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Car Hire In Rijeka, Croatia: Great Value And Easy Pick-Up Options

Compare competitive prices, choose between Rijeka Airport (RJK) or city pick-up, and use our practical guide to insurance, deposits, hidden fees and refuelling so you can drive Croatia with confidence.

UK Traveller Guide
Rijeka Car Hire Guide: Where To Pick Up And What To Expect
Hiring a car in Rijeka is one of the easiest ways to explore the Kvarner Bay coastline, hilltop towns and nearby national parks on your own schedule. Public transport works for major routes, but a car is often faster for beaches, islands (via ferry), and smaller villages—particularly outside peak summer timetables. For travellers from the United Kingdom, the key is choosing the right pick-up point (airport vs city), understanding deposit and insurance expectations (usually a credit card in the main driver’s name), and planning for local driving realities such as limited old-town parking, seasonal traffic, and occasional motorway tolls on longer trips.
Alamo
Avis
National
Dollar
Thrifty
Europcar
+ more
Rijeka Airport (RJK) – Krk Island
Most convenient for immediate onward travel. The airport is on Krk Island, roughly 25–35 minutes’ drive from central Rijeka (traffic dependent). Car hire desks are typically in or near the arrivals area, with vehicles collected from a nearby car park. Pros: quick get-away for island/coastal itineraries, good for late arrivals, often the widest opening hours. Cons: fewer supplier choices than larger Croatian airports, availability can tighten in summer, and city drop-off may cost extra if you pick up at RJK and return downtown.
Rijeka City Centre (Korzo & Old Town Fringe)
Best if you arrive by bus/train or want to avoid driving immediately after landing. Pros: easier to combine with a night in town before starting a road trip, often simpler to inspect the vehicle in daylight, and you can choose a smaller car after seeing local street/parking conditions. Cons: limited and paid parking near the centre, narrow streets and one-way systems around the old town, and collection/return can take longer at peak times.
Port Area (Rijeka Ferry Terminal Vicinity)
Handy for travellers connecting with ferries (e.g., towards islands via nearby ports) or arriving on a cruise. Pros: convenient for luggage-heavy itineraries and coastal routes; good access to main roads once you leave the port zone. Cons: congestion during ferry movements, restricted stopping zones, and you may need to pay for short-stay parking while completing paperwork.
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Explore Rijeka and Kvader Drive in Comfort

Discover the best car hire options for cruising Croatia's coast, islands and mountain roads. View our most popular picks today.

By Trip Type
Popular Makes

Coastal

Small

Nimble & Wallet-Friendly
5
2
Auto

Rijeka's medieval old town and harbour feature tight lanes and scarce parking, where a compact car is genuinely useful. Small models slip into bays near Trsat Castle and the Korzo promenade without stress. They are also cheap to run on the coastal route towards Opatija. Fuel stays light for short hops to nearby beaches and ferry ports.

Mountain

SUV

Grip & Ground Clearance
5
3
Auto

The Gorski Kotar hills north of Rijeka bring twisting roads, sudden fog and winter snow, especially around Delnice and Risnjak. An SUV offers reassuring grip on damp bends and the cobbled approach to hilltop villages. Higher seating also helps on uneven tracks leading to viewpoints over the Kvarner Bay.

Family Tour

Van

Spacious for Groups & Bags
7
4
Auto

Travellers touring the Plitvice Lakes, Krk Island and Istria with family or friends need room for cases, coolers and tired children. A people-carrier handles motorway stretches comfortably and swallows luggage without roof racks. Automatic gearboxes help on long drives between national parks.

Choose Your Ride

Find the perfect vehicle for your trip. Compare options below.

Airport Pick-Up
City Pick-Up

Fast Start From Rijeka Airport (RJK)

Ideal if you’re flying in and want to hit the road immediately. Airport pick-up usually offers the smoothest handover for late arrivals, direct access to the main routes towards Krk and the coast, and straightforward logistics for luggage. Book early in summer for better availability and to lock in sharper rates.

Car Hire at Rijeka Airport: Real Customer Reviews

Browse verified ratings and honest feedback from travellers who collected their rental cars at Rijeka Airport, helping you choose with confidence.

Rental companyRatingAvg. Daily RatePickup Method/DistanceSecurity depositAccepts Debit CardsKey Advantages
Sicily by carBest Overall
4.4
46667+ reviews
$1839.7 mi from Rijeka Downtown
$946
  • Friendly professional staff excellent service
  • Clean well-maintained cars provided
  • Quick easy pickup and return process
Last minuteBest Overall
4.2
201000+ reviews
$86In terminal, Walk to counter
$1,005 - $2,364
  • Easy online booking process
  • Competitive travel prices
  • Wide hotel selection available
MackBest Overall
4.1
185+ reviews
$760.2 mi from Rijeka Downtown
$1,478 - $4,137
  • Eco-friendly cleaning products
  • Quick delivery service
  • Great customer service
Alamo
3.7
6 reviews
$33In terminal, Walk to counter
$819 - $1,300
  • Friendly and helpful staff
  • Smooth pick-up experience
  • Excellent overall service
National
2.7
25 reviews
$41In terminal, Walk to counter
$828 - $1,300
  • Friendly and helpful staff
  • Easy pick-up and drop-off
  • Clean and quality vehicles
Surprice rent a car
2.6
6600+ reviews
$479.7 mi from Rijeka Downtown
$1,169
  • Friendly and helpful staff
  • Good price for car rental
  • Smooth pickup and return
Active rent a car
2.6
4 reviews
$270.2 mi from Rijeka Downtown-
  • Standard airport pickup process
  • Reasonable vehicle pricing
Sixt
2.2
325+ reviews
$32In terminal, Walk to counter
$1,419 - $4,137
  • Friendly and helpful staff
  • Smooth and efficient process
  • Clean well-maintained vehicles
Dollar
2.0
3,300+ reviews
$690.5 mi from Rijeka Downtown-
  • No waiting time at pickup
  • Brand new cars available
  • Friendly and helpful staff
Enterprise
1.8
23,900+ reviews
$37In terminal, Walk to counter
$819 - $1,300
  • Friendly and professional staff
  • Quick and efficient service
  • Clean and well-maintained vehicles

*Rating and review data are sourced from Trustpilot. Policy details may vary by location and vehicle type. Please confirm at the time of booking.

Data source: QEEQ Car Rental
Last updated: Jun. 15 2026
Essential Rental Hub
Everything you need to know before you drive off. Select a topic to get the full brakdown.
Your Guide to Fuelling in Croatia
Learn how to refuel your rental car in Croatia with this comprehensive guide. From finding stations to payment methods, we've got you covered for a hassle-free experience.
View details
Rijeka Car Hire Insurance Guide — Avoid €3,000 Holiday Ruin
A practical, no-nonsense guide to car hire insurance in Rijeka that exposes the illusion of ‘included’ CDW/TP and the real risk of large excesses (often €800–€3,000+). Compares rental‑company zero‑excess cover and third‑party excess reimbursement, lists common exclusions (tyres, glass, undercarriage, keys, misfuelling), shares real case studies, and gives a clear pre‑rental checklist (credit‑card needs, thorough vehicle inspection, cross‑border declarations) so you can protect your holiday and wallet.
View details

Platform Insights

Car Rental Expert Advice

By QEEQ Platform Expert Team

Expertise Metrics

Platform Recognition

Asia's Best Car Rental Booking Website 2023&2024

Booking Volume

Review Quality

10,000+ verified 5-star reviews

Market Experience

Data Authority

Expertise Verification

QEEQ data verified against local official data sources

Key Expert Insights

Platform Analysis

"Airport locations capture 55-60% of car rental pickups in Rijeka, driven by tourist arrivals. Rijeka Airport handles over 150,000 passengers annually, serving as primary entry point for Primorje-Gorski kotar region."

Booking Patterns

"Summer months (June-August) generate 65-70% of annual car rental revenue in Croatia, with 20.6M tourists in 2023 driving 9% YoY growth. Online bookings now account for 45% of reservations."

Customer Pain Points

"Over 20% of car rental disputes in 2023 involved damage claims consumers contested, with 89% of travellers expressing concern about exploitation and 17% reporting insurance pressure selling."

Data Sources

  • QEEQ internal booking databse
  • Croatian Bureau of Statistics - Tourist Arrivals and Nights 2023
  • Statista Market Forecast - Car Rentals Croatia
  • GlobalData Croatia Car Rentals Market Analysis
  • Croatian Bureau of Statistics
  • European Consumer Centres Network (ECC-Net) - Car Rental Cases 2023
  • Which? Investigation - Car Hire Firms

Road Trips

One-way rental routes starting from Rijeka

Plan your ultimate road trip with these popular one-way routes departing from Rijeka

Rijeka, Croatia: Drive the Adriatic Coast

Explore Croatia's stunning Kvarner Bay from Rijeka - from scenic coastal drives to mountain roads, discover everything you need for your perfect driving adventure in this charming port city

LANGUAGES

Croatian

CURRENCY

EUR

DRIVE ON

Right-hand side

COUNTRY CODE

+385

AVERAGE CAR RENTAL PRICE

$57 per day

AVERAGE CAR RENTAL LENGTH

5-7 days

SPEED LIMIT WITHIN TOWN

50 km/h

SPEED LIMIT OUT OF TOWN

90-130 km/h

ACCEPTABLE LIMIT OF BAC

0.05%

AVERAGE GAS PRICE

$2.01/L

LOWEST / HIGHEST GAS PRICE

$1.85/L - $2.15/L

Rijeka Car Hire FAQs

Practical answers on driving rules, road tolls and paperwork for UK travellers hiring a car in Rijeka

Can I drive in Croatia with a UK photocard licence, or do I need an International Driving Permit?
Yes. A valid UK photocard licence is accepted for the full 90-day tourist stay, so British drivers do not need an International Driving Permit. You must also carry the paper counterpart (or the DVLA share code if you still hold the old-style licence) when picking up the car, otherwise most rental desks in Rijeka will refuse to hand over the keys.
What is the minimum driver age in Rijeka, and how much is the young-driver surcharge?
The standard minimum age is 21, with at least one year of licence held, although some suppliers set it at 23 for larger cars. Drivers under 25 pay a young-driver fee of roughly €7–€12 per day, and those over 70 may face an additional senior-driver surcharge or extra paperwork such as a recent medical certificate.
How do I pay motorway tolls when driving from Rijeka down the Adriatic coast?
Croatia uses a closed-ticket system on the A1 motorway: take a ticket at the ramp near Rijeka, keep it in the car and pay in cash (kuna or euros) or by card at the exit booth. There is no e-tag yet, and small secondary roads such as the Krk Bridge accept cash or card only, so always keep €20–€30 in change to hand.
Are winter tyres or snow chains compulsory if I drive inland from Rijeka in January?
Snow chains become mandatory on several Gorski kotar and Lika passes, including the A6 between Rijeka and Zagreb, whenever the road sign shows a green car-with-chains symbol between November and April. Winter tyres (M+S) are strongly advised but not yet legally required; fines for ignoring chain signs start at €130, and you can be turned back at the police checkpoint.
What should I check on the car before driving away from Rijeka Airport?
Walk the full perimeter and photograph any scratch, chip or kerbed wheel with the date stamp on, including the roof and all four tyres. Confirm the fuel type is diesel (dizel) not petrol (benzin) and that the AdBlue level reads full, as Croatia fines rental firms for emissions non-compliance. Also check that the Vignette-style toll transponder pocket is empty and the insurance green card sits in the glovebox before signing the handover form.

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