Driving in Croatia as a Canadian
Croatia drives on the right, the same as Canada. With a Canadian licence an International Driving Permit isn't always asked for, but it's worth carrying one. At junctions without signs or road markings, traffic from your right goes first, even from a small side street. You can't turn right on a red light, even after stopping.
Unless signposted otherwise, the limits are 50 km/h in towns, 90 on country roads and 130 on highways. Watch for fixed cameras, and for unmarked camera cars.
Croatia and Canada side by side
The rows in yellow are different from home.
| Rule | Croatia | Canada |
|---|---|---|
| Drive on the | Right | Right |
| Speed units | km/h | km/h |
| Alcohol limit | 0.05 | 0.05 |
| Holding a phone | Banned | Banned |
| Turn on red | No | Yes, after stopping |
| Unmarked junctions | Traffic from the right | Traffic from the right |
| Roundabouts go | Counterclockwise | Counterclockwise |
| Daytime headlights | On in winter | When visibility is poor |
| Passing on the inside | Only in slow traffic | Allowed |
The rules that catch Canadians out
The most important first.
Zero alcohol under 24
The general limit is 0.50 g/kg, but drivers under 24 and anyone driving for work must have no alcohol at all.
No right turn on red
A red light means stop for every direction. Only a lit green arrow beside the red light lets you turn, after yielding to traffic and pedestrians. At home you can, so it's an easy habit to bring with you.
Priority to the right
At junctions with no signs or markings, traffic from the right goes first, even from a small side street. A warning triangle with a black X marks such a junction ahead. At a junction with no signs, signals or road markings, yield to traffic coming from your right, even from a small side street. It's the same rule as at home, but at home you rarely meet a junction with no signs.
Winter equipment from 15 November
From 15 November to 15 April, designated winter sections, including the A1 between Zagreb and Maslenica and the A6 to Rijeka, require winter tires, or summer tires with at least 4 mm of tread plus chains, whatever the weather.
Bura closes roads
Strong bura wind can close highways, the coast road and bridges. Motorcycles and vehicles towing trailers or caravans are banned first, then other high-sided vehicles, then everything except cars, and in the strongest wind all traffic. Obey the variable speed signs and follow signposted detours.
Pedestrian zones (Pješačka zona)
Motor vehicles may not enter without a special permit. Stopping and parking are banned. Where: Areas set aside for pedestrians, marked by a sign with walking figures and the words Pješačka zona. Fine: €30 for stopping or parking. Check how to reach your accommodation before driving into an old town centre.
12 more rules worth knowing
Carry an International Driving Permit
With a Canadian licence, carry an International Driving Permit (IDP) with your licence. It isn't always asked for, but it's the safe choice. The law accepts a valid foreign licence, subject to reciprocity, and an IDP issued in the licence's country. Sixt accepts licences in the Latin alphabet without an IDP. The Canadian government advises carrying an IDP, and Smartraveller warns that driving without one could void your travel and vehicle insurance.
Headlights on in winter
From 1 November to 31 March, you must drive with daytime running lights or dipped headlights on, even in bright sunshine.
Trams always go first
In Zagreb and other cities with trams, yield to a tram at a junction whichever side it comes from, unless signs say otherwise.
Cameras catch phones and seat belts, without a flash
Police cameras in roadside housings record speeding, phone use and missing seat belts, and they do not flash. Cameras are moved between housings, so treat every housing as live.
Fines are paid on the spot
Drivers without residence in Croatia pay the fine on the spot, at half the minimum amount. If you refuse, police can keep your passport or licence and take you to court.
A ferry ticket rarely guarantees a place
On most local car ferries, a ticket does not reserve a place for your car. Queue at the port well before departure, especially in summer.
Get a police damage report after an accident
If a foreign-registered car is damaged in an accident, the police officer at the scene gives the owner a damage report, which is needed to take the car across the border.
Speed limits
Country roads are 90 km/h here, faster than the 80 km/h at home. Highways are 130 km/h here, faster than the 100 km/h at home. The sign with the town's name on it sets the town limit by itself, usually with no speed sign.
What the car must carry
The car must carry a hi-vis vest, a warning triangle, a first-aid kit, a spare wheel or tire repair kit, spare bulbs and winter tires, or summer tires with at least 4 mm of tread plus snow chains (in winter). Rental cars should have them, but check before you drive away, because the driver gets the fine.
Traffic-calmed areas (Zona smirenog prometa)
Drive no faster than walking pace. Children may play anywhere in the street. Where: Areas within towns, marked by a blue sign showing people, a car and a house. Expect children and pedestrians in the roadway.
Toll roads
Most highways charge a toll by distance. Take a ticket at the entry booth and pay at the exit booth in euros or by card. Without an ENC electronic tag, use a lane marked CASH or CARD. Lanes marked ENC are for vehicles with a tag. You can pay a toll booth operator or an automatic pay machine. Some smaller exits have only a machine.
Roundabouts without signs favour cars entering
Where a roundabout entry has a give-way sign, traffic already on the roundabout goes first. Where the entry has no sign, priority to the right applies, so cars entering have priority over cars already going round.
Open Croatia in the app, set to a Canadian licence, and keep all of this with you offline.
Open it in the appSpeed limits compared with home
The black marks show your limits at home.
Who goes first
Priority to the right
When your road has priority
Signs that look different from home
Speed check
Speed checks take place on this road or section.
Speed limit
Maximum speed in km/h.
No passing
You must not pass motor vehicles other than mopeds and solo motorcycles.
Roundabout ahead
A roundabout is ahead.
Signs you won't know from home
A junction is ahead where neither road has priority.
You are on a priority road. Traffic on side roads must yield to you.
The priority road ends here.
The general limits in Croatia: 50 km/h in built-up areas, 90 km/h outside them, 110 km/h on expressways and 130 km/h on highways. Dipped headlights are required all day from 1 November to 31 March.
You are entering a built-up area.
The built-up area ends here.
A highway starts here.
The highway ends here.
An expressway or a road reserved for motor vehicles starts here.
Speed cameras
Police speed cameras sit in roadside housings, many of them on street-light poles, and are moved between housings so drivers cannot tell which ones are live. There are now about 800 housings, some on highways. The cameras do not flash, and they also record phone use and missing seat belts. Unmarked police cars patrol highways and expressways. Camera fines are posted to the vehicle's registered owner. For a rental car that is the rental company, which gives your details to the authorities and charges an admin fee (Sixt charges €40). Police who stop a driver without residence in Croatia collect the fine on the spot, at half the minimum amount. Non-EU drivers with unpaid fines can be stopped and served at the border when they leave.
Before you drive
- Your driving licenceThe physical card, not a photo or a digital licence.
- An International Driving PermitRecommended with your licence. Get it before you leave home.
- Your passportRental companies and police ask for ID.
- Hi-vis vestKeep it inside the car, not in the trunk. Wear it whenever you walk on the roadway after a breakdown or accident.
- Warning trianglePlace it behind the car, at least 100 metres back outside built-up areas. On highways and expressways you must always set it out when you stop on the roadway.
- First-aid kitCheck it's in the car before you drive away.
- Spare wheel or tire repair kitCheck it's in the car before you drive away.
- Spare bulbsNot needed for cars with xenon, neon or LED lights.
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Croatia for drivers from elsewhere
Sources: the official Croatia sources listed on the Croatia guide, checked 15 October 2026.