Croatia

Key points for young drivers:

• Motorway: 130 km/h, outside built-up areas 90 km/h.
• Alcohol: 0.0 ‰ for novice and young drivers (under Croatian law – up to 24), 0.5 ‰ for everyone else.
• Daytime lights – compulsory in winter (from the autumn to the spring clock change); motorcycles always.
• In the car: first-aid kit, warning triangle, high-visibility vest and spare bulbs (unless you have LED or xenon lights).
• Tolls: toll booths on motorways (euro, card, ENC) – the system is changing, check crolibertas.hr.
• Trap: huge traffic jams on the coast in summer – plan your route and check traffic at hak.hr.

Seat belts and child seats

Seat belts and child seats are compulsory. Only medical reasons exempt you from wearing a seat belt.

Traffic lights

As in most EU countries: official sources give no different traffic light rules for Croatia.

Helmet not compulsory

Cyclists aged 16 and over don’t have to wear a helmet.

Helmet compulsory

• motorcycles (including with a sidecar) and mopeds,
• tricycles and quadricycles,
• bicycle – children and teenagers under 16.

Compulsory equipment in the car

• first-aid kit,
• warning triangle,
• high-visibility vest (inside the car),
• spare bulbs (not for xenon, neon and LED lights).

Compulsory equipment on a bike

At night and in poor visibility, cyclists must wear a high-visibility vest.

Winter tyres and snow chains

From 15 November to 15 April, on main roads – whatever the weather – a car up to 3.5 t must have winter tyres (M+S) on all wheels, or summer tyres with at least 4 mm of tread plus snow chains in the car, ready to fit on the drive wheels.

On other roads, winter tyres or snow chains are compulsory when there is snow or ice. Studded tyres are banned.

Phone, drugs and other bans

Phone only with a hands-free kit. Drugs: banned substances include THC, methamphetamine, MDMA, opiates, cocaine and amphetamine.

Reserved lanes (e.g. for buses or bicycles) are only for authorised vehicles – except in an emergency.

Vignettes, tolls and low-emission zones

There are no vignettes. You pay motorway tolls at toll booths, depending on the section you drive – in cash (euro), by card or electronically (ENC). The price depends on the route and the vehicle category. Details: hac.hr.

Note: Croatian Motorways is introducing the new CROLIBERTAS system – no barriers, with an ENC device or number plate recognition (car drivers choose the method). The payment rules will change – check before you travel at crolibertas.hr.

Parking in towns is usually paid and divided into zones – keep your proof of payment.

Documents and insurance

• A valid EU/EEA driving licence – bring the physical card.
• Vehicle registration certificate and valid third-party motor insurance – you don’t need a Green Card in the EU.
• If your route goes through Bosnia and Herzegovina (e.g. via Neum on the way to Dubrovnik), take a Green Card – your EU motor insurance alone isn’t enough there (PBUK).

What to watch out for

• Rules are strictly enforced and fines are high.
• In summer and during holiday periods there are huge traffic jams on the coast and on motorways. Check the traffic situation at hak.hr (recommended by the Polish Ministry of Foreign Affairs).
• Parking in towns is zoned – read the signs and keep your ticket.
• From the autumn to the spring clock change, you drive with your lights on during the day too.
• Just got your licence? Drive on zero – 0.0 ‰ applies to novice drivers, and Croatian law requires it of drivers up to 24.

Sources

• Your Europe – Road rules: Croatia
• Polish Ministry of Foreign Affairs – Odyseusz: Croatia (in Polish)
• Hrvatske autoceste – tolls and ENC
• CROLIBERTAS – new toll system
• Croatian Ministry of the Interior (MUP) – rights and obligations of young drivers
• PBUK – Green Card (in Polish)
• Last updated: September 2026.