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.
📍 Split Airport (SPU): at Kaštela, roughly 20–25 km west of Split and about 5–8 km from Trogir, close to the A1 motorway and the coastal road.
Why Rent a Car at Split Airport
Split's old centre is walkable and taxis and buses connect the airport to town, but the best of Dalmatia is spread along the coast: Trogir, Šibenik, the Krka waterfalls, Makarska beaches, Omiš and the Cetina canyon. Buses run, but a car gives you early starts, quiet coves and flexible stops.
Our advice: if you stay in Split first, collect the car on the day you leave the city or ask for hotel delivery, because parking in and around the old town is tight and expensive. If you land and go straight on, take it at the airport.
Drive Times from SPU
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 |
|---|---|---|
| Trogir | ~5–8 km | 10–20 min |
| Split city centre | ~20–25 km | 25–45 min, longer in summer |
| Šibenik | ~55–60 km | about 45–60 min |
| Krka National Park (Skradin) | ~75–85 km | about 1–1.25 hours |
| Makarska | ~60–70 km from Split side | about 1–1.5 hours |
| Mostar (Bosnia) | ~160–170 km | about 2.5–3 hours plus the border |
| Dubrovnik | ~230–250 km | about 3.5–4.5 hours |
Picking Up at SPU: 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 Split or Trogir. Use the "Specify location" option in the search to choose, and do not rely on a named counter unless it is written on the car card. Summer flights can be late, so give the provider your flight number.
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 SPU
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.
Roads, Tolls and Traffic Around Split
From the airport you reach the A1 motorway and the coastal road quickly. The A1 charges tolls: take a ticket on entry and pay by card or cash at the exit, and keep small cash as a backup. The old coastal road (D8) is free but slow in summer, with queues through every town. On Saturdays in July and August the airport road and the Split bypass can jam solid with changeover traffic.
Ferries, Parking and the Bora
Ferries to Brač, Hvar and Šolta leave from Split; a rental car on a ferry needs the agency's permission and a vehicle ticket booked early in summer. In Split and Trogir the old towns are largely closed to cars, so use signed car parks and keep the receipt. In the cold season the bora can close bridges and sections of the coast road; check the road status before long drives.
Driving Near SPU: Roads and Habits
The coast road is narrow in places, with scooters, tour buses and pedestrians. Local drivers overtake on short straights; hold your lane and keep a large gap on bends. In summer, plan to leave early to avoid the heat and queues.
- 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
- Ferry and island trips need the agency's permission; confirm that insurance applies there
Best Day Trips from Split 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.