Croatia on a Chinese Licence — IDP Needed, Ticket Tolls & Summer Queues

Croatia’s Adriatic coast has become a real draw for Chinese self-drive travellers, and the driving itself is easy — same side of the road as home, well-built motorways, clear signage. The single thing to get right before you go is the permit.

The IDP is non-negotiable here

A Chinese licence on its own will not get you a rental car in Croatia. You need an International Driving Permit alongside it, and because China does not issue the 1968-convention IDP through its own offices, you must arrange one before you travel — through a recognised agency or directly with your rental company, who can sometimes pair it with the booking. Carry the IDP, your Chinese licence and your passport together. Check the requirement on the Driving Permit Checker before you book flights, because there is no way to fix it once you land.

Tolls work like an expressway ticket — alcohol does not

The motorway system will feel familiar: you pull a ticket at the entry barrier on the A1 to Zadar and Split or the A6 to Rijeka, then pay by distance at the exit, in euros since Croatia joined the eurozone in 2023. There is no separate vignette sticker. The catch is timing — coastal exit booths back up for half an hour in peak August, so allow for it.

The alcohol limit is the one number that moves: Croatia permits 0.05 BAC, more than China’s 0.02. Do not read that as licence to drink — summer breath-testing on the coast road is frequent and penalties are heavy. Treat it as close to zero.

Speeds are 50 km/h in town, 90 on rural roads and 130 on the motorway, slightly above China’s 120 — but enforced by fixed cameras and patrols, with a 10 km/h overshoot costing around €65. Estimate yours with the Speeding Fine Calculator. Petrol is about €1.65/litre, the car must carry a warning triangle, vest, first-aid kit and spare bulbs, and the emergency number is 112. Read the full local rules on our Croatia driving guide.