latin script (e.g. Arabic, Chinese, Cyrillic, Japanese). It may not be necessary for EU/EEA, UK, US, Canadian, or Australian licence holders, but it is advised to carry it with your domestic licence.

📌 Note: Photocopies and digital images of documents on a phone are generally not accepted at the rental counter, so you should bring original physical documents. Learner’s permits and provisional licences are also not accepted.

A credit card may not be necessary to pay for a booking, but it is usually the only method most suppliers accept for the deposit pre-authorisation. This also applies to one-way rentals just as much as it does to standard deals. A longer or higher-value car hire does not change the deposit requirement.

✅ Note: Check whether your travel companion can be registered as the main driver and use their card to book if you don’t have a personal credit card. You can be added as an additional driver in that situation.

Yes. Most suppliers allow renters to add an extra driver for a daily fee of €5–10 (sometimes capped per rental). An additional driver must meet the same licence and age requirements as the primary driver and usually needs to be present at pickup to provide their documents.

⚠️ Important: Rental insurance does not cover any unregistered additional driver. This leaves the renter fully responsible for any accidental damage caused by the unregistered driver. Read the supplier terms before booking to confirm the driver requirements and applicable fees.

💡 You can include an extra driver from the available optional extras on the booking summary page when making a reservation through us.

Yes. Since the Pelješac Bridge opened in 2022, the standard A1 motorway route stays entirely within Croatia. The bridge crosses directly from the mainland to the Pelješac peninsula, bypassing the short strip of Bosnian coastline at Neum that the route used to pass through.

⚠️ Important: Bosnia is unavoidable only if you choose the old Neum corridor instead of the bridge, or detour inland to Mostar or Sarajevo. For a standard Dubrovnik–Zagreb drive, there is no need to enter Bosnia, which most travellers now prefer.

💡 Traveller Tip: But it is completely reasonable to route through Bosnia in case you plan to visit Mostar. Supplier’s written authorisation, Green Card, and relevant cross-border fee (typically ~€40–100) apply in this case, something that the bridge route avoids.

A Green Card (international insurance certificate) is required only if you are entering Bosnia. For instance, if you take the older Neum corridor route instead of the Pelješac Bridge.

📌 Note: Always confirm your supplier’s terms and policies before booking a car hire for a cross-border trip, rather than assuming.

Not necessarily. Standard Croatian rental insurance is valid within the country. Taking the hired car into another country, including Bosnia, generally requires prior written authorisation from the supplier and additional international motor insurance.

⚠️ Important: Crossing into Bosnia without that authorisation typically voids your insurance entirely. Getting involved in an accident abroad without the supplier’s approval or suitable insurance leaves you personally liable for all costs.

The A1 motorway combined with the Pelješac Bridge is the best option for most drivers. It is the fastest route for a one-way trip between the two cities and remains entirely within Croatia and avoids the old Neum border crossings.

💡 Tip: The D8 coastal road is a good option for part of the trip if you have time, but taking it for the full 590–600 km takes about two hours longer than the motorway.

The journey roughly takes 6–7.5 hours without stops via the A1 and Pelješac Bridge. The same drive takes longer on the coastal D8 or with sightseeing stops.

⚠️ Important: Add 1–2 hours in July and August for traffic, and check for possible delays around the Pelješac Bridge during its scheduled maintenance works, which are due to run from October 2026 into 2027.

The A1 motorway is well maintained, with no unpaved or difficult sections, so any standard car is easy to drive. But the main concern for travellers in this case is usually the comfort needed for a 6+ hour drive from Dubrovnik to Zagreb.

💡 Tip: A compact or standard car offers more legroom and luggage space, which can make a long drive more comfortable.

After-hours service is available upon prior arrangement and usually carries an extra fee of €30–50. After-hours service is not available with all rental deals. Availability also varies by supplier and location, so confirm with the supplier before making assumptions or planning an out-of-office-hours arrival in Zagreb.

⚠️ Important: Inform the supplier if you expect extended delays. A full day rental fee may be charged for late drop-offs after the scheduled or permitted out-of-office-hours returns.

Yes. A one-way journey on this route is common for travellers in Croatia, and you can easily book a rental car with major local and international suppliers that serve both airports. You can pick up a car from on-site supplier counters inside or just outside terminal buildings or from nearby depots outside the airport via available shuttle service. A drop-off fee will be charged based on your chosen car and route. 

💡 Tip: Check both ends if your inbound flight to Dubrovnik or your onward flight from Zagreb falls outside normal desk hours. An after-hours pickup or return service can be a great help in such a case.

Most suppliers in Croatia use a full-to-full fuel policy, where you collect the car with a full tank and must return it full. Returning the car with missing fuel may incur a refuelling fee, usually well above pump price, plus a service fee.

💡 Tip: Given the length of the route, plan your fuel stops in advance. The A1 has regular service stations, but once you leave the motorway for the D8 or a detour, fuel stations can be less frequent.

💡 Tip: If you’re returning the car at Zagreb Airport, it’s sensible to refuel shortly before drop-off rather than relying on a city-centre station. Check your rental company’s fuel policy and allow enough time to find a suitable station near the airport.