Renting a car in Zagreb can be a game-changer for your Croatian adventure. It gives you the freedom to explore beyond the city limits. However, if you don’t plan ahead, you might encounter hidden costs and extra fees in car rentals. This comprehensive Zagreb car hire guide will walk you through what you need to know to avoid surcharges.
In this section, we’ll explain how Zagreb serves as an ideal hub for road trips and day excursions. We’ll also cover why relying solely on Zagreb’s public transport might limit your adventure, especially if you want to explore the countryside.
Some of Croatia’s most beloved spots are within day-trip distance of Zagreb. With a rental car, you can easily reach Plitvice Lakes National Park, the town of Samobor, or the rolling hills of the Zagorje region in a single day. Plitvice Lakes is a UNESCO-listed park famous for its cascading lakes and waterfalls. It is about 130 kilometres from Zagreb. By car, it takes around 2 hours and 30 minutes.
Samobor is a little town known for its custard cake and medieval castle ruins. It is only about a 30-minute drive west of Zagreb. Heading north, the Zagorje region is about a 2-hour drive from Zagreb. It offers fairy-tale castles like Trakošćan and lovely vineyards. Public transport to these rural areas is limited, but by car, you can hop between small villages, thermal spas, and castles in one outing. These popular excursions are far more convenient with your own wheels. You can maximize your sightseeing and access spots that tour buses might skip.
Zagreb has an efficient public transport network like trams and buses, but it doesn’t extend well into the surrounding countryside. If you plan to stick strictly to Zagreb’s urban attractions, you might get by without a car. However, for exploring beyond the city, relying on public transport can be tricky. Many nearby natural sites, small towns, or rural attractions either have infrequent connections or none at all.
While there are bus tours to Plitvice Lakes or a local bus to Samobor, you’ll be tied to fixed schedules and often long travel times. Some villages in Hrvatsko Zagorje or hidden hiking spots near Zagreb aren’t reachable by tram or regular bus. In short, Zagreb’s trams won’t take you to a hilltop castle or a remote winery.
Every first-time traveller dreads surprise surcharges. This section outlines the typical additional fees you may encounter when renting a car in Zagreb and how to avoid them.
Picking up your car directly at the airport is convenient, but convenience can come at a price. Many Zagreb airport car rental companies charge a premium location fee, which is often around 10% of the rental costs. To avoid it, you could take a shuttle or taxi into the city and rent from a downtown office. However, consider the trade-off. The time and cost of getting into town versus the 10% fee. If you have a lot of luggage or arrive late, paying the surcharge might be worth the convenience. Check your quote or ask the rental company if the airport fee is included.
Zagreb has numerous car rental offices in the city center. Downtown locations typically do not charge an official “premium location” fee. This means renting in the city might save you that airport surcharge. However, there are a few things to keep in mind with city-center pick-ups. Some downtown branches have limited hours. They are closed on Sundays or only open from 9 AM to 5 PM. If you request a special pick-up or drop-off outside their office, there could be a delivery fee.
In Zagreb, it’s common for agencies to charge a fee for drivers aged 18 to 21, and many extend it up to age 22 or 24. This is because insurance companies consider young drivers higher risk. Some companies have a flat fee, but most charge per day. One tip you can do is to compare companies, as the surcharge amount can vary. Also, if you have a travel companion above the age threshold, it might be cheaper for them to be the driver. Always disclose your age accurately. You will need to show your passport and license, and the rental desk will apply the fee if you’re under the cutoff age.
Planning to share driving duties on your Croatian road trip? Adding a second or third driver is convenient for long drives, but it usually comes at a cost. Most Zagreb car rental companies charge an additional driver fee for each extra person. So, if you and your partner both want to drive and your rental lasts five days, add that extra day to the bill.
Flight arriving late at night? Or need to drop the car off before dawn? Be aware of out-of-hours fees. Most rental offices in Zagreb have standard business hours, often around 8:00 AM to 8:00 PM on weekdays, with slightly shorter hours on weekends. If you schedule a car pick-up or return outside of those hours, there’s a chance the company will charge an extra fee to accommodate you.
Zagreb Airport does have some rental desks that operate for late incoming flights, but you should always check. If you’re trying to avoid this fee, one strategy is to time your rental within office hours. For example, if you arrive at 10 PM, take a taxi into the city and pick up the car the next morning from a city office to avoid a late-night fee. Conversely, if you have an early flight out, consider returning the car the evening before and taking a taxi or airport shuttle in the morning.
If you improperly park and receive a parking ticket on the windshield, or a speed camera catches you on the ring road, the fine will eventually be mailed to the rental car company because the car is registered in their name. The rental company will either pay the fine or charge it to you, and will also charge an administrative fee for handling the paperwork.
The final leg of your rental car journey is returning the vehicle. In this section, we’ll highlight what to do in those last moments with the car to ensure you aren’t hit with cleaning fees, refueling charges, or disputes over damage later.
After a fun road trip, your rental car might not be as spotless as when you picked it up. Normal dust and a bit of mud on the floor mats are expected, but be careful: if you return a car in a very dirty condition, some Croatian rental companies will levy a cleaning fee. What triggers a cleaning fee? Typically, if the car’s interior is muddy, full of sand, stained with spilled drinks, has strong odors like smoke, or lots of trash left behind, that’s beyond “normal”. Likewise, if you went off-roading and the exterior is caked in mud, they might charge for an extensive wash. Normal road dirt or a few crumbs usually don’t warrant a fee, it’s the extremes that do.
Almost all rentals in Zagreb are full-to-full, meaning you must return the car with a full tank of petrol, as it was provided to you. If you don’t, you’ll face those refueling charges, which, to recap, typically include an inflated price per litre plus a service fee.
If you’re returning at Zagreb Airport (ZAG), plan a stop at a nearby petrol station. There’s a conveniently located station (INA petrol) on the main road. It’s on Ulica Rudolfa Fizira, the road leading to the terminal. Fill your tank to the full there. After filling, drive the ~5 km or less to the airport. If returning to the city, find a station within a few kilometers of the drop-off. There are plenty in Zagreb, around Miramarska or near main avenues.
When you arrive to return your car, don’t just drop the keys and leave. Do a walk-around inspection with a staff member present. This is your chance to confirm that the vehicle is in the same condition as when you took it. If you skip this, you leave yourself open to disputes later.
With these car rental tips in Zagreb, you can explore without worrying about extra fees. Instead of dreading what your credit card statement might show, you’ll drive away from the rental office confident that you dodged the pitfalls. Zagreb and Croatia have so much to offer, and a car will help you discover it all.
Rent a car with Final Rentals and pick up your car in Zagreb Airport or Downtown. You can choose from various vehicle types, and every listing provides clear details about the car, including space, seating, and fuel type. Booking is quick, and you get instant confirmation. For extra convenience, you can also download the Final Rentals app on Google Play and the App Store.
