Zadar Airport arrivals, and getting the car
Zadar Airport (ZAD) has one passenger terminal, and most cars bookable at Zadar are based at the airport.
How should I prepare for collection?
The booking process and the rental voucher show how the remaining rental cost is paid, how the deposit is held and when the deposit is refunded.
Handover arrangements differ by supplier. Some use the car rental area in front of the arrivals terminal, and others meet renters in the arrivals area; the voucher says where to meet.
The deposit on the car you pick is shown with the offer. Where a credit card is required, it must be a physical embossed card in the main driver’s name.
What do I need to bring to the handover?
The driver needs a valid national driving licence with its details duplicated in Latin script and an expiry date no earlier than the end of the rental. Copies and electronic licences are not accepted. An International Driving Permit is strongly recommended where the licence is only valid in the country that issued it.
Renting a car may require a physical embossed credit card in the main driver’s name. Where a debit card is accepted, which the booking and voucher state, it must also be physical, personalised, embossed and in the main driver’s name.
The contact phone number given at booking must be reachable on the day before pick-up and throughout the rental. Phones on networks from other EU countries pay domestic rates for calls, texts and data in Croatia, within the operator's fair use policy.
- Licence
- Original national licence, details in Latin script, valid to the end of the rental. IDP strongly recommended if valid only at home.
- Card
- In the main driver's name. Sometimes an embossed credit card; the car states which.
- Phone
- Reachable from the day before pick-up and throughout the rental, under the rental terms.
What should I check on the car?
Standard insurance does not cover damage to the wheels, undercarriage, windscreen and interior of the car.
The car must be returned with the same fuel level it was collected with. A lower level is charged at the rental company's rates, and a higher level is not compensated. A car returned so dirty that it hinders inspection is washed at the customer's expense.
A passenger car in Croatia must carry a warning triangle, a first-aid kit and a reflective vest. Spare bulbs are required only on cars with filament lights, not on cars with xenon or LED lights. Croatian law requires a child seat or booster for children shorter than 150 cm, except a child of 135 to 150 cm on a seat that is not a front seat, wearing the adult belt correctly.
Where should I drive on arrival day?
Zadar old town is 11 km and 15 minutes from the airport. The other drives from Zadar range from 50 minutes to Krka (Skradin) to 4 h 25 to Dubrovnik.
Rental cars may travel only on paved public roads. The historic core of Zadar's peninsula is a pedestrian zone that no vehicle enters without a special City permit.
What should I do if my flight is delayed?
The rental terms oblige the renter to be reachable on the booking phone number on the day before pick-up and throughout the rental. Service quality claims are not accepted if the renter could not be contacted by mobile phone or messenger (Viber, WhatsApp or Telegram).
Taxis at Zadar Airport use a stand opposite the arrivals exit and run 24 hours a day. The airport bus runs to a fixed monthly timetable, not to flight arrivals, and the drive into Zadar by car is 15 minutes.
The minimum chargeable rental period is 24 hours. A rental from Monday morning to Tuesday afternoon is charged as two full days, and an extension must be notified to the rental agent in advance.
Where do I collect and return the car?
Most cars bookable at Zadar are based at the airport; the rest are at a rental office in town. Cars based at the office can be delivered to the airport or in the city for a charge shown in the booking flow, and collection at the office is free. The seat count for a vehicle for a larger group is shown on each car before payment.
One-way drop-offs from Zadar returned cars for most of the Croatian cities checked, with a fee set per car and already included in the price shown before payment. Some companies retain the deposit for 30 to 45 days after the car is returned.
What if something does not match?
The rental agent can refuse the rental at any time if the driver's age or driving experience does not meet the car's requirements, which, under the rental conditions, are listed on each car's page. In case of an insured event, the renter must immediately notify the rental agent and obtain a police report, except as otherwise agreed with the agent. Failing to do so cancels the insurance and makes the renter fully responsible.
Questions
Where can I find my airport pickup point?
The voucher says where to meet. Some suppliers use the car rental area in front of the arrivals terminal, and others meet renters in the arrivals area.
Do I need an International Driving Permit for Croatia?
It is strongly recommended where your licence is valid only in the country that issued it. The licence details must also be duplicated in Latin script.
Is a credit card required at Zadar Airport?
A physical embossed credit card in the main driver’s name may be required, and the card requirement is shown on each car. Where a rental company accepts a debit card, the booking and voucher say so.
What happens if my flight is delayed?
The rental terms require the booking phone number to be reachable on the day before pick-up and throughout the rental. The terms set no waiting period for a delayed flight.
Are the cars at the airport itself?
Most bookable cars are based at the airport. The rest are at an office in town and can be delivered to the airport for a fee shown in the booking flow.
What is the shortest rental worth booking?
The minimum chargeable period is 24 hours, so anything shorter is still charged as a full day.