Tolls in Croatia
Why do you have to pay toll fees?
Most countries in Europe charge toll fees. There is a so-called toll obligation. But what does that mean? Toll fees are charged for the use of certain roads, tunnels, and bridges. The revenue generated from tolls is invested in the road network, enabling you to enjoy a smooth journey. The primary areas of investment are infrastructure, traffic management and road safety, as well as environmental protection measures.
- Infrastructure: Construction and maintenance of roads and highways
- Road safety and traffic management: New technologies such as intelligent traffic systems or toll gantries
- Environmental protection: Expansion of noise barriers or measures to reduce emissions
How is the toll collected?
Tolls can be collected in different ways. These include the vignette requirement, the distance-based toll, and special toll sections.
Vignette requirement: does not exist in Croatia
Under the vignette requirement, toll fees are charged not based on kilometers driven but as a flat-rate amount, which varies depending on the duration of travel. Accordingly, you purchase a digital vignette before your trip that corresponds to the length of your stay. For example, you can buy your vignette for Austria from us in the form of a flat rate. The price of a vignette may vary depending on the vehicle category. By purchasing the vignette, you make a one-time payment that allows you to use all toll roads. There is no vignette requirement in Croatia. The toll amount is calculated based on distance.
Distance-based toll
The distance-based toll applies in Croatia to all vehicles and covers all highways. Expressways are currently toll-free. Unlike the vignette system, the distance-based toll is not a flat rate but varies depending on factors such as road category, route length (number of kilometers), or vehicle category (weight class and number of axles). Therefore, the toll fee can vary significantly. For example, motorhome owners pay more than car drivers. In addition, the amount of the distance-based toll in Croatia also varies depending on the season. During the high season, you should expect higher costs.
You can pay for the use of the different routes on site at the toll stations, or you can purchase an electronic payment system (ETC). Payment on site works by taking a ticket at a toll station at the beginning of the route and paying the distance-based toll when exiting the route. For the electronic payment system, you need to purchase a transponder (on-board unit), which you install in your vehicle. This enables the automatic recording and billing of the distance-based toll. In general: If you do not pay the toll fees, you may face fines.
Special toll
There are also special toll sections in Croatia. If you wish to use a special toll section, you must pay an additional fee, regardless of whether you have already paid a distance-based toll or purchased a vignette. The most well-known special toll section in Croatia is the Učka Tunnel, located on the A8 motorway.
Payment of tolls
You can pay the toll on site in cash or by card. Please note that during the high season (summer months), you may experience longer waiting times at the toll stations. The Croatian Electronic Toll Collect System (ETC) allows for cashless payment of toll fees. Depending on the device, charges are billed via prepay or postpay.
Fully digital toll system from late 2026 / early 2027
Currently, the distance-based toll can be paid with a toll box (transponder) or a ticket. From expected autumn 2026, this toll system will be fully digitalized. The goal: less waiting time and fewer traffic jams at toll stations, especially during the high season. Accordingly, toll stations are to be dismantled from September 2026 to March 2027, so that in the future payment will be made exclusively through the digital toll system (Crolibertas) using license plate recognition or a toll box.
But how exactly does payment via license plate work? License plate registration is only possible for vehicles up to 3.5 t GVW. In the future, you will be able to register your vehicle and license plate in an online portal and store a payment method. Scanners on the motorway will then detect your license plate and automatically debit the distance-based toll fee.
Important: If you do not register your vehicle online before traveling to Croatia, there will be additional fast registration lanes in Croatia. There, you can quickly register your license plate via scan and provide a payment method.
The Europamaut team wishes you a pleasant trip!
We wish you a wonderful exploration tour of Croatia. Feel free to use our route planner to optimally plan your journey and have suitable toll products displayed. If you have any questions, please contact us anytime via email.
