VRENTY CAR is an independent comparison service. The search above is provided by our partner Localrent and lists local agencies side by side; you book directly with the provider. Always confirm the price, insurance and deposit before you pay.
📍 Pula Airport (PUY): at Valtura, roughly 6–10 km north-east of Pula, with roads towards Rovinj, Poreč and the inland hill towns.
Why Rent a Car at Pula Airport
Pula's Roman arena and old town are walkable, and the coast resorts have buses. A car is worth it for the Istrian interior, with Motovun, Grožnjan, Buzet and the wine and truffle roads, and for easy day trips to Rovinj, Poreč and across the border to Slovenia.
Our advice: collect the car at the airport if you stay outside Pula, or ask for hotel delivery; parking in Rovinj and Poreč is scarce in July and August.
Drive Times from PUY
Times are approximate and change a lot with the hour and the season; use a live navigation app for the real figure.
| Destination | Approx. distance | Typical drive |
|---|---|---|
| Pula city centre | ~6–10 km | 15–25 min |
| Rovinj | ~35–45 km | about 40–60 min |
| Poreč | ~60–70 km | about 1–1.25 hours |
| Motovun | ~70–80 km | about 1–1.5 hours |
| Rijeka | ~95–110 km | about 1.25–1.75 hours |
| Trieste (Italy) | ~110–130 km | about 1.5–2 hours plus checks |
| Zagreb | ~260–280 km | about 3–3.5 hours |
Picking Up at PUY: Meeting Points and Late Arrivals
How the car is handed over depends on the agency: some meet you in the arrivals area, some in the car park, some at a nearby yard with a shuttle, and many deliver to a hotel in Pula or on the coast. Use the "Specify location" option in the search to choose, and do not rely on a named counter unless it is on the car card.
Late arrival? Many international flights land late at night. Give the provider your flight number, confirm the meeting point and any out-of-hours fee, and check that the phone number on your voucher answers messages.
Documents and Age
- Valid driving licence, usually held for at least a year; minimum age is typically 21 (23 or 25 for larger or premium cars)
- Valid national driving licence and, depending on where it was issued, an International Driving Permit (IDP) — licences from EU/EEA countries are generally accepted, while other licences may need an IDP or a translation; rules differ and can change, so ask the agency exactly what it requires before you travel
- Passport and the booking voucher
- A payment method that matches the offer: many agencies block the deposit on a credit card; use the No deposit or No credit card filter if you need an alternative
What Affects the Price of a Rental at PUY
We do not quote a fixed price here, because rates for the same car change with dates and availability. Look at the live search for your exact days. The main factors:
- Season: July and August are the busiest and dearest, especially on the coast and islands; May, June, September and early October are calmer and usually cheaper, and winter is cheap but some coastal and island services run less often
- Car class: an automatic SUV or pick-up costs clearly more than a compact car
- Rental length: weekly and longer rentals usually lower the daily rate
- Insurance level: full coverage adds a daily amount but often removes the deposit
- Pick-up and return place: airport and out-of-hours pick-up, delivery and one-way returns can carry fees
When you compare, look at the total with full coverage, not the base rate alone.
Croatia Insurance and Deposit Explained
With basic insurance the excess — your share of any damage — can be large and the agency blocks a deposit. Full coverage brings the excess close to zero and, with many local agencies, means no deposit. Typical exclusions are tyres, glass, the underbody, interior damage and lost keys, and the cover is not valid off-road. Motorway tolls, fines, parking, ferry tickets and any cross-border fee are billed separately. Photograph the car with the agent at pick-up and return and make sure all damage is in the acceptance document.
Istrian Tolls and the Učka Tunnel
Istria is covered by the Istrian Y motorway (A8/A9), which is tolled; take a ticket and pay at the exit. The Učka tunnel towards Rijeka charges its own toll, and the old road over the mountain can be foggy and windy. Most Istrian secondary roads are free but narrow, with bends and agricultural traffic.
Hill Towns, Parking and Borders
Hill towns such as Motovun and Grožnjan are small, so park outside the walls and walk up. In Rovinj and Poreč, central car parks fill early in summer. Slovenia is close; cross-border trips need the agency's permission and the right papers, and Slovenia has its own vignette rules, so ask the agency before you go.
Driving Near PUY: Roads and Habits
Istrian roads are narrow in the interior, with cyclists, tractors and hidden junctions. Roundabouts are common; give way as signed. In summer, coast roads queue in the late afternoon.
- Traffic drives on the right; overtake on the left and give way as signed at roundabouts
- Dipped headlights are generally required day and night in the cold season (roughly late October to late March), and many drivers keep them on all year; confirm the current rule
- Speed limits are signed (typically 50 km/h in towns, around 90 km/h on open roads, 110 km/h on expressways and 130 km/h on motorways); police and mobile radar checks are common in summer
- Very strict drink-driving rules — the safest rule is zero alcohol before driving
- No handheld phone while driving; seatbelts are compulsory and children need a suitable seat
- Bora wind can close bridges, motorway sections and coastal roads for hours; follow the signs and wait rather than pressing on
- Stay on paved roads: insurance is not valid off-road, and in some former conflict areas inland you should keep to roads and marked tracks
- Taking the car on a ferry or abroad (including through Bosnia at Neum) needs the agency's permission — see the notes on this page
- Cross-border trips to Slovenia or Italy need the agency's permission and the papers requested at the border
Best Day Trips from Pula Airport by Car
Car Rental at Other Croatia Pick-Up Points
If your trip starts elsewhere, pick up closer to your first night and save a long drive after landing.