Good news for travelers to Croatia: Since Tuesday, August 11, 2026, the state-capped fuel prices have been falling. However, anyone driving to the Adriatic by car, motorhome, or with a trailer should know where to refuel – as the price caps don’t apply at motorway service stations.
Following the sharp price jumps at the end of July, Croatia is once again turning the tide at the pump. The government in Zagreb has decided on new maximum fuel prices, initially valid for seven days. The background is the continued practice of state intervention: trade margins are capped, while the government keeps the previously lowered excise duties at a reduced level.
For Eurosuper 95, a maximum of 1.56 euros per liter is now due – six cents less than before. Diesel costs 1.71 euros, four cents less. “Plavi dizel,” intended mainly for agriculture and fishing, drops three cents to 1.18 euros. LPG is also becoming cheaper.
For motorists, the savings are quite measurable: For a 50-liter fill-up, that amounts to three euros less for petrol and two euros less for diesel compared to the prices of the past two weeks. At the end of July, the maximum prices had risen to 1.62 and 1.75 euros respectively.
Even more pronounced is the effect of the state price brake compared to an unregulated market. According to calculations by the Croatian government, without these measures petrol would currently cost around 1.71 euros and diesel as much as 1.91 euros per liter. For 50 liters, that works out to a saving of 7.50 euros on petrol and ten euros on diesel.
Motorway alert: Taking the exit can pay off
For vacationers, however, the most important detail is in the fine print: the regulated maximum prices do not apply at service stations on Croatian motorways. There, fuel prices can be higher. Anyone planning a break anyway can therefore save money by leaving the motorway to refuel and heading to a regular fuel station in town or on a country road.
Service tip: Don’t automatically reach for the more expensive premium grade – look specifically for regular Eurosuper 95 or standard diesel instead. And anyone heading to Croatia in the coming days should keep in mind: the new pricing rule initially applies for only seven days – after that, prices will be recalculated.
