Croatia is switching to the new CROLIBERTAS toll collection system on 1 March 2027. Unlike most neighbouring countries, Croatia does not use time-based motorway vignettes – drivers do not pay for a day or a year, but for the distance actually travelled. The system is unified across the entire motorway network operated by Hrvatske autoceste (HAC), Bina Istra and Autocesta Zagreb–Macelj.
The toll amount depends on two factors: how many kilometres you actually travel on the motorway and which vehicle category your vehicle belongs to. CROLIBERTAS is a free-flow system, meaning you do not stop at toll booths – overhead gantries detect your vehicle while you drive. There are two ways to pay: through licence plate recognition after registering your vehicle and linking a payment method, or using an ENC device installed in your vehicle. Vehicles over 3.5 tonnes are required to use ENC.
How you pay in Croatia
Croatia offers no validity periods at all, because it does not use time-based vignettes. There is a single option: a toll based on the distance actually travelled. You are not choosing between a day, a week and a year – you simply pay for the kilometres you really drive on the motorway, multiplied by the tariff for your vehicle category.
The CROLIBERTAS system goes live on 1 March 2027. Until then the existing arrangement, with stops at toll plazas, remains in force. We will publish the exact tariffs as soon as the operator confirms them.
Who CROLIBERTAS applies to
The system applies to all vehicles using Croatia's motorway network – both domestic and foreign, from motorcycles to trucks. No vehicle is exempt; only the vehicle category and payment method differ depending on the type of vehicle.
- Motorcycles – covered by CROLIBERTAS, registered via the licence plate and charged the lowest tariff.
- Cars up to 3.5 t – may choose between licence plate registration and an ENC device.
- A car with a trailer or caravan – likewise chooses between plate and ENC, but the combination may fall into a higher category.
- Vans and motorhomes up to 3.5 tonnes – can choose between licence plate registration and an ENC device; depending on their dimensions, they may fall into a higher toll category.
- Heavy vehicles over 3.5 t – must use an ENC device; licence plate recognition is not available to them.
As vehicles pass under a toll gantry, the system automatically assesses the characteristics of the vehicle or the entire vehicle combination, particularly the number of axles, height and weight. If you pay using licence plate recognition, your vehicle must be registered and linked to a valid payment method before entering a toll road.
Where CROLIBERTAS applies
CROLIBERTAS unifies electronic toll collection across Croatia's motorway network, which is managed by three operators. Thanks to the new system, drivers can travel along their tolled sections without stopping at toll booths.
- Hrvatske autoceste (HAC) – Croatia's largest motorway operator. It manages the main motorway routes, including the A1 motorway towards Dalmatia.
- Bina Istra – operates the Istrian motorway network known as the Istrian Y.
- Autocesta Zagreb–Macelj – operates the A2 motorway connecting Zagreb with the Slovenian border.
CROLIBERTAS covers the tolled motorway network operated by the companies listed above. Regular state, county and local roads, such as the coastal D8 Adriatic Highway, are not part of the system. Tolls are therefore charged only when using tolled sections.
Mandatory vehicle equipment in Croatia
When driving on Croatian roads, it pays to have everything you need close at hand. Missing mandatory equipment can result in a fine during a roadside check, even for foreign drivers. We have therefore prepared an overview of the basic requirements, primarily for passenger cars. Different rules may apply to other vehicle categories.
Overview of the required equipment:
- Warning triangle – must be part of the vehicle's mandatory equipment. In certain cases, such as trucks towing a trailer, two warning triangles are required.
- Reflective vest – the driver must wear it when carrying out certain activities outside the vehicle on the road. We recommend keeping it easily accessible and ideally having one for each passenger.
- First aid kit – must be within its expiry date and meet the applicable requirements. For foreign-registered vehicles, a first aid kit complying with the regulations of the country of registration is accepted.
- Spare bulbs – are required for applicable types of vehicle lighting. This requirement does not apply to light sources without a filament, such as xenon or LED lights.
- Spare wheel or tyre repair kit – the vehicle must have suitable equipment in case of a puncture. A spare wheel can be replaced by an appropriate tyre repair kit or an approved system that allows safe driving after a puncture.
In addition to mandatory vehicle equipment, it is important to follow the rules on vehicle lighting and winter driving. From 1 November to 31 March, passenger cars must use dipped headlights or daytime running lights even during the day. On designated road sections, winter equipment is mandatory from 15 November to 15 April, regardless of weather conditions. We therefore recommend checking the current requirements before travelling.
Practical tips for Croatia
- Register your vehicle before entering the motorway. If you want to pay using your licence plate, register your vehicle and link a valid payment method in advance. This will help you avoid complications with toll payments.
- Choose between licence plate-based payment and ENC. With licence plate-based payment, cameras automatically recognise your vehicle and tolls are charged using the linked payment method. ENC is an electronic on-board device. For vehicles up to 3.5 tonnes, you can choose either payment method. Vehicles over 3.5 tonnes must use ENC.
- You will no longer need to stop at toll booths. CROLIBERTAS will allow you to drive through tolled sections without stopping or paying at a toll booth. Overhead gantries will detect passing vehicles, so it is important to arrange your payment method in advance.
Speed limits in Croatia
- In built-up areas: 50 km/h – from the sign marking the start of the built-up area to its end.
- Outside built-up areas: 90 km/h – on ordinary roads beyond the built-up area.
- Expressways: 110 km/h – on roads reserved for motor vehicles.
- Motorways: 130 km/h – the maximum permitted speed for passenger cars.
These are the general speed limits for passenger cars. Road signs may specify a different speed limit, for example in tunnels or roadworks. Lower limits apply to vehicles towing trailers and certain other vehicle categories.
Police enforce speed limits using fixed and mobile speed cameras. Foreign drivers can also be fined, and fines for certain offences may be enforced even after they return home.