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Croatia
Updated:  01 May 2012

Croatia Driving Information

Your UK driving licence is valid for up to six months from entry into Croatia.  If you are staying longer, you need to apply for a Croatian licence.  International Driving Licences are not valid in Croatia.

If travelling by car you should ensure, before setting out, that your green card covers Croatia.  Insurance can be purchased at two main border crossings (Gorican and Bregana on the Croatian side, the first on the way from Budapest and the latter from Ljubljana). Smaller crossings may not have this facility or have limited hours when the service is available.  If you are driving to or through Bosnia and Herzegovina, including the 20km strip of coastline at Neum on the Dalmatian coastal highway, you should ensure that your Green Card includes cover for Bosnia and Herzegovina.  If this is not the case, temporary third-party insurance can be purchased at the main border posts, or in Split and other large Croatian cities. Insurance cannot be obtained at the Neum border. Please note that this European Breakdown Cover policy does not cover Bosnia and Herzegovina

Road conditions in and around Zagreb and the larger towns are of a generally good standard.  However, you should take care when overtaking and use caution around other road users who may unexpectedly overtake repeatedly in slower traffic.  Minor roads are usually unlit at night.

Croatia has laws stating that it is illegal to drive with more than 0.5% of alcohol in the system (but if in any kind of offence, zero tolerance applies. To drive without dipped headlights on during daylight saving period (last weekend in October until last weekend in March); an to use a mobile phone whilst driving.

It is obligatory to carry a fluorescent vest in your car whilst driving in Croatia.  You must keep the vest in the car and not in the boot. You must wear the vest whilst attending to a breakdown, e.g.  changing a tyre.  All passengers must wear seat belts and special seats are required for infants.  Children under the age of 12 may not sit in the front seat.

There have been a number of reported incidents of gangs robbing car occupants after either indicating that they are in trouble and require assistance, or pulling alongside a car and indicating that there seems to be something wrong and they should pull over.   You should therefore be cautious should something similar to the above actions occur.

Traffic information in English is available at 98.5FM during the tourist season only.