Croatia is one of Europe's most popular summer destinations. Every day thousands of drivers make the journey by car through Austria and Slovenia, or through Hungary, towards the Adriatic coast.
Most trips go without a hitch. But when a car gives up hundreds or even more than a thousand kilometres from home, the driver ends up in a very uncomfortable spot. That is exactly when it is easiest to accept the first help on offer – whatever it costs.
This does not mean Croatian recovery firms are dishonest. There are professional operators doing perfectly ordinary work. The problem starts when a tourist does not know local prices, does not speak the language, and only finds out after the job is done that the bill is several times higher than expected.
What can a tow truck in Croatia actually cost?
A good reference point is the officially published price list of Hrvatski Autoklub – HAK, the Croatian automobile club.
- €56 transport of a vehicle up to 20 km under the HAK price list
- €1.50/km each additional kilometre of transport
- +30% surcharge between 22:00 and 06:00, on Sundays and public holidays
| Service | HAK rate | Notes |
|---|---|---|
| Loading, unloading and transport | €56 | Up to 20 km |
| Each additional kilometre | €1.50 | Above the 20 km limit |
| Pulling the vehicle back onto the road | €45 | Additional service |
| Difficult loading | €30 | Additional service |
| Use of a hydraulic system | €90 | Where required |
| Vehicle storage | €8/day | Up to 6 m long and 4 m wide |
| Storage of a larger vehicle | €12/day | Over 6 m long or 4 m wide |
Treat these figures as a reference point. Private roadside assistance operators may use their own price lists, and the final cost can depend on the type of vehicle, the location of the breakdown, the time of day and any extra services. Croatia uses the euro, so this is also the currency you will actually pay in.
For a detailed breakdown of what the transport price is made up of and how to organise it, see our separate guide to roadside assistance in Croatia and the cost of transporting a car.
Where does the problem start?
The greatest risk comes when a driver calls the first tow truck they find online, or accepts help from someone who simply turns up at the scene without any terms being agreed in advance.
Once the car has been loaded and taken a few dozen kilometres down the road, the room for negotiating the price shrinks dramatically.
Six warning signs
- No price before the job All you hear is "we'll sort it out on site" or "first we need to load the car".
- An unclear rate per kilometre It is not clear whether you are being charged only for transporting the car, or also for the empty truck driving out to you.
- Pressure to decide immediately You are told you have to make up your mind right now.
- No paperwork or receipt The company wants cash and refuses to issue a document describing the service.
- Surcharges nobody mentioned A night, loading, motorway, parking or equipment fee appears only at the end.
- Towing to an unagreed destination The car ends up at a garage you did not choose and whose prices you do not know.
Car breakdown in Croatia – what to do, step by step
- Secure the scene first. If the situation puts people or road safety at risk, call the emergency number 112.
- Contact your own breakdown cover. If you have an assistance policy, call your insurer before anyone else.
- Ask for the full price. Establish the call-out charge, loading, transport, the number of chargeable kilometres, VAT, tolls, parking and every possible surcharge.
- Get it confirmed in writing. A text message, e-mail or chat message stating the rate can be important evidence if a dispute follows.
- Agree the exact destination. Do not let the car be left at a random garage without knowing its charges.
- Keep every document. The invoice, receipt, proof of payment, correspondence and photos may all be needed for a complaint.
HAK – the number worth saving before you travel
Hrvatski Autoklub runs roadside assistance across Croatia. The official assistance number is 1987.
HAK roadside assistance – contact numbers
What about transporting the car back home?
Depending on where the car broke down and where you are heading, the distance can be anything from roughly 370 km (Zagreb to Vienna) to about 1,000 km (Split to Munich), 1,300 km to Berlin or close to 1,800 km to the United Kingdom.
Before booking a dedicated tow truck all the way home, compare:
- repairing the car in Croatia and driving home yourself
- towing to the nearest suitable garage
- transport arranged by your insurer
- a shared or groupage vehicle transport service
- a dedicated tow truck straight to your home country
The simple fact that moving a car several hundred or a thousand kilometres is expensive does not make it a scam. What matters is whether the price was stated clearly before the work began. We break down the cost of each option in our guide to transporting a car from Croatia.
Watch the paperwork for the journey home too: a route through Austria and Slovenia requires a valid vignette for each of those countries, including when you are following the tow truck in your own or a hired car.
Good breakdown cover can save your holiday budget
Before travelling to Croatia it is worth checking the towing distance limit and the maximum payout on your policy.
- Check the towing limit across Europe
- Check whether the policy covers transporting the car to your home country
- Verify the replacement car and how many days it is covered for
- Check accommodation cover or onward travel
- Save the assistance number in your phone before you set off
What to do if the bill looks suspiciously high
If the price differs significantly from what was agreed, keep every document and piece of evidence:
- the invoice or receipt
- the company details and the tow truck's registration number
- proof of payment
- messages stating the agreed price
- the pick-up point and where the car was left
- the route taken and the approximate number of kilometres
Frequently asked questions
How much does a tow truck cost in Croatia?
Under the HAK price list, transporting a vehicle up to 20 km costs about €56, and each additional kilometre about €1.50. Between 22:00 and 06:00, on Sundays and on public holidays up to 30% may be added. Private firms set their own rates, so the price must always be agreed before the car is loaded.
What is the roadside assistance number in Croatia?
Hrvatski Autoklub roadside assistance operates on 1987. From a foreign SIM card call +385 1 1987, or +385 1 4693 700. The general emergency number is 112.
How much does it cost to transport a car from Croatia?
Distances range from roughly 370 km to Vienna up to about 1,800 km to the UK, so a dedicated tow truck is expensive. Before booking one, compare repairing the car locally, transport under your assistance policy and shared vehicle transport. A high price is not itself a scam – the problem is when nobody states it in advance.
What if the company refuses to quote a price for towing?
Do not let them load the vehicle. Ask for the rate by text message or e-mail, call 1987 or your own breakdown cover, and compare the offers. A missing price before the job is the most common start of a dispute over an inflated bill.
Do not panic. Price first, tow truck second
A breakdown on holiday in Croatia is stressful, but that is precisely the moment to spend a few minutes checking the operator and the price.
Do not let your car be loaded onto a tow truck until you know what you will pay, where the car is being taken and what additional charges may apply.
Sources
- Hrvatski Autoklub – official roadside assistance price list: hak.hr – pregled naknada (opens in a new tab)
- Hrvatski Autoklub – roadside assistance 1987: hak.hr – HAK 1987 (opens in a new tab)
