DriveAdria Renting a Car in Croatia Without a Credit Card (2027 Guide)
Yes – you can rent a car in Croatia without a credit card, but not from most of the big names. Sixt, Hertz, Europcar and most larger Croatian companies want a credit card in the driver’s name to block a deposit, often €1,000 or more. Our partner in Split works differently: you pay in cash or by debit card, with no deposit on its own cars.
Can you rent a car in Croatia without a credit card?
Yes, but choose the company carefully. Most international brands and the larger Croatian companies only accept a credit card in the main driver’s name for the security deposit, and some accept a debit card only if you buy their most expensive cover. Local companies that don’t take a deposit, like our partner in Split, accept cash or a debit card.
Why do rental companies ask for a credit card?
The credit card isn’t for the rental price – it’s for the security deposit. At pick-up the company blocks (pre-authorises) an amount on your card to cover possible damage, fuel or fines, and releases it after you return the car. Most debit, prepaid and virtual cards can’t be blocked this way, so they are refused.
The block can stay on your card for weeks: Nova Rent a Car, Avant Car and Oryx say it is released within 15 to 30 days after the rental.
How much is the deposit in Croatia?
| Company | Card for the deposit | Debit card for the deposit | Deposit |
|---|---|---|---|
| Sixt | Credit card in the renter’s name | No | €1,200–3,500 |
| Enterprise (Zagreb) | Credit card | No – only for the rental price | €900–5,500, by car class |
| Avant Car | Visa, Mastercard or Diners credit card | No | €1,400–3,800; €200–300 with its Carefree cover |
| Nova Rent a Car | Credit card, or a debit card that allows pre-authorisation | Only with Platinum Protection | From about €1,000; lower with extra cover |
| Our partner in Split | Not needed | Cash or debit card for the payment | No deposit on its own cars |
Figures from each company’s own terms, checked in October 2026: Sixt, Enterprise Zagreb, Avant Car and Nova Rent a Car. Hertz and Europcar also require a credit card. Terms change, so always check before you book.
Can I use a debit card?
Usually not for the deposit. Sixt, Europcar, Avant Car and Oryx accept only credit cards for it, and Enterprise in Zagreb takes a debit card only for the rental price. Nova Rent a Car is the exception: it accepts debit cards that support pre-authorisation, but then its top Platinum Protection is mandatory. Prepaid and virtual cards are refused almost everywhere, and none of these companies takes a cash deposit.
With our partner, a debit card or cash is enough – you never need a credit card.
How does renting with our partner work?
- Send a free request with your dates and pick-up place – no payment and no card details.
- The partner replies with a price and the conditions, usually within 24 hours.
- You agree on the time and meeting point on WhatsApp; at the airport the partner waits for you with the car.
- You sign the rental agreement and pay in cash or by debit card – no credit card, and no deposit on the partner’s own cars.
- At the end you leave the car where you agreed, often simply in the airport car park.
If the partner’s own cars are fully booked, they may arrange a car from another local company. In that case a deposit can apply, and you are always told before you book.
Our own rental: We landed in Zadar at 11 pm, and the partner was already at the airport. I sent him a message and a few minutes later we met. After a bit of small talk we walked to the car, filled in the agreement and I paid in cash – that was it. He asked where we were heading, and when I said Dubrovnik he warned us about the big fines for driving into the Old Town zone without a permit. At the end of the trip we simply left the car in the airport car park, as he had told us. – Irmantas R.
What does the insurance cover?
At most companies the price includes basic collision cover (CDW) with an excess – the amount you pay yourself if the car is damaged. According to their terms it is €825–2,150 at Sixt, €950–1,200 at Hertz and €1,100 at Oryx, and reducing it to zero costs extra every day.
With our partner, full insurance is included on every car: if the car is damaged, you pay nothing.
What documents do you need?
- A valid driving licence. EU and UK photocard licences are fine; an International Driving Permit is needed if your licence isn’t in the Latin alphabet, and recommended for US licences.
- Your passport or ID card.
- For our partner, no credit card – cash or a debit card for the payment.
Age limits differ: Hertz rents from 25 (from 21 with a young-driver fee), Avis from 21 and Nova Rent a Car from 22. Our partner has no minimum age and no young-driver fee.
Tips before you book
- Check whether the deposit must be on a credit card in the driver’s own name – it is the most common surprise at the rental desk.
- Ask how much will be blocked and how long the release takes.
- Compare the excess with the basic insurance, not just the daily price.
- Planning Bosnia and Herzegovina or Montenegro? Ask for cross-border approval – a fee applies. If you don’t have an EU passport, the new EU Entry/Exit System adds a registration at the border.
- Driving to Dubrovnik? The streets around the Old Town are a camera-controlled zone – park outside it.
Frequently Asked Questions
Rent Without a Credit Card
Send a free request with your dates – pay in cash or by debit card at pick-up, with no deposit on our partner’s own cars.
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