Rodavia connects travellers with rental providers across Dubrovnik. Pick up at Cilipi airport or the city. Debit card accepted, advance payment clears the way.
Dubrovnik airport sits at Cilipi, roughly 30 minutes south of the Old Town. Desks operate inside the terminal; you'll sign the contract, collect keys, and walk to the lot. City handovers happen near Pile Gate or at provider offices along Vukovarska. If your ferry docks at Gruz port, a city pick-up cuts the taxi leg.
Car rental Dubrovnik offers range across segments. Compact hatchbacks thread the coastal bends on the D8. Mid-size estates swallow luggage for island-hopping itineraries via Jadrolinija ferries. Automatics appear more frequently here than in smaller Croatian hubs, though five-speed manuals still dominate economy tiers.
Summer queues at the airport stretch during afternoon flight waves. Booking advance reserves your category and locks documentation requirements into the voucher. Walk straight to the counter with the confirmation reference; the provider already knows whether a deposit waiver applies or a hold will be placed on your card at the desk.
Certain combinations-booking advance paid in full, inclusive cover, debit card presented-remove the need for a hold at the rental desk. The voucher states the terms before you leave home. No scramble for extra credit limit, no calls to your bank to lift blocks.
Other contracts ask for a hold. The amount varies by vehicle group and excess level. Holds freeze funds on a credit or debit card for the rental duration, then release after the car returns undamaged. Check your voucher: if it says "no authorisation," you're clear. If it lists a hold figure, bring a card with available room.
Providers process the booking advance before pick-up. The balance-if any-settles at the counter, along with fuel and optional extras you add on the spot. Keep both the voucher and your payment card; staff cross-reference the name on each.
The D8 Adriatic highway hugs cliffs and fishing villages north toward Split, passing Ston's salt pans and the Peljesac vineyards. Budget four hours for the 230-kilometre stretch; overtaking opportunities shrink behind camper convoys in July. The Peljesac bridge vaults the Mali Ston channel, bypassing the Neum corridor through Bosnia and its double border crossings.
Heading south, the road skirts Cavtat then trails into Montenegro at Debeli Brijeg. Cross-border permits appear in your voucher if allowed; not all providers authorize exit from Croatia. Inland, the climb to Trebinje offers canyon views but narrow lanes.
Parking inside Dubrovnik's Old Town is forbidden. Use the Zagrebacka lot above Pile Gate or the Gruz harbour garages. Metres accept coins and cards; attendants patrol in high season. Speed limits hold at 50 inside settlements, 80 on regional roads, 130 on motorways. Fuel stations-INA, Petrol-cluster near Cilipi airport and along the approach to the city.
| Destination | Distance | Drive time | Road |
|---|---|---|---|
| Cavtat | 19 km | 20 min | D8 south |
| Ston | 55 km | 50 min | D8 north |
| Korcula ferry (Orebic) | 130 km | 2 h | D8, Peljesac |
| Split | 230 km | 3 h 30 min | D8 coastal |
| Mostar | 140 km | 2 h 15 min | Border crossing |
Fiat Panda, Renault Twingo. Manual gearbox, air-con, four seats. Park in tight Gruz side streets, sip fuel on D8 bends.
VW Polo, Peugeot 208. Five doors, boot for two large cases. Stable on Peljesac crosswinds, common across fleets.
Skoda Octavia Combi, Peugeot 308 SW. Load beach kit and ferry provisions. Rear legroom for three adults on longer hauls.
Nissan Qashqai, Dacia Duster. Higher seating position, gravel-track clearance for Konavle vineyard lanes. Automatic gearbox available.
BMW 3-series, Audi A4. Leather trim, cruise control. Reserved for longer Balkan loops where motorway comfort counts.
Bring your voucher-printed or on-screen-plus the lead driver's passport, driving licence held for at least one year, and the payment card showing the same name. If your home licence uses non-Latin script, an International Driving Permit joins the bundle. Providers at car rental Dubrovnik airport check each document before printing the contract.
Staff walk you to the vehicle, note existing scratches on a diagram, and hand over the keys along with registration papers and a motorway toll receipt if you've pre-paid one. Photograph all four corners of the car in daylight; close-ups of existing dents save dispute later. Fuel gauge should match the level stated on the contract-usually full.
Additional drivers pay a daily supplement at the desk unless your voucher includes them. Child seats, GPS units, and winter tyres appear as optional extras; order ahead to guarantee availability. Return the car to the same lot, keys to the same counter. Out-of-hours drop-boxes exist at the airport but verify the procedure to avoid extra charges.
Every car hire Dubrovnik contract includes third-party liability by law. Beyond that, Collision Damage Waiver and Theft Protection limit your exposure if the vehicle is damaged or stolen. An excess-the first slice of any claim-remains your responsibility unless you buy it down with a super-cover upgrade.
Full-protection packages reduce the excess to zero. Wheels, glass, underbody, and roof enter the scope, depending on the policy wording in your voucher. Read that section: it lists what the cover includes and what it excludes-off-road driving, key loss, fuel contamination.
Separate travel-insurance policies sometimes duplicate hire-car excess coverage. Compare the terms and keep receipts. If you rely on your own policy, the rental provider will still place a hold for the contract excess at pick-up, and you claim reimbursement afterward from your insurer.
Rodavia's platform accepts major credit and debit cards for the booking advance. The payment screen shows the amount due now and any balance payable at the rental desk. Once confirmed, the voucher arrives by email within minutes, listing the provider's name, address, and phone number.
At the counter, you'll settle the remaining balance-if there is one-plus fuel pre-purchase or extras like additional drivers. Providers accept Visa, Mastercard; some take American Express or Diners with a surcharge. Cash payment works at certain desks but rarely for the hold. For more detail on which cards clear which steps, visit our payment-methods page.
Amendments and cancellations follow the terms in your voucher. Flexible rates allow free changes up to a cut-off hour; non-refundable rates lock lower prices but forfeit the advance if you cancel. Customer-service queries go to [email protected] or +385 21 786 493, Mon-Sun 8:00 - 19:00 CET.
Yes, when you choose a rate that accepts debit cards and pay the full booking advance. The voucher will confirm whether a hold is waived. If a hold remains, the desk may accept a debit card with enough available funds, depending on the provider's policy.
Around 30 minutes along the D8 coastal road. Morning traffic near Gruz port can add ten minutes. Follow signs for Grad or Stari Grad; parking appears above Pile Gate or at the Zagrebacka garage.
Only if your home licence is printed in a non-Latin alphabet-Cyrillic, Arabic, Chinese. EU and UK licences are accepted as-is. The IDP accompanies your original licence; it does not replace it.
If the voucher lists cross-border permission and the provider issues a green-card insurance extension. Not all fleets allow exit from Croatia, and some charge a daily supplement. Declare your route at the desk to avoid contract breach.
A Petrol station sits on the D8 about three kilometres before the terminal turn-off. INA stations appear closer to Cavtat. Return the car with the same fuel level you received to avoid refuelling fees, which include a service charge.
Your booking voucher, passport, driving licence valid for at least one year, and the payment card in the lead driver's name. If your licence uses non-Latin characters, bring an International Driving Permit. Additional drivers need their own licence and passport.