If you’re planning to drive in Croatia in 2027, there’s a major change coming that you need to know about.
Croatia is replacing its traditional motorway toll booths with a new electronic tolling system called Crolibertas. The new system is scheduled to launch nationwide on 1 March 2027.
Instead of stopping at a toll booth to take a ticket and pay for your journey, vehicles will be detected automatically as they travel along Croatia’s motorways.
For anyone planning a Croatian road trip, particularly visitors driving into Croatia from other European countries, this raises an obvious question:
Do you need to register your car before driving on Croatian motorways?
The answer depends on how you plan to pay your motorway tolls.
Here’s what you need to know about Croatia’s new toll system and what it means for drivers.
Skip Ahead To My Advice Here!
When Does Croatia’s New Toll System Start?
Croatia’s new electronic toll collection system, Crolibertas, is scheduled to start operating nationwide on 1 March 2027.
Until then, Croatia’s existing toll system remains in place. So, if you’re driving on Croatian motorways during 2026, you’ll still use the familiar toll stations and current payment methods.
The new system is being introduced gradually, with electronic tolling infrastructure being installed across Croatia’s motorway network ahead of the launch.
Once Crolibertas is operational, drivers will no longer need to stop at traditional toll booths to pay for their motorway journeys.
What Is Crolibertas?
Crolibertas is Croatia’s new free-flow electronic tolling system.
Instead of stopping at a toll station, you’ll simply continue driving along the motorway.
Electronic gantries positioned above the road will detect vehicles and record their journeys. Depending on the payment method being used, vehicles can be identified through their registration plates or an ENC device.
The toll is then calculated according to the journey and the vehicle category.
So, instead of:
Take a ticket → drive → stop at toll booth → pay
the new system will work more like:
Drive → vehicle detected → continue driving → toll calculated electronically
No stopping at a traditional toll booth.
Do You Have to Register Your Car in Croatia?
Not necessarily.
This is one of the most important things to understand about the new system.
For light vehicles such as passenger cars, drivers will be able to use an ENC device or the automatic licence plate recognition system.
If you choose the licence plate option, your vehicle will need to be registered in the system and connected to a valid payment method.
If you use an ENC device, you can continue using electronic toll collection through the device instead.
So, the introduction of Crolibertas does not mean that every person driving a car in Croatia must register their vehicle in advance.
The requirement depends on the vehicle and the toll-payment method being used.
Brands We Use And Trust
How Will You Pay Croatia’s Motorway Tolls?
There will be different ways for drivers to pay their motorway tolls under Crolibertas.
For ordinary passenger cars and other eligible light vehicles, the two main options are ENC and automatic licence plate recognition.
Option 1: Use an ENC Device
If you’ve driven in Croatia before, you may already be familiar with ENC.
ENC is Croatia’s electronic toll collection system. It uses a small device inside the vehicle to identify it as it travels through the motorway tolling system.
ENC will continue to be used after Crolibertas launches.
For light vehicles using ENC, the device will be linked to the vehicle’s registration plate and must remain properly installed in the vehicle while travelling on the motorway.
If you already use ENC, you won’t need to switch to licence plate recognition simply because the new toll system is introduced.
Option 2: Automatic Licence Plate Recognition
Drivers of eligible light vehicles can also use automatic licence plate recognition.
Cameras and other equipment installed on the motorway gantries will identify the vehicle using its registration plate.
If you choose this option, you’ll need to register the vehicle in the system and provide the required payment information.
This could be particularly convenient for tourists who don’t already have an ENC device and are travelling to Croatia in their own car.
What About Foreign Cars?
The new toll system will also apply to foreign vehicles using Croatian motorways.
So, if you’re driving to Croatia from Germany, Austria, Slovenia, Italy, Hungary, Bosnia and Herzegovina or another European country, you will still need to use one of the available motorway toll-payment methods.
Foreign-registered vehicles are not automatically exempt from Croatian motorway tolls.
For eligible light vehicles, you can use ENC or the licence plate recognition system.
If you’re using licence plate recognition, your vehicle will need to be registered and connected to the appropriate payment method.
This is particularly important for anyone planning a long road trip through Croatia after the new system launches.
Will You Need to Register Before Entering Croatia?
The new system is designed to allow vehicles to travel without stopping at traditional toll booths, which means the motorway journey needs to be connected to a payment method electronically.
Croatia is also planning facilities where drivers can complete the necessary registration, including 140 rapid vehicle-registration lanes.
So, if you haven’t registered before arriving, there will be options to deal with registration. However, if you’re travelling to Croatia specifically to explore the country by car, it’s worth checking the current requirements before you leave home.
That way, you can avoid having to sort out your toll arrangements during your trip.
What About Trucks, Vans and Other Heavy Vehicles?
Heavy vehicles have different requirements under the new system.
Vehicles in the relevant third and fourth categories will be required to use ENC.
This means that the licence-plate-only option is primarily relevant to light vehicles such as passenger cars.
If you’re travelling in a motorhome, campervan, van, truck or another larger vehicle, check which toll category your vehicle falls into before travelling.
Are Croatia’s Motorway Tolls Becoming a Vignette?
No.
Croatia is not switching to a traditional motorway vignette system.
A vignette generally gives you access to motorways for a particular period, such as a week, month or year.
Crolibertas is changing how Croatian motorway tolls are collected, rather than replacing the toll system with a time-based vignette.
Motorway use will continue to be charged according to the applicable toll system, journey and vehicle category.
So if you’re planning a road trip through Croatia, don’t assume that you’ll simply need to buy a Croatian vignette before entering the country.
Can You Still Pay Cash?
The traditional system of pulling up at a toll booth and handing cash to an employee will disappear when the free-flow system is introduced.
However, cash will still be accommodated through designated sales points within the system.
For most travellers, electronic payment will be the more relevant option once Crolibertas launches.
What Does the New Toll System Mean for Tourists?
If you’re visiting Croatia by car in 2027 or later, the biggest change is that you won’t need to stop at traditional motorway toll booths.
Instead, you’ll need to make sure your vehicle is connected to an appropriate toll-payment method.
For most people travelling in a normal passenger car, the important choice will be:
ENC or automatic licence plate recognition.
If you choose licence plate recognition, you’ll need to register your vehicle and connect it to a valid payment method.
If you already have an ENC device, you can continue using that option under the new system.
This should make travelling on Croatia’s motorways considerably more straightforward, particularly during the busy summer months when queues at toll stations can become frustrating.
What Should You Do Before Your Croatia Road Trip?
If you’re planning to drive around Croatia after Crolibertas launches, you don’t need to make any changes right now.
However, before your trip, it’s worth checking:
- Whether Crolibertas is already operational
- Whether your vehicle is eligible for licence plate-based toll collection
- Whether you want to use ENC instead
- Whether your vehicle needs to be registered
- Whether your payment details are correctly connected to your vehicle
- Which toll category your vehicle falls into
The most important thing is not to assume that every foreign car must be registered.
The requirement depends on your vehicle and the toll-payment method you choose.
Move This Adventure To Your Inbox & Get An Instant Freebie
No spam. Unsubscribe at any time.
Croatia Toll System 2027: The Bottom Line
Croatia’s motorway toll system is about to look very different.
From 1 March 2027, Crolibertas is scheduled to replace traditional toll booths with an electronic free-flow system, allowing drivers to travel through motorway tolling points without stopping.
For passenger-car drivers, the key options will be ENC or automatic licence plate recognition.
If you choose licence plate recognition, you’ll need to register your vehicle and connect an appropriate payment method.
So, if you’re planning a road trip to Croatia in 2027, you won’t have to sit in a queue at a Croatian toll booth anymore.
You’ll just need to make sure you’ve sorted out how your motorway tolls will be paid before you hit the road. 🚗🇭🇷
Croatia Toll System 2027 FAQs
Do I need to register my car to drive in Croatia?
Not necessarily. For eligible light vehicles, drivers can use an ENC device or automatic licence plate recognition. If you choose licence plate recognition, your vehicle will need to be registered and linked to a valid payment method.
When does Croatia’s new toll system start?
Crolibertas is scheduled to launch nationwide on 1 March 2027. Until then, Croatia’s existing motorway toll system remains in operation.
Do I need an ENC device to drive on Croatian motorways?
Not if you are travelling in an eligible light vehicle and choose the automatic licence plate recognition option instead. Heavy vehicles in the relevant third and fourth categories will be required to use ENC.
Are Croatia’s motorway tolls becoming a vignette?
No. Croatia is introducing electronic free-flow toll collection rather than a traditional vignette system.
Can foreign cars use Croatia’s new toll system?
Yes. Foreign-registered vehicles will be able to use Croatian motorways, subject to the applicable toll-payment requirements.
Will I still have to stop at Croatian toll booths?
Once Crolibertas is fully operational, drivers will no longer need to stop at traditional motorway toll booths to pay for their journeys. Vehicles will be detected electronically as they travel through the motorway network.