Rental Car to Croatian Islands: Ferries, Rules and Alternatives

Croatia has over 1,000 islands, around 50 of which are permanently inhabited. Ferries from Split, Dubrovnik, and other mainland ports carry vehicles to the main islands — but summer demand is extreme, car deck spaces sell out weeks in advance, and you need explicit authorisation from your rental company before attempting the crossing.

The main ferry operator: Jadrolinija

Jadrolinija is the state-owned ferry operator and handles most vehicle-carrying routes to Croatian islands. Key routes for car transport:

From Split:

• Split → Brač (Supetar): 50 min, frequent daily departures, cars carried
• Split → Hvar (Stari Grad): 2 hours, cars carried
• Split → Vis: 2.5 hours, cars carried (less frequent)

From Dubrovnik area:

• Orebić → Korčula (Dominče): 15 min, frequent, cars carried
• Dubrovnik → Mljet (Sobra): 1.5 hours, cars carried (seasonal)
• Ploče → Trpanj (Pelješac): 35 min, cars carried

From Zadar:

• Zadar → Ugljan → Pašman: short crossings, cars carried
• Zadar → Dugi Otok: cars carried

Note: catamaran services (Split → Hvar town, Dubrovnik → Korčula) are passenger-only and do not carry vehicles.

The Krk Bridge exception

Krk island requires no ferry — it’s connected to the mainland by the Krk Bridge (tolled, approximately €3 one-way). Krk is the only Croatian island accessible by car without a ferry.

Summer car deck availability: book early

This is the most critical point. In July and August:

• Split → Brač car spaces book out weeks in advance for peak weekend sailings
• Split → Hvar (Stari Grad) is extremely popular; car deck fills fast
• Dubrovnik → Korčula (via Orebić) is more manageable but still busy

Book your car deck space as soon as you’ve confirmed your rental dates. Jadrolinija’s website allows advance booking. The car space booking is separate from passenger tickets.

For the Split–Brač route (most popular): aim to book 3–4 weeks ahead for August weekends.

Getting rental company permission

Croatian rental companies split roughly as follows:

Typically allow island crossings:

• Most local Croatian agencies
• Budget/low-cost operators based in Split and Dubrovnik

Require advance authorisation (get it in writing):

• International chains (Hertz, Avis, Europcar, Sixt)
• Some mid-range companies

Often restrict or prohibit:

• Companies based in other countries (if you rented in Germany or Austria and drove down)

Ask at pickup: “Can I take this car on a Jadrolinija ferry to [island]?” Note the specific islands. Get confirmation written on the contract or in an email.

Parking at Split port

If you’re boarding from Split (by far the busiest embarkation point), vehicle parking while waiting for the ferry:

• Near the ferry terminal (Gat sv. Duje): paid street parking, €1.50–2/hour
• Supaval car park (city centre): structured parking, €2/hour
• Matejuška car park: west of the terminal, walkable

Arrive at the port at least 45–60 minutes before departure. Vehicles board before foot passengers. In peak summer, arrive 90 minutes early for popular routes.

Which islands benefit most from a car

Brač: large enough that a car helps — Bol/Zlatni Rat beach is on the south side, 30 min from Supetar. Inland villages (Škrip, Nerežišća) are car-only.

Hvar: complicated. Hvar Town itself is pedestrian (vehicle access restricted) — car most useful for beaches on the south coast (Dubovica, Sveta Nedjelja) or the Stari Grad plain. Many visitors take the ferry to Stari Grad with a car and park outside Hvar Town.

Korčula: the old town is car-free. Car useful for the Korčula Island wine road (Lumbarda, Smokvica) and the southern peninsula.

Vis: the island furthest from the mainland and the least developed for mass tourism. A car is genuinely useful here — Blue Cave day trip logistics, Komiza village, Mount Hum road.

Mljet: the western part is a national park. Rental cars are allowed but the park entrance fee applies. Eastern Mljet (Saplunara beach) requires a car to reach.

The Pelješac Peninsula: no ferry needed

Pelješac is a peninsula connected to the mainland near Ploče and — since 2022 — to the south via the Pelješac Bridge from Komarna. It’s not an island and requires no ferry. Drive the wine road through Mali Ston, Potomje, and Trstenik.

Practical tips

Catamaran vs ferry: catamarans are faster but don’t carry cars. The Split–Hvar town catamaran gets you there in 1 hour; the Split–Stari Grad car ferry takes 2 hours. Choose based on whether you need the car on the island.

Return journey: book the return car deck space at the same time as the outbound. Return ferry car spaces can be harder to get than outbound — everyone leaves on the same day.

ENC tolls on A1: if you’re driving from Dubrovnik or Split along the A1 motorway, the electronic toll system applies. Rental cars use cash/card lanes at manual booths.

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