by Florian König, maut1.de - 20 June 2024
In summer, many German holidaymakers are drawn to the south by the sea, and in addition to Italy and Spain, Croatia is also a very popular holiday destination. During the summer months, however, random border checks may be carried out at the border when travelling there.
Anyone travelling through Croatia in their own car or motorhome must comply with the local traffic rules and speed limits. In this article, you can find out more about the current traffic rules in Croatia, other safety tips and important equipment for travelling.
Information on tolls in Croatia
The motorway network in Croatia is already in good condition and is constantly being expanded. To finance this expansion and for maintenance tolls are charged for the use of motorways in Croatia, and additional tolls are charged for certain tunnels and bridges.
In Croatia, the toll is calculated based on the distance travelled and the respective vehicle class (from 1A for motorbikes to 2 for motorhomes and 4 for trucks). There is no toll sticker in Croatia as there is in Austria or Switzerland.
When entering the motorway, a ticket must be taken at the toll station and paid for at the toll station when leaving the motorway.
You can pay by credit card or cash, although you can expect longer waiting times at the toll stations, especially in the summer months.
The ETC system (Electronic Toll Collect), which is also used, enables cashless payment of tolls with a transponder that is rechargeable and valid indefinitely. As a practical alternative, tolls in Croatia (alongside Italy, France, Spain and Portugal) can also be paid using the toll box from maut1.de since summer 2023.
The speed limits in Croatia
| Inner city | Out of town | Motorways | Motorway | |
| Motorbike | 50 km/h | 90 km/h | 110 km/h | 130 km/h |
| Passenger car | 50 km/h | 90 km/h | 110 km/h | 130 km/h |
| Car with trailer | 50 km/h | 80 km/h | 80 km/h | 90 km/h |
| Motorhome up to 3.5 t | 50 km/h | 80 km/h | 110 km/h | 130 km/h |
| Motorhome over 3.5 tonnes | 50 km/h | 80 km/h | 80 km/h | 90 km/h |
Attention novice drivers:
A special aspect in Croatia is that drivers under the age of 25 must adhere to stricter traffic rules and a lower speed limit, which is 10 km/h below the legal limit: This means that the speed limit is 80 km/h on rural roads, 100 km/h on dual carriageways and 120 km/h on motorways.
The drink-drive limit in Croatia
The blood alcohol limit in Croatia is 0.5 per mille. For all beginner drivers under the age of 25 as well as for professional drivers and drivers of vehicles with a gross vehicle weight of over 3.5 tonnes (e.g. motorhomes) however, there is a strict limit of 0.0 per mille at the wheel.
If you are caught during a random police check and your blood alcohol level is 0.5 per mille or higher, you must expect a fine, the amount of which depends on the blood alcohol level found, but at least 395 euros.
From a value of 1.5 per mille, a prison sentence is also possible. Furthermore, if you drive under the influence of alcohol, you risk being banned from driving for several months.
Repeat offenders who continue to drive under the influence of alcohol and are caught again within 24 months may face a two-year driving ban with a fine as well as a prison sentence of up to 60 days.
The traffic rules for parking in Croatia
All paid parking zones in Croatia are marked with different colours, payment can be made in cash at the parking machine or by text message.
Blue parking markings mean paid short-term parking zones.
White lines normally mean free parking, but there may be regional variations. Please always pay attention to any information signs to avoid unnecessary fines.
Yellow, solid or slanted hatched lines indicate parking spaces for authorised persons or people with disabilities only, usually supplemented by additional signs.
The capital city of Zagreb is divided into four different parking zones, further information on the applicable parking times, payment systems and a list of streets by zone can be found here .
Mobile phone use while driving
Using a mobile phone or smartphone at the wheel to make calls is only permitted with a hands-free system, otherwise you may be fined between €65 and €128.50.
Other important traffic rules in Croatia
- From the last Sunday in October to the last Sunday in March (winter time), dipped headlights or daytime running lights must be used on all roads during the day. Motorcyclists are required to use lights all year round.
- All motorcyclists and drivers of cars or motorhomes must carry a separate warning vest for each passenger. These must be worn in all cases when the vehicle has to be abandoned outside built-up areas in the event of an accident or breakdown and the occupants of the vehicle are then on the carriageway or hard shoulder.
- In a car, the load must not protrude more than 1 m to the front. The projection of the load over the vehicle and trailer to the rear must not exceed one sixth of the length of the load that rests continuously on the load carrier.
- If the load protrudes more than 1 metre to the rear, the protruding outer end of the load must be marked with a red cloth or a square 50 x 50 cm sign with fluorescent orange and white diagonal stripes.
- Winter tyres are compulsory on some roads or stretches of road in Croatia depending on the weather. This is indicated by traffic signs. At least two winter tyres (with more than 4 mm tread) must be fitted on the respective drive axle.
- Snow chains must be carried during the winter period and fitted to the drive wheels on snow- and ice-covered roads. In some regions (e.g. Lika and Gorski Kotar), the use of snow chains is mandatory regardless of tyre type. The use of spikes is generally prohibited in Croatia.
- Every accident in Croatia must be reported to the local police. It should also be noted that vehicles may only leave Croatia after an accident with bodywork damage if the damage has been assessed by the police. The use of a "European accident report" is also recommended for property damage.
- If children under 2 years of age are travelling in the vehicle in the front passenger seat against the direction of travel, the front passenger airbag must be deactivated. Children up to the age of 5 may only travel in the rear seat and a child seat or seat cushion is mandatory. From the age of 13, children are also allowed to sit in the front passenger seat.
- School buses and public buses that have stopped to allow passengers to board or alight may not be passed, even at walking speed.
- In Croatia, as in Germany, there is a general seat belt obligation, i.e. all persons travelling in the vehicle must wear a seat belt.
- The use of speed cameras or radar detectors is prohibited in Croatia.
- Free camping outside of campsites is not permitted at any time in Croatia.
Safety instructions for the Croatian border regions!
In the border regions of Croatia, marked roads and paths should not be left, as there may still be a risk of mines being present here!
This applies above all to the former front lines:
- Eastern Slavonia (30 to 50 km before the border with Serbia and on the border with Hungary, especially the areas around Vukovar and Vinkovci),
- Western Slavonia (Daruvar, Pakrac, Virovitica region),
- western and south-western border area with Bosnia and Herzegovina (the area south of Sisak and Karlovac, east of Ogulin, Otocac, Gospic, on the eastern outskirts of Zadar and in the hinterland of the coast between Senj and Split and in the mountains south-east of Dubrovnik).
Known minefields are marked with triangular signs and labelled with the warning imprints ("Ne Prilazite"). Newly identified minefields are also partially cordoned off or labelled with yellow plastic strips.
Are parking tickets from Croatia also demanded in Germany?
Due to a European regulation, a fine for a traffic offence of 70 euros or more from abroad, such as Croatia, can also be enforced in Germany after the trip. However, fines below this amount are also legally enforceable.
If you do inadvertently break the traffic rules in Croatia and receive a ticket, you should either pay the fine on the spot or settle it at home after your holiday at the latest.
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