The most-booked rental company in Croatia is not the best one. Local and regional operators consistently outperform the international chains at Split, Dubrovnik, and Zagreb — but they don't show up first in search results, and most travellers never look past the familiar names. These five picks cover every situation: local, regional, international, budget, and convenience.
The 5 best car rental companies in Croatia
- Last Minute Rent a Car — best local Croatian pick
- Sicily By Car — best for Dubrovnik
- Enterprise — best international chain
- Marentis by Avenis — best on price at Split
- Alamo — most convenient at Split terminal
Last Minute Rent a Car
Best local Croatian pick- Best for
- A Dalmatian Coast trip starting and ending at Split — or any route across all three major airports
- Airports
- Split (SPU)Dubrovnik (DBV)Zagreb (ZAG)
- Watch out for
- Local Croatian operator — more flexible than international chains, less global escalation infrastructure if something goes wrong
The name gives nothing away, which is part of why most travellers scroll past it toward Avis or Budget. That's the wrong instinct for this market. Last Minute Rent a Car holds the highest score of any supplier at Split Airport across the entire market, and that result holds up across platforms: Booking.com rates them the top car hire company in Croatia based on over 2,200 verified reviews.
The pattern in traveller accounts is consistent — newer fleet vehicles, flexible counter staff, and a pickup process that doesn't lean on upselling add-ons. Fleet runs from economy hatchbacks to compact SUVs — manual transmission is the norm across Croatian rentals, so request automatic at booking if you need it. The local operator caveat is real: if a dispute arises after return, you're dealing with their team rather than a global escalation path. In practice, the review volume suggests that's rarely needed.
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Last Minute is available at all three Croatian airports — see how their price stacks up against the competition for your dates.
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Sicily By Car
Best for Dubrovnik- Best for
- Travellers ending their itinerary at Dubrovnik, or anyone who wants a regional operator with a long Adriatic track record
- Airports
- Split (SPU)Dubrovnik (DBV)Zagreb (ZAG)
- Watch out for
- Higher price point than local operators — compare against Last Minute before committing, especially outside peak season
Sicily By Car is an Italian-regional operator that has expanded steadily along the Adriatic coast. At Dubrovnik Airport it holds the highest rating of any supplier at that location — the strongest score at DBV by a meaningful margin. The scores at Split and Zagreb are nearly as strong, making it one of only a handful of suppliers that performs consistently well across all three airports.
The price point is higher than the local options, but for a Dubrovnik pickup specifically — where the alternative field is thinner than at Split — the premium is defensible. Fleet leans toward European compacts and mid-size SUVs — a practical fit for coastal roads where something smaller than a full-size SUV handles parking and narrow passes more easily. If your itinerary runs Split-to-Dubrovnik, Sicily By Car operates at both airports and is worth pricing against Last Minute before you commit.
Enterprise
Best international chain- Best for
- Travellers whose credit card rental coverage requires an authorised international supplier, or whose corporate account specifies a named chain
- Airports
- Split (SPU)Dubrovnik (DBV)
- Watch out for
- The right pick if credit card coverage or corporate policy requires an international chain — not the strongest value play if neither applies
Enterprise is the only major international chain that holds up consistently at both Split and Dubrovnik — Avis and Budget are present at both but score notably lower on thinner review data. If your credit card rental coverage requires an internationally recognised supplier, or your trip is on a corporate account, Enterprise is the call. For everyone else, the local picks will match or beat the experience.
Enterprise covers Croatia broadly — Split, Dubrovnik, Zagreb, Zadar, Rijeka, Rovinj, and Pula — and one-way rentals between airports are explicitly offered. Automatic transmission vehicles are available and easier to request through an international chain than through smaller local operators — worth noting if you're not comfortable with a manual on unfamiliar mountain roads. For a Split-to-Dubrovnik trip where you want the drop-off fee confirmed upfront, that's the practical advantage of booking here.
Marentis by Avenis
Best on price at Split- Best for
- Budget-conscious travellers picking up at Split who want a low price without the quality drop that usually comes with it
- Airports
- Split (SPU)Zagreb (ZAG)
- Watch out for
- Off-terminal at Split — short shuttle from arrivals. Not available at Dubrovnik.
Marentis holds the lowest average daily price at Split Airport while scoring 8.8 — an unusual combination. Most of the time, the cheapest option in a rental market is cheap for a reason the score eventually reflects. At Split, Marentis is a genuine exception: low price, strong rating, and enough reviews to trust both numbers.
The off-terminal location is the one practical note: a short shuttle from arrivals rather than walking to a desk. For a week-long rental, the price saving typically makes that transfer an easy trade. Not available at Dubrovnik — if your trip ends on the southern coast, plan accordingly.
Alamo
Most convenient at Split terminal- Best for
- Travellers landing at Split who want a familiar brand, an in-terminal desk, and US loyalty programme recognition
- Airports
- Split (SPU)
- Watch out for
- Split only — for a multi-airport itinerary, Enterprise covers more ground within the same group
Alamo's desk is inside Split's main arrivals terminal — no shuttle, no wait outside. If you're landing at Split and want to walk off the plane and drive away without additional steps, Alamo is the straightforward answer. It sits under the Enterprise Holdings umbrella, so T&Cs, fleet standards, and Alamo Insiders loyalty recognition are consistent with what you'd expect from that group. Fleet at Split runs toward economy and intermediate — Opel Corsa and Toyota Corolla Wagon are the most commonly booked categories. If you need a specific vehicle class, confirm availability at booking rather than assuming it on arrival.
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Compare all five picks — and every other supplier — at your Croatian airport before you commit.
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Getting the most out of your Croatia rental
Book ahead for summer travel. This isn't a soft recommendation — at Split and Dubrovnik, popular vehicle categories genuinely sell out in July and August. Six to eight weeks ahead is the practical minimum. Waiting until two weeks before a peak-season trip at either coastal airport means accepting whatever remains, which is usually the largest or most expensive vehicle categories. The Croatia rental guide covers seasonal pricing in more detail, and the Split Airport guide covers counter logistics and parking if SPU is your pickup point.
Compare what's included, not just the headline price. Some Croatian suppliers — particularly local operators — include zero-excess CDW in their base rate. Others list a headline price that's €15–€25 per day lower, but doesn't include excess coverage. On a week-long rental, those two options can end up at the same total cost once you account for coverage. The insurance section of the Croatia guide explains what CDW, SCDW, and WUG mean and when each one makes sense for a Croatian trip.
Photograph the car before you leave the lot. Every panel, every existing scratch, every tyre. Send the photos to the supplier's email address before you pull out of the car park. That timestamp and documentation closes the majority of post-return damage disputes before they open — regardless of which supplier you booked with and how highly they're rated.
The verdict
If you haven't booked yet: Start with Last Minute Rent a Car if your base is Split or your itinerary runs the full coast. Sicily By Car if you're landing at or ending in Dubrovnik. Enterprise if you need an international chain for credit card or corporate reasons, or if you're doing a one-way and want the drop-off fee confirmed upfront. Marentis if price is the deciding factor at Split. Avoid defaulting to Avis or Avia — both are present everywhere and consistently score below these five.
If you're already booked: Check your booking confirmation for pickup type — in-terminal desk or shuttle — and note your excess amount. Photograph the car at pickup. If your trip crosses into Bosnia or Montenegro, contact your supplier before travel to arrange the Green Card and cross-border fee. Check whether your credit card's rental coverage applies to the supplier you've booked.
If you've returned the car and have a charge question: Contact the supplier in writing with your rental agreement and pickup photos. If unresolved after a week, your credit card's dispute process is the next step — most cards have a chargeback mechanism for disputed rental charges.
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- Peak season at Split and Dubrovnik (July–August): popular vehicle categories sell out weeks ahead — book early or accept what remains
- Off-terminal suppliers run a shuttle from arrivals — confirm pickup type in your booking confirmation before you land
- Not all suppliers permit one-way drops between Croatian airports — confirm at booking if your itinerary starts and ends at different airports
- Local and regional operators may not appear on your credit card's authorised supplier list for rental coverage — check before declining their own insurance
- Security deposits of EUR 300–1,000 are held on a credit card at pickup — debit cards are not accepted by most in-terminal suppliers
Frequently asked questions
Which car rental company is best at Split Airport?
Last Minute Rent a Car is the top-rated supplier at Split Airport across booking platforms, with the highest score of any company at that location. For travellers who specifically need an international chain, Enterprise and Alamo are the two that hold up consistently.
Which car rental company is best at Dubrovnik Airport?
Sicily By Car is the highest-rated supplier at Dubrovnik Airport — the strongest score at that location by a meaningful margin. Enterprise is the best option if you need an internationally recognised chain.
Is it safe to book a local Croatian rental company?
Yes — local operators like Last Minute Rent a Car are rated at the top of the Croatian market across multiple booking platforms with thousands of verified reviews. The practical difference from an international chain is that dispute resolution goes through their team directly rather than a global customer service number. Photograph the car at pickup regardless of which supplier you choose.
Can I do a one-way rental from Split to Dubrovnik?
Yes, but not all suppliers offer it and one-way drop fees apply. Enterprise explicitly offers one-way rentals between Croatian airports. Confirm availability and the fee at the booking stage — it varies by supplier and season.
Will my credit card cover rental insurance in Croatia?
Many US credit cards offer rental car coverage, but local and regional suppliers are sometimes excluded from the list of qualifying companies. Check your card's terms specifically for Croatia and confirm whether the supplier you're booking with qualifies. If your card only covers major international chains, Enterprise or Alamo are the safer picks for relying on that coverage.
What should I do at pickup regardless of which supplier I choose?
Photograph every panel of the car before you drive away — including all four tyres and the undercarriage if accessible. Send the photos to the supplier's email address before leaving the lot. This documentation closes the majority of post-return damage disputes before they start.
