Foreign citizens in the Republic of Croatia

Vehicles of foreign nationals

Learn about the rules which apply to participation of motor vehicles of foreign nationals in road traffic in Croatia

Motor vehicles and trailers may participate in road traffic on the territory of the Republic of Croatia if they have:
  • A valid log book and number plates issued by the competent authority of the country in which the vehicle was registered
  • The international code of the country of registration or a number plate issued by the competent authority of the foreign country which includes the code and the number determined by the European Union regulations
Vehicles of diplomatic or consular missions and offices of foreign countries and of international organisation representations in Croatia, as well of their staff, foreign commercial, traffic, cultural and other representations, foreign correspondence bureaus and permanent foreign correspondents; that is, of foreign nationals who have been granted permanent or temporary residence in Croatia, may participate in road traffic only if they are registered in Croatia.

Vehicles registered abroad and owned by foreign nationals with temporary residence in Croatia or vehicles of Croatian nationals who temporarily come to Croatia from abroad may participate in road traffic for a maximum of three months from the date of their entry into Croatia.

To vehicles of foreign nationals who have been granted temporary residence, log books are issued with the validity period corresponding to the period for which they have been granted temporary residence; that is, for the period for which they have been granted temporary import of their vehicle if this period is shorter than the temporary residence they have been granted.

When registering a vehicle in Croatia, only the proof of vehicle roadworthiness obtained in a vehicle roadworthiness testing centre which meets the prescribed requirements and is authorised in Croatia will be recognised. Therefore, even vehicles of persons who have moved to Croatia have to undergo a vehicle roadworthiness test in one of the authorised vehicle roadworthiness testing centre in Croatia in the course of new registration.