Driving in Croatia from the UK: tolls and rules

Most motorways are run by the state company Hrvatske autoceste (HAC), which took over the Zagreb to Rijeka motorway (A6) from ARZ; Bina Istra runs the Istrian Y (including the Ucka tunnel) and Autocesta Zagreb-Macelj (AZM) runs the A2 to the Slovenian border at Macelj. On most sections you take a ticket on entry and pay at the exit toll plaza; a few points such as Bregana on the A3 charge one fixed toll. A car is Class I (two axles, up to 1.90 m high); a car towing a trailer or a vehicle over 1.90 m is Class II. HAC does not publish section lengths in its toll tables, so no km are given below.

No low-emission zone affecting visiting cars was found on the official pages checked (see “Not confirmed yet” below).

• Compulsory in cars: first-aid kit, warning triangle, reflective vest kept in the car, and spare bulbs (not needed for xenon, neon or LED lights).^[13]
• Keep the fluorescent vest inside the car, not in the boot, and wear it while dealing with a breakdown.^[14]
• Winter equipment on major roads from 15 November to 15 April whatever the weather: winter (M+S) tyres on all wheels, or summer tyres with at least 4 mm tread plus snow chains ready to fit to the driven wheels. On other roads winter tyres or chains are required when there is snow or ice. Studded tyres are not allowed.^[13]
• Headlights on (dipped) from 1 November to 31 March, even in daytime.^[14]

Built-up areas

50 km/h^[13]

Outside built-up areas

90 km/h^[13]

Motorways

130 km/h^[13]

Drink-drive limit

0.5 g/l (0.0 g/l for novice and professional drivers; FCDO says the limit is zero for drivers under 24)^[13]

Cars towing a trailer: 80 km/h on non-urban roads and 90 km/h on motorways. Dipped headlights or daytime running lights are compulsory during winter time (from when the clocks go back until they go forward).

• You can drive on a UK photocard licence for up to one year without an international driving permit (IDP). With an old paper licence, update it to a photocard or get the correct IDP (1968). Licences from Gibraltar, Jersey, Guernsey or the Isle of Man may need an IDP.^[18]
• You do not need a green card to drive in the EU, including Croatia, but you must have valid vehicle insurance.^[19]
• Take your log book (V5C) and your insurance certificate if you are taking your own vehicle.^[20]
• Display a UK sticker on the back of the car unless your number plate shows the UK identifier with the Union flag. Cover or remove old GB stickers.^[21]
• Croatia follows Schengen rules: up to 90 days in any 180 days across the Schengen area. Under the EU Entry/Exit System (EES) you may be asked to register fingerprints and a photo on your first entry.^[15]
• The European Commission records the abolition of internal border controls with Croatia in 2023. Bosnia and Herzegovina, Serbia and Montenegro are not among the 29 Schengen countries, so Croatia's borders with them are Schengen external borders where passports are checked on entry and exit.^[16]

For documents, insurance, pets and border checks that apply to every country, see the driving to Europe checklist.