Driving in Croatia from the UK: what you need
Checked against official sources on 8 November 2026 · Sources at the bottom of this page
Driving your own car to Croatia? You need:
- A UK sticker, unless your number plate shows "UK" with the Union flag GB stickers are no longer valid: remove or cover them
- Your photocard driving licence, logbook (V5C) and insurance certificate Still have an old paper licence, or a Gibraltar, Jersey, Guernsey or Isle of Man licence? You may need an international driving permit (£5.50 at a PayPoint) Hire or lease car from the UK? Take a VE103 certificate instead of the logbook
- A passport for everyone in the car See the passport rules for Croatia below
- A warning triangle, a first-aid kit, spare bulbs and a hi-vis vest Keep the vest inside the car, not in the boot
- Headlights set for driving on the right, and on during the day in winter Many newer cars adjust for the right from a menu setting, others need beam deflector stickers
- Winter tyres, or chains in the car, on main roads from 15 November to 15 April
- Cash or a card for motorway tolls
🛂 Your border check happens before Croatia
Croatia is in the Schengen area. Driving through France, Germany, Austria and Slovenia? You enter Schengen when you cross the Channel, so your passport is checked, and the EU's Entry/Exit System (EES) records your fingerprints, at Dover, Folkestone or your arrival port. Your passport must be less than 10 years old on the day you arrive and valid for 3 months after you leave. You'll need vignettes for Austria and Slovenia on the way.
Check your passport for Croatia →Motorway tolls
Croatia has no vignette. On most motorways you take a ticket when you join and pay at a booth when you leave.
Speed limits in Croatia
| Road | Limit |
|---|---|
| Motorways | 130 km/h≈ 81 mph |
| Roads outside towns | 90 km/h≈ 56 mph |
| Towns and villages | 50 km/h≈ 31 mph |
Some dual carriageways have a 110 km/h limit, as signed. Speeding fines in towns start at €30 for up to 10 km/h over, then €60 (10 to 20 km/h over) and €130 (20 to 30 km/h over), rising to €1,320 to €2,650 for over 50 km/h too fast.
Rules that catch UK drivers out
🍷 Zero alcohol for under-24s
The limit is 0.5 g/l for most drivers, but zero for drivers under 24, newly qualified drivers and professional drivers.
💡 Headlights in winter
From when the clocks go back in autumn until they go forward in spring, dipped headlights or daytime running lights must be on during the day.
📵 No handheld phones
Using a phone in your hand while driving is a €130 fine.
👶 Child seats
Seatbelts and child seats are compulsory.
❄️ Winter equipment 15 Nov – 15 Apr
On main roads, from 15 November to 15 April, whatever the weather, cars need M+S winter tyres on all wheels, or summer tyres with at least 4 mm of tread plus snow chains in the car. On other roads, the same applies whenever there's snow or ice.
Studded tyres are banned. The coast is usually mild, but roads inland and over the mountains, such as routes to Zagreb and Plitvice, can be snowy.
Breakdowns and emergencies
- Call 112 for police, ambulance or fire.
- Put on your hi-vis vest before you get out, and place the warning triangle behind the car if it's safe to.
- For traffic and road conditions, see the Croatian Automobile Club, HAK.
Hiring a car in Croatia instead
- Hire companies may ask for an international driving permit, so check first.
- Ask whether you can take the car into neighbouring countries, and check it has winter equipment in winter.
- They may ask for a DVLA licence check code. Get one on GOV.UK shortly before you collect the car: it's only valid for 21 days.
FAQs
Do I need a vignette for Croatia?
No. Croatia has no vignette. On most motorways you take a ticket when you join and pay at a toll booth when you leave, in cash or by card. A barrier-free system that reads number plates is planned, but booths are still in use.
Do I need winter tyres in Croatia?
On main roads from 15 November to 15 April, whatever the weather, cars need M+S winter tyres on all wheels, or summer tyres with at least 4 mm of tread plus snow chains in the car. On other roads, the same applies whenever there's snow or ice. Studded tyres are banned.
Do I need headlights on during the day in Croatia?
In winter, yes: dipped headlights or daytime running lights must be on during the day from when the clocks go back in autumn until they go forward in spring.
What is the drink-drive limit in Croatia?
0.5 g/l for most drivers, but zero for drivers under 24, newly qualified drivers and professional drivers.
How much are speeding fines in Croatia?
In towns, from €30 for up to 10 km/h over, €60 for 10 to 20 km/h over and €130 for 20 to 30 km/h over, rising to €1,320 or more for over 50 km/h too fast.
How long can I drive my UK car in Croatia?
Up to 3 months from arrival. You can drive on your UK photocard licence without an international driving permit.
More for your trip
Sources
Checked on 8 November 2026. Rules change, so check the official sources before you travel.