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Car hire in Croatia
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Driving in Croatia on an Australian licence
International Driving Permit rules and car hire for Australians.
Yes - Australians need an International Driving Permit for Croatia.
Croatia requires an International Driving Permit with your Australian licence. Apply at your state motoring club before you leave.
Drives on the rightOpposite to Australia
Minimum age 18For most hire companies
$45-$95Typical daily hire
IDP required1949 Geneva Convention
Is hiring a car in Croatia worth it?
Worth it for Istria and the national parks. Dubrovnik and Split old towns are pedestrian-only and parking is punishing.
Typical daily hire runs $45-$95.
Where to hire a car in Croatia
Prices are indicative, shown in AUD and refreshed from provider APIs where available. Always confirm the final price on the provider's site - it is the price that applies. We may earn a commission if you buy through our links, which never changes what you pay. A row labelled "Featured partner" holds a paid position at the top of the table. Partners are listed before providers who pay us nothing, as our terms set out; sorting by price ignores all of that and orders on the number alone. How we make money.
What Australian drivers need to know in Croatia
- The A1 motorway down the coast is excellent and tolled; pay by card at the booth.
- Headlights must be on during daylight hours in winter.
- The blood alcohol limit is zero for drivers under 25 and 0.05 for everyone else.
- If you drive the old coastal road through Neum you are entering Bosnia and Herzegovina and back - green card insurance should cover it, but confirm with the hire company.
Driving without the permit here means driving uninsured. Australian policies exclude claims from driving without a valid licence for that vehicle in that country, and in Croatia the International Driving Permit is part of being validly licensed.
You can only get an International Driving Permit in Australia, before you fly - the state motoring clubs issue them for about $49 and it takes a fortnight to be safe. How to get one, and where it works.
More Croatia essentials
Croatia visa and entry rules
Passport, visa, arrival cards and customs rules for Australian passport holders.
Flights to Croatia
Search fares from Australia, then sort the rest of the trip.
Croatia eSIM plans
Instant data, no physical SIM required.
Croatia travel insurance
Medical, cancellation and luggage cover for Australian travellers.
Croatia money and cards
Cards, cash and FX fees for Australian travellers.
Croatia airport transfers
Trains, buses, private transfers and taxis compared.
Croatia travel essentials
Adapters, plugs, tap water, tipping and health basics.
Things to do in Croatia
Attractions, tours and passes worth booking ahead.
Further reading: International Driving Permit: which countries Australians need one for
How these comparisons are made
Licence and permit rules come from the destination's road authority and the Australian motoring clubs that issue International Driving Permits, and each page states whether an IDP is legally required, required in practice by hire companies, or genuinely not needed - three different situations most sites blur into one. Read the full editorial policy.
Croatia driving FAQs
Do I need an International Driving Permit in Croatia?
Yes. Croatia requires foreign drivers to carry a 1949 Geneva Convention International Driving Permit alongside their Australian licence. Get it from your state motoring club before you leave.
Do I pass through another country driving from Split to Dubrovnik?
On the old coastal road, yes - the Neum corridor is a short stretch of Bosnia and Herzegovina, so carry your passport. The Peljesac Bridge, open since 2022, bypasses it entirely and keeps you in Croatia.
Planning Croatia?
We will send you the Croatia guide as it grows - what to book before you go, which eSIM and travel card are worth it there, and what things actually cost in Australian dollars.