The Republic of Croatia has an extension of 56,594 km2 and a population of 3.861 million inhabitants (in 2024). Croatia's capital city, Zagreb, has population of 769,944 inhabitants and is located in the northern part of the country. Croatia's territory includes 1,246 islands in the Adriatic Sea, of which only 67 are inhabited. Coastline is 5,835 km long. Croatia is mainly a tourist, industrial and agricultural country. Its motorization ratio is 560 light vehicles per 1,000 inhabitants (2024).The total length of the public road's network is 26,520 km, out of which 1,360.5 km are motorways, 7,340 km are national roads and 17,825 km are regional and local roads.Croatia is a part of four European transport corridors:
The Pan-European corridors passing through the territory of the Republic of Croatia are the following:
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First motorway sections in Croatia, which was at that time a former republic of Yugoslavia, were planned and designed during the 1960s and built at the beginning of the 1970s by the State. First motorway stretches opened to traffic were Orehovica-Kikovica in 1971 and Zagreb - Karlovac in 1972 (in total 49.8 km). The construction of motorways in Croatia was planned with the aim of better connecting different regions and parts of the country.
Motorways have enabled modern transport communication between continental and coastal Croatia, better road transport connections with neighbouring countries, as well as inclusion in the European motorway network.
Until 1991 additional 305 km of motorways were opened to traffic. Accelerated construction began with the first four-year Public Road Construction and Maintenance Programme from 2001 to 2004 when 402.1 km of motorway was built. It also continued in the next four-year Programme for the period 2005-2008 when the network was expanded for additional 258.4 km. Today Croatia has a network which comprises 1,360.5 km of motorways operated by:
In 1990 Croatian Parliament adopted a first Concession Act and the last adopted version is dated 2022 (Official Gazette 107/20). The Concession Act provided the basis for basis for granting concessions for the construction of motorway to private company Bina-Istra in 1995, public company Autocesta Rijeka-Zagreb, 100% owned by the Republic of Croatia (established in 1998), and private company Autocesta Zagreb-Macelj (established in 2003). In 2020, Autocesta Rijeka-Zagreb was merged with Hrvatske autoceste. Since 1991, different Croatian governments have decided to apply different models for the construction of a modern motorway network (public companies/concession companies). Regardless of the difference in ownership structure, all companies have the same mission of financing, building, operating and maintaining the motorway network for which they are responsible and collect tolls applying the user-pays principle.On 11 April 2001 Croatian Government established Hrvatske autoceste d.o.o. public limited liability company with the purpose of operating, building and maintaining all motorways except for those managed by concession companies. The company is 100% state-owned.According to the Roads Act the planning of the construction and maintenance of motorways is carried out through the following programme planning documents:
In Croatia there are three motorway companies in charge of motorway management and they operate the network of 1,360.5 km of high standard motorways.
HRVATSKE AUTOCESTE d.o.o. (established in 2001, public company 100% owned by the Republic of Croatia).
BINA-ISTRA d.d. (established in 1995, private-public concession company, concession expires in 2041), operates motorways A8 and A9.
AUTOCESTA ZAGREB-MACELJ d.o.o. (established in 2003, private-public concession company, concession expires in 2032), operates motorway A2.
Completion of the existing motorway network has resulted in huge improvement in connecting the Croatian coast and inland as well as integration in European system of transportation and corridors. Besides their contribution to tourism development and better flow of people and goods, motorways also provide the highest level of safety and comfort to their users.
Roads Act stipulates that toll is applied on motorways and facilities, as defined by the Government, and that toll is a source of financing of motorways (Official Gazette 84/2011, 22/2013, 54/2013, 148/2013, 92/2014, 110/2019, 144/2021, 114/2022, 114/2022, 133/2023). It also stipulates that the tolling system and toll rates are defined by motorway companies and are subject to final approval of the Ministry of the Sea, Transport and Infrastructure.
According to Roads Act and Regulation on Toll Fees, since the opening to traffic of the first motorway stretch in 1972 Zagreb-Karlovac (A1), toll collection has been a key element for financial closing of the project. Therefore tolling has a strong tradition which continued to be essential in motorway projects after the declaration of independence of the Republic of Croatia in 1991.
All motorways, semi-motorways and certain structures (tunnels) in Croatia are tolled. Level of toll depends also on construction, operation and maintenance costs of one specific motorway or structure. Average toll fee per kilometre for light vehicles is 0.07 EUR/km and for heavy vehicles 0.21 EUR/km (without VAT).Toll is calculated on a distance-related basis and according to the respective vehicle group (IA – IV). All vehicle classes are subject to tolling.Toll is paid directly by users and payment methods available are the following:
Based on the Regulations on Toll Fees, for the purpose of toll collection vehicles are classified into following groups:
Discounts for EURO V and EEV classes are 3%, for EURO VI 7%.
There is no longer discount for EURO IV. The purpose of the discounts for vehicles with lower CO2 emission classes is to have cleaner vehicles on motorways.
Modern, efficient and sustainable motorways rely on several strategic pillars:
These strategic pillars are guidelines for future investments, management and operation of motorways.
Today, Croatia has 1,360.5 km of motorways and at a later stage, the motorway network will result in 1,478 km in total.
Continuous priority in the next years will be given to improve safety and efficiency of traffic and to reduce congestions and negative impact on the environment.
Electronic toll collection systemAs part of the National Recovery and Resilience Plan, Hrvatske autoceste d.o.o. will introduce a new electronic toll collection system on the entire motorway network in the Republic of Croatia, including motorways managed by the concessionaires BINA-ISTRA d.d. and Autocesta Zagreb-Macelj d.o.o.
The contract for the implementation of the new toll collection system with the consortium of bidders SkyToll from Slovakia and TollNet from the Czech Republic was concluded on 24 September 2024. The deadline for completing the work is two years.
Characteristics of the new systemNew system is based on the free flow of vehicles with multiple lanes (MLFF), where the toll is charged according to the distance travelled and the category of the vehicle.
Two modern and proven technologies will be used:
Advantages of the new systemThe new toll collection system will allow users to travel without stopping at toll booths. System will enable faster and safer traffic, contribute to reducing traffic congestion and the negative effects of traffic on the environment, with fewer emissions and lower fuel consumption. Shorter travel times will increase the overall efficiency of the transport system.
Digital transformation (digitization and innovation)The Company plans to continue with the digitalization process to reach advanced standards: the development of integrated traffic management centres and the introduction of digital toll collection systems. The existing ITS projects will continue and a plan for additional digitalization of the Company will be developed, along with the identification of priority processes and services for digitalization. The road asset management system (RAMS) is also planned to be improved, which currently includes digital records of the condition and inspections carried out for each type of asset (roads, bridges, tunnels and similar facilities). By improving the system, it is planned to improve the quality of maintenance monitoring and planning and enable integration with other systems or relevant databases.
It will also achieve full digital toll collection and eliminate physical toll barriers.
In parallel, it is also planned that ITS systems (variable signs, detectors, cameras) cover 100% of the motorway network. All collected data is centralized and available through an open data platform, which is in line with the European plan for a European Common Transport Data Space. This will enable the creation of new services (e.g. applications that combine Company’s traffic data).
The company will focus on further modernizing road infrastructure management with the aim of integrating the motorway network into the European ITS. This includes interoperability of communication systems, tolling systems and safety standards, and joint traffic management in coordination with other European motorway networks (TEN-T).
A gradual increase in the number of advanced automated vehicles (levels 4 and 5) is expected. This requires maintaining top-quality horizontal and vertical signage and markings (easier to read by vehicle sensors), having a high-accuracy digital map of all lanes and structures constantly updated, and infrastructure transmitters that transmit a signal about the road condition, with the gradual introduction of a communication system between infrastructure and vehicles (Vehicle-to-Infrastructure – V2I).
The long-term goal is to ensure that the motorway infrastructure supports safe traffic flow with an increased share of autonomous vehicles, contributing to a further reduction in traffic accidents and an increase in traffic flow.
By 2030, all key sections should have a 5G signal and basic cooperative services. This means that vehicles equipped with C-ITS devices can receive standardized messages from the infrastructure (e.g. DENM - danger warning messages). The Company should cooperate with the telecom industry to include the main corridors (TEN-T) in the 5G corridor initiative promoted by the EU.
This is the basis for the introduction of high levels of automation after 2030. Since a significant number of connected vehicles are expected on the roads (with built-in communication modules) - the Company's system should be ready to receive data from vehicles (e.g. warnings of slippery roads when ABS sensors of several vehicles detect this) and use it for management. The achievement of this goal largely depends on service providers, namely the telecom industry, which must ensure continuous and reliable 5G coverage along key corridors.
Corporate Sustainability Reporting Directive HAC began the development of the ESG (Environmental, Social, and Governance) sustainability strategy of Croatian highways for the period from 2025 to 2030 with a view to 2050, with an Action Plan for implementation. The aim is to ensure the necessary activities for the start of reporting and the preparation of the HAC Sustainability Report, based on the entry into force of Directive (EU) 2022/2464 on corporate sustainability reporting (CSRD Directive).The development of the ESG Strategy is ongoing.
An analysis of the current state of sustainable development of the Company was developed.
In order to reduce the carbon footprint, measures are being implemented to replace existing lighting with LED lighting, electric charging stations for vehicles at rest areas are being built, and migration to free flow toll collection system without the need to stop vehicles is under way.
Scope 1 greenhouse gas emissions of the Company include greenhouse gas emissions at the locations of business units resulting from the combustion of fuel in stationary energy sources and greenhouse gas emissions resulting from mobile energy sources – vehicle fleet emissions.
Scope 2 greenhouse gas emissions include emissions that occur outside the Company's locations and are related to electricity consumption in all of the Company's facilities.
Scope 3 greenhouse gas emission monitoring systems will be established gradually according to available data, with an emphasis on establishing a methodology and raising awareness among suppliers about the need to provide data for the calculation of the Company's Scope 3 emissions.
As part of the ESG Strategy, reduced CO₂ emissions are addressed over three periods as follows:
In the short term (until 2027) - rapid implementation of necessary measuresThe Company should start with the most accessible and pragmatic activities and measures that bring quick results and create a basis for further steps.
In the medium term (until 2030) – Acceleration towards the EU 2030 goalsThe mid-term period culminates in 2030, when the EU expects to deliver on many targets (50% fewer deaths, 55% fewer emissions, 3 million chargers, more massive automation). For the Company, this means additional strengthening of efforts and completion of transformation projects started in the short term.
In the long term (after 2030) – Vision for sustainable and smart motorways 2040+After 2030, the strategic focus shifts to long-term goals for 2040 and 2050, in line with climate neutrality and fully integrated transport.
Click here to download the map of the Croatian motorway network - PDF format
Data as of 31/12/2024 (source: 2025 Statistical Bulletin)
