Driving in Croatia as a New Zealander
In Croatia you drive on the right, the opposite of New Zealand, so the steering wheel is on the left and you go anticlockwise around roundabouts. With a New Zealand 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.
Unless signposted otherwise, the limits are 50 km/h in towns, 90 on country roads and 130 on motorways. Watch for fixed cameras, and for unmarked camera cars.
Croatia and New Zealand side by side
The rows in yellow are different from home.
| Rule | Croatia | New Zealand |
|---|---|---|
| Drive on the | Right | Left |
| Speed units | km/h | km/h |
| Alcohol limit | 0.05 | 0.05 |
| Holding a phone | Banned | Banned |
| Turn on red | No | No |
| Unmarked junctions | Traffic from the right | Traffic from the right |
| Roundabouts go | Anticlockwise | Clockwise |
The rules that catch New Zealanders out
The most important first.
They drive on the right
In Croatia you drive on the right. At home you drive on the left. The steering wheel is on the left, and in a manual car you change gears with your right hand. Habit puts people on the wrong side when they pull out of a car park or turn into a quiet street, so say it out loud for the first day. At junctions, the nearest traffic comes from your left, so look left 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.
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, give way 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.
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. At home you go clockwise.
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 tyres, or summer tyres with at least 4 mm of tread plus chains, whatever the weather.
Bura closes roads
Strong bura wind can close motorways, 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 New Zealand 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, give way 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, slower than the 100 km/h at home. Motorways 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 tyre repair kit, spare bulbs and winter tyres, or summer tyres with at least 4 mm of tread plus snow chains (in winter). Hire 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 motorways 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.
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 giving way to traffic and pedestrians.
Open Croatia in the app, set to a New Zealand 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
Give way
You must give way to all vehicles on the road you are entering.
Speed check
Speed checks take place on this road or section.
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 give way 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 motorways. 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 motorway starts here.
The motorway 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 motorways. The cameras do not flash, and they also record phone use and missing seat belts. Unmarked police cars patrol motorways and expressways. Camera fines are posted to the vehicle's registered owner. For a hire car that is the hire 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 passportHire companies and police ask for ID.
- Hi-vis vestKeep it inside the car, not in the boot. 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 motorways 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 tyre 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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Where New Zealanders drive next
Croatia for drivers from elsewhere
Sources: the official Croatia sources listed on the Croatia guide, checked 15 October 2026.