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: the main city of Dalmatia, built around Diocletian's Palace; Split Airport (SPU) is roughly 20–25 km to the west.
Do You Need a Car in Split?
Not for the old town. The palace, the Riva and Marjan hill are walkable, and taxis and buses cover the rest. A car makes sense for Krka, Trogir, Omiš, Makarska and the road south, especially if you want early starts and quiet beaches.
Our advice: book from the day you leave the centre and ask the agency to deliver it to your hotel. If you are taking a ferry to Brač, Hvar or Šolta, ask the agency whether islands are allowed before you book.
Drive Times from Split
Times are approximate and depend on traffic; use live navigation for the real figure.
| Destination | Approx. distance | Typical drive |
|---|---|---|
| Split Airport (SPU) | ~20–25 km | 25–45 min |
| Trogir | ~27–30 km | about 30–50 min |
| Omiš | ~25–30 km | about 30–45 min |
| Krka National Park (Skradin) | ~85–95 km | about 1–1.25 hours |
| Makarska | ~60–70 km | about 1–1.5 hours |
| Šibenik | ~85–90 km | about 1–1.25 hours |
| Dubrovnik | ~230–250 km | about 3.5–4.5 hours |
Parking, Zones and the Old Town
The old town and the Riva are mostly closed to cars. Street parking is divided into paid zones, usually by colour, with the first zones around the centre costing the most; use signed car parks and keep the receipt, and check whether your hotel parking is included before you arrive.
- Leave the car at the hotel when you explore the palace and Riva
- Avoid the harbour area on ferry rush hours
- Do not park on pedestrian streets or in ferry queues
- Fines from police and wardens are sent to the agency, which charges you after the rental
Ferries, Roads and Summer Traffic
Car ferries to Brač, Šolta and Hvar leave from Split; a rental car on a ferry needs the agency's permission, and tickets for cars sell out in summer. The A1 motorway is tolled, and the old coast road is slow; Saturdays in July and August bring heavy traffic. In the cold season the bora can close coast roads and bridges; check before driving south.
Pick-Up and Delivery
Pick-up is usually delivered to your hotel in Split, or collected at Split Airport (SPU). Use the "Specify location" option in the search to choose, and check the car card for any fee. Do not rely on a named office unless it is written on the car card. If you arrive late, give the provider your flight number.
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
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.
Driving in Split: Roads and Habits
Streets near the centre are narrow, one-way and full of scooters and pedestrians. Use navigation, keep a larger gap than at home and avoid the harbour at rush hours and ferry times.
- 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