We rented a car for 9 days from Oryx (rented via AutoEurope) from Dubrovnik to Rijeka (sp), where the mainland of Croatia meets Istria. We were pleasantly surprised when we learned there was no drop fee (usually $89) for our 1-way rental. Oryx does not charge a 1-way fee for any rental 8+ days. The drive was beautiful and we were able to visit many out if the way sites. We even spent some time in Istria (we stayed in lovely Lovran the night before we needed to drop the car. ) Our whole rental (for a VW Golf) was about $200.
By the way, the downtown Oryx site is at the ferry terminal, a short walk to the main bus station. We were able to take a 1 1/2 hour bus ride to Trieste, Italy from there for about $20. We loved Trieste which is not too far from Venice.
Posted by
Rick Steves' Europe
16893 posts
Your car rental points were both within one country and there usually is no drop fee for different cities within one country in Europe. That's probably different from your USA experience. The drop fee comes (and can be high) if you want to drop in a different country, and would probably have applied if you wanted to drop in Trieste.
Posted by
OP
seattle
2047 posts
We were initially told there'd be a $98 drop fee for Oryx when we scheduled only a 7 day car rental. We have never paid a drop fee for Italy for 3+ day car rentals.
Posted by
Ston, Dalmatia
86 posts
You seem to have avoided Oryx's 'cross border' fee of EUR 30 that they charge for going into Bosnia at Neum - well done! In the past Oryx didn't charge for this - two weeks ago I was charged for the first time.
Posted by
Portland, Oregon
5687 posts
I rented with Oryx this last week in Croatia as well - via EconomyCarRentals. Most car rental companies waive a one-way drop fee within the country if you rent for a minimum number of days. I know Sixt did a few years ago as well.
My experience dropping my Oryx car at Zagreb airport was awful. I had to wait 45 minutes in line to resolve an issue (same line for people picking up Oryx cars there, who were probably annoyed at having to wait so long for a car). They seemed incredibly inefficient. None of the dozen other rental car companies had lines at Zagreb. Thank goodness I arrived at the airport super early for my flight or I might have missed it.
Richard, I read a couple of the rental car companies when I was researching cars say they waive a cross border fee for crossing the Neum corridor. Makes sense. I drove in Montenegro and Bosnia and plus also through Neum and had my car's cross border card checked lots of times at the borders - but not at Neum.
Posted by
Ston, Dalmatia
86 posts
But it's not whether you are checked or not. If you make sure that you have the correct documentation for the car, which is known in Europe as a Green Card, Oryx charge you a cross border fee.
Posted by
1 posts
We are planning to take a train from Venice to then cross borders to head to Rovinj. Want to rent a car. Where would you suggest we go? We will be dropping it in Zagreb 6 days later. Which town should we go to? Do we need to take a bus from Trieste? Thk you..
Posted by
Portland, Oregon
5687 posts
You can take a bus from Trieste to Rovinj - but there are also direct buses from Venice (Mestre I think) to Rovinj. Look on www.buscroatia.com .
There are car rental companies right in Rovinj. Oryx has an office there - I rented from them in Rijeka because I could get a direct train there from Ljubljana, but when I got to Rovinj I walked past the Oryx office there. If you use EconomyCarRentals you may get Oryx as the car company - as I did. You can return the car in Zagreb.
Posted by
OP
seattle
2047 posts
Getting from Rijeke to Zagreb is easy. Also, getting from Italy to Rijeke is only about 1 1/2 hours. The downtown Rijeke Oryx office is at the ferry dock close to the main bus station (about a 15 min walk). Sounds like you can take a bus from Venice. As I said above, we went Rovinji to Trieste. By the way, Trieste is a great city if you like cities- very beautiful with lots of great restaurants, bars and gelato shops. It has a very big apertivo culture and lots of pedestrian only streets.