Car hire in Slovenia then crossing borders?
Discussion
A trip to Ljubljana in Slovenia is on our list of places to visit, with a few days in the city then a few travelling.
What’s the situation with hire cars and crossing international borders as we’d also like to visit Pula in Croatia and possibly Trieste in Italy? Is that a non-issue as it’s all inside the Schengen area, or will the hire car be for Slovenia only?
Any recommendations of firms to look at or avoid?
What’s the situation with hire cars and crossing international borders as we’d also like to visit Pula in Croatia and possibly Trieste in Italy? Is that a non-issue as it’s all inside the Schengen area, or will the hire car be for Slovenia only?
Any recommendations of firms to look at or avoid?
Panamax said:
Something to watch out for is their approach can vary depending on your overall trip. i.e. will you be taking the car back to the country where you rented it or are you hoping to pick up in once country and drop off in another.
It’ll be returned to the same place as collection. Just a couple of day trips over the borderIt depends on the rental firm. I often rent in Italy and Croatia and drive into Slovenia - many rental firms, including big ones such as Hertz, usually want a "cross border fee" to be paid extra if you're going to leave the country.
The other thing to check is winter tyres. You will be required to be equipped with winter tyres in some parts of these countries between certain dates. So, if hiring in winter, make sure you get that covered off too as it's not always automatically included.
So the answer is "it depends", and you need to check with every company as there isn't a single standard rule.
The other thing to check is winter tyres. You will be required to be equipped with winter tyres in some parts of these countries between certain dates. So, if hiring in winter, make sure you get that covered off too as it's not always automatically included.
So the answer is "it depends", and you need to check with every company as there isn't a single standard rule.
Last year, Mrs L & I did a round trip starting in Vienna, going to Bratislava, Budapest, Zagreb, Lake Bled, Graz and back. We hired a car through Hertz and yes, we were charged for taking it out of Austria (about £10/day).
We did have to get a couple of border tickets - Hungary was one, there are places just over the border where you can buy them. Make sure they know what they're doing; the first place seemed unoccupied, the second had trouble with our address (showing her the hire documents made no difference so we went on to the third place which was successful). You could probably do this online beforehand but we just picked up the car in the morning and wanted to crack on.
One tip that may prove useful, have some local currency notes and use them to buy coffee and get change. You will often find the need for coins to get into the loos.
We did have to get a couple of border tickets - Hungary was one, there are places just over the border where you can buy them. Make sure they know what they're doing; the first place seemed unoccupied, the second had trouble with our address (showing her the hire documents made no difference so we went on to the third place which was successful). You could probably do this online beforehand but we just picked up the car in the morning and wanted to crack on.
One tip that may prove useful, have some local currency notes and use them to buy coffee and get change. You will often find the need for coins to get into the loos.
Also don't forget you need to buy a vignette for Slovenian motorways (and Austria if you go there, but not Italy nor Croatia).
Beware speed cameras, they're strict in Slovenia and Austria, and the hire company will charge you an "admin fee" on top of any fines which they will pass on to you. Particularly be aware of lower speed limits in tunnels with speed cameras at the entrances/exits. Ask me how I know...
Beware speed cameras, they're strict in Slovenia and Austria, and the hire company will charge you an "admin fee" on top of any fines which they will pass on to you. Particularly be aware of lower speed limits in tunnels with speed cameras at the entrances/exits. Ask me how I know...
We have family in Slovakia and quite often visit the surrounding countries on our way over each year - Poland, Hungary etc. This year we rented a Passat estate from Budapest Airport and drove over to SK and back. There was a 960km limit and motorway passes were included for Hungary - all you need to do is check the conditions of the hire with whatever company you use. We selected Hertz as it was a good deal and cross-border travel was added for a small fee (£20 or something) when I booked it. Can recommend Hertz, very easy to deal with and no nit picking on cleanliness or condition (I did hand wash it before we drove back from SK).
Side note: The Passat estate was pretty much brand new (3k km) and was very nice to drive. We have a Nissan Ariya at home and the Passat was much more comfortable probably due to the batteries causing it to bounce and crash around so much.
Side note: The Passat estate was pretty much brand new (3k km) and was very nice to drive. We have a Nissan Ariya at home and the Passat was much more comfortable probably due to the batteries causing it to bounce and crash around so much.
Skodillac said:
It depends on the rental firm. I often rent in Italy and Croatia and drive into Slovenia - many rental firms, including big ones such as Hertz, usually want a "cross border fee" to be paid extra if you're going to leave the country.
The other thing to check is winter tyres. You will be required to be equipped with winter tyres in some parts of these countries between certain dates. So, if hiring in winter, make sure you get that covered off too as it's not always automatically included.
So the answer is "it depends", and you need to check with every company as there isn't a single standard rule.
this. it depends on the firm but ime any of the majors have it covered as a blanket policy. europcar do. email or use their chatbot, its a common question they won't need to check. any firm with mileage limits and policy clauses is obviously to be avoided as far as is practicable. The other thing to check is winter tyres. You will be required to be equipped with winter tyres in some parts of these countries between certain dates. So, if hiring in winter, make sure you get that covered off too as it's not always automatically included.
So the answer is "it depends", and you need to check with every company as there isn't a single standard rule.
winters, they are legally obliged provide a vehicle that is suitable for the conditions, the offence would be on them and not you. cut in date is 15th nov. for all 3 countries.
a vignette isn't a legal requirement so they'd not be obliged to provide it, you might get lucky with one that already has it but slovenia is not a big country and the highway is easily avoided.in fact the highway south of ljubjlana is exposed and windy, when there is a snowstorm it is not fun.
i'd need a good reason to stop for any length in trieste, it's forgettable. pula is nice [we have friends who live there if you need a steer on anything], but make sure you visit rovinj.
Edited by shirt on Friday 17th October 11:52
What I've found on my frequent visits to this area (I've been going regularly on ski trips in the Julian Alps, using resorts in Slovenia, Italy and Austria on the same trip, for quite a few years), is that the cheapest flights to the region from London are to Trieste and Zagreb. Far cheaper than Ljubljana usually, although I'm only usually ever going during school holidays. This means I hire cars in Trieste and Zagreb and pay any cross border fee (as I said even big companies, such as Hertz, charge them out of Italy and Croatia, and I think the same applies in Slovenia too). Italy is the outlier there on tyres though, in that it's not mandatory to have winter tyres across the whole country - only in certain areas. So hire cars are not fitted with winter tyres unless you request it and pay extra for it, because not everyone is going to be going up the mountains where winters are required.
If you did happen to be given a car without winter tyres in Slovenia or Croatia and drove it on public roads, you are then liable as the driver and will be committing an offence. You will not be able to say "oh it's a hire car" and expect the Rozzers to say "sorry, our mistake, off you go". You will be personally liable. So check and double check when you pick the car up (3PMSF Snowflake symbol), as it's not unknown for hire companies to "forget" to change the wheels. I've been presented with cars on summer tyres in Croatia during winter season - usually February, when they're supposed to be fitted with winters from November.
If you did happen to be given a car without winter tyres in Slovenia or Croatia and drove it on public roads, you are then liable as the driver and will be committing an offence. You will not be able to say "oh it's a hire car" and expect the Rozzers to say "sorry, our mistake, off you go". You will be personally liable. So check and double check when you pick the car up (3PMSF Snowflake symbol), as it's not unknown for hire companies to "forget" to change the wheels. I've been presented with cars on summer tyres in Croatia during winter season - usually February, when they're supposed to be fitted with winters from November.
Slovenia is my favourite country, fell in love with it so much we bought a small house in the NW part, have been a regular visitor for 12yrs, still get excited on each trip
We normally drive from the UK, smash out 1000miles across Europe in one go but have rented cars occasionally
Definitely fly into Zagreb, much cheaper, under 2hrs drive to Ljubljana, hire car should be fine across borders within the EU but best to confirm when paying
Piran is a scenic town on the coast, Trieste is a bit meh, Julian Alps and Triglav National Park is beautiful
Part of the charm of Slovenia is exploring off the motorway, only need a vignette for motorways
Take the back road from Lake Bled, through the Triglav Mational Park to Mojstrana, very scenic, brings you onto the main road to Kranjska Gora, where you can drive over the scenic Virsic Pass to Bovec, do a loop into Italy to Tarviso then back to Kranjska Gora
Lake Bled is nice but Lake Bohijn is less crowded with a stunning cable car up to Vogel, Vintger Gorge near Bled is worth seeing
Kranjska Gora is a small ski resort, fun for a few days but I prefer to snowboard at Sella Neve just over into Italy, runs are more challenging and scenery more impressive but lack any sort of apre ski, only 45mins from KG
If you can time your trip with a world ski flying event at Planica Nordic Centre definitely go, atmosphere is amazing, jumping nearly 250m is beyond impressive, if it isn't winter try the zipline
We normally drive from the UK, smash out 1000miles across Europe in one go but have rented cars occasionally
Definitely fly into Zagreb, much cheaper, under 2hrs drive to Ljubljana, hire car should be fine across borders within the EU but best to confirm when paying
Piran is a scenic town on the coast, Trieste is a bit meh, Julian Alps and Triglav National Park is beautiful
Part of the charm of Slovenia is exploring off the motorway, only need a vignette for motorways
Take the back road from Lake Bled, through the Triglav Mational Park to Mojstrana, very scenic, brings you onto the main road to Kranjska Gora, where you can drive over the scenic Virsic Pass to Bovec, do a loop into Italy to Tarviso then back to Kranjska Gora
Lake Bled is nice but Lake Bohijn is less crowded with a stunning cable car up to Vogel, Vintger Gorge near Bled is worth seeing
Kranjska Gora is a small ski resort, fun for a few days but I prefer to snowboard at Sella Neve just over into Italy, runs are more challenging and scenery more impressive but lack any sort of apre ski, only 45mins from KG
If you can time your trip with a world ski flying event at Planica Nordic Centre definitely go, atmosphere is amazing, jumping nearly 250m is beyond impressive, if it isn't winter try the zipline
Skodillac said:
What I've found on my frequent visits to this area (I've been going regularly on ski trips in the Julian Alps, using resorts in Slovenia, Italy and Austria on the same trip, for quite a few years), is that the cheapest flights to the region from London are to Trieste and Zagreb. Far cheaper than Ljubljana usually, although I'm only usually ever going during school holidays. This means I hire cars in Trieste and Zagreb and pay any cross border fee (as I said even big companies, such as Hertz, charge them out of Italy and Croatia, and I think the same applies in Slovenia too). Italy is the outlier there on tyres though, in that it's not mandatory to have winter tyres across the whole country - only in certain areas. So hire cars are not fitted with winter tyres unless you request it and pay extra for it, because not everyone is going to be going up the mountains where winters are required.
If you did happen to be given a car without winter tyres in Slovenia or Croatia and drove it on public roads, you are then liable as the driver and will be committing an offence. You will not be able to say "oh it's a hire car" and expect the Rozzers to say "sorry, our mistake, off you go". You will be personally liable. So check and double check when you pick the car up (3PMSF Snowflake symbol), as it's not unknown for hire companies to "forget" to change the wheels. I've been presented with cars on summer tyres in Croatia during winter season - usually February, when they're supposed to be fitted with winters from November.
i meant that the hiring co. can't legally provide you with a vehicle that they know does not comply with the laws of the country of hire. it would be akin to providing you one without an MOT. so if they provide one to you in winter in slovenia that does not have winters fitted or snow chains in the boot, then you have recourse. If you did happen to be given a car without winter tyres in Slovenia or Croatia and drove it on public roads, you are then liable as the driver and will be committing an offence. You will not be able to say "oh it's a hire car" and expect the Rozzers to say "sorry, our mistake, off you go". You will be personally liable. So check and double check when you pick the car up (3PMSF Snowflake symbol), as it's not unknown for hire companies to "forget" to change the wheels. I've been presented with cars on summer tyres in Croatia during winter season - usually February, when they're supposed to be fitted with winters from November.
if we must precis any advice with an anecdote, i have crashed a french hire car in the dolomites in winter, during heavy snow and icy conditions.
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