Getting Your Car to Hvar — Ferry Guide & Rental Tips Split to Stari Grad Car Ferry (Jadrolinija Line 635) Jadrolinija Line 635: Estimated 2026 Prices (One-Way) Book Your Ferry Early in Summer Drvenik to Sućuraj Car Ferry (Jadrolinija Line 632) Jadrolinija Line 632: Estimated 2026 Prices (One-Way) Can You Take a Rental Car on the Hvar Ferry? Rent on the Mainland or on Hvar? Getting to Hvar Without a Car Hvar by Road, Rail Link, and Island Access: What the Location Means FAQ Can I take a rental car on the Split to Hvar ferry? Yes, a rental car can take the Split–Stari Grad ferry if Jadrolinija allows the booking and the rental company permits island travel. Jadrolinija asks for the rental contract and registration papers, and 2026 one-way pricing is €41.50 for car plus driver off-season or €56.00 in high season. The exception is a rental contract that bans ferry use or requires extra preauthorisation. Which Hvar ferry is cheaper, Split–Stari Grad or Drvenik–Sućuraj? Drvenik–Sućuraj is cheaper in direct ferry fare terms, because the 2026 car-plus-driver price is €15.90 off-season and €23.80 in high season. Split–Stari Grad costs €41.50 off-season and €56.00 in high season, but it lands closer to Hvar Town and is easier for most island itineraries. The exception is travelers whose itinerary starts in southern Dalmatia, because Sućuraj can save time despite the harder inland drive. Do I need CDW or full coverage for a Hvar rental? CDW is usually the minimum protection travelers see, while SCDW or FDW with zero excess reduces the amount payable after damage. A standard rental can still leave an excess/deductible or franchise of several hundred euros, and some companies require a card preauthorisation before handing over the car. The caveat is that third-party liability or TPL may be included by law, but it does not cover damage to the rented vehicle itself. Is it better to rent a car in Split or on Hvar? Renting on Hvar is usually better for trips of three days or more, because it avoids the ferry crossing and island surcharge. Local agencies such as Antonio Rent, SunCity, and Luka Rent can hand over a vehicle at Stari Grad port or Hvar Town, while mainland rentals often have wider fleet choice and lower base rates. The exception is a same-day island hop or a one-night stay, where Split pickup can still be more practical. Can I visit wineries and beaches without a car? Yes, but a car is the most efficient way to reach inland wineries and less-served beaches. A ferry-and-car-free itinerary can still reach Hvar Town, the Pakleni Islands, and some bus-linked settlements such as Stari Grad, Jelsa, Vrboska, and Sućuraj. The caveat is that places like Dubovica, Jagodna, Malo Zarace, Ivan Dolac, and Sveta Nedjelja are much easier with a car or scooter. Getting Your Car to Hvar — Ferry Guide & Rental Tips Hvar is an island in Split-Dalmatia County on the Adriatic, and bringing a car there is mostly a timing and paperwork question: the Split–Stari Grad car ferry takes about 120 minutes, the Drvenik–Sućuraj ferry takes about 30–35 minutes, and rental cars are allowed only when both Jadrolinija rules and the rental company's island policy are followed. For most travelers, the deciding factors are the route, the vehicle height, and whether the car is rented locally in Hvar Town, Stari Grad, or Jelsa. Ferry Guide Split to Stari Grad Car Ferry (Jadrolinija Line 635) Jadrolinija Line 635 is the main car ferry for Hvar, and it connects Split with Stari Grad in about 120 minutes across the Adriatic. In 2026, the published one-way fare is €41.50 for a car plus driver in off-season and €56.00 in high season, while a standard car up to 5 meters long and 2 meters high is €35.60 off-season and €47.60 in high season. Jadrolinija Line 635: Estimated 2026 Prices (One-Way) Ticket Type Off-Season High Season Adult passenger Standard car ≤5m, ≤2m height Car + driver one-way Car + driver round trip Large car/van >5m OR >2m high This route is the best fit for most visitors heading to Hvar Town, Stari Grad Plain, Brusje, Malo Grablje, Velo Grablje, Pitve, Zavala, Sveta Nedjelja, Dubovica, Jagodna, Malo Zarace, Ivan Dolac, and the Pakleni Islands area because the Stari Grad port gives the most flexible island arrival point. The operational rule that matters most is boarding: Jadrolinija uses first-come, first-served embarkation, so arriving 60–90 minutes before sailing is the practical benchmark, especially in July and August. Vehicle height is an important price trigger on Hvar ferries, and a roof box can move a booking from the standard-car band to the large-vehicle band. Croatian Roads (Hrvatske Ceste) maintains the island's road network, and the route from Stari Grad toward Hvar Town is easier than the Sućuraj approach for drivers carrying luggage, children, or a larger rental. Arriving Under Sail Instead of Queueing for the Ferry. Hvar is one of the anchors of the Adriatic sailing scene, and the charter bases that feed it — Marina Kaštela, ACI Marina Trogir and Marina Split — sit on the same mainland shore as the Line 635 ferry ramp. From those berths, Hvar Town, ACI Marina Palmižana on the Pakleni Islands, Vis and the Biševo Blue Cave form a standard week-long route, with no first-come boarding queue and no vehicle-height price band. A charter concierge compares boats, checks skipper availability and handles the paperwork before you commit. Compare yacht charters in Split. Book Your Ferry Early in Summer July and August sailings fill fast — arrive 60-90 minutes before departure for boarding Drvenik to Sućuraj Car Ferry (Jadrolinija Line 632) Jadrolinija Line 632 connects Drvenik with Sućuraj in about 30–35 minutes, and the one-way published fare in 2026 is €15.90 for car plus driver in off-season and €23.80 in high season. The adult passenger fare is €2.40 off-season and €4.10 in high season, which makes this the cheapest car-ferry option for reaching eastern Hvar. Jadrolinija Line 632: Estimated 2026 Prices (One-Way) Ticket Type Off-Season High Season Adult passenger Standard car ≤5m Car + driver one-way Car + driver round trip The main caveat is the road after Sućuraj, because the 36-kilometer drive toward the island's central road can be narrow and winding, which matters more for larger cars such as a Nissan Qashqai, Škoda Octavia, or Mercedes E. The route is practical for confident drivers in compact models like a VW Up, VW Polo, Opel Corsa, Fiat 500, Toyota Yaris Hybrid, Seat Arona, Audi A3, or VW Beetle Cabrio, while a Suzuki Jimny or a work-oriented vehicle can still be useful on rougher island access roads. Sućuraj is also the better ferry choice for travelers approaching from the Dubrovnik side or from southern Dalmatia, because the crossing is short and the port turnaround is efficient. HAK (Croatian Auto Club) and local traffic updates are worth checking on travel days because summer queues, wind, and roadworks can change the practical travel time. Can You Take a Rental Car on the Hvar Ferry? Yes, a rental car can board a Hvar ferry if the rental agreement allows ferry travel and the ferry operator accepts the vehicle documents. Jadrolinija asks for the original rental contract and the registration papers, and the booking form typically accepts "RENTAL" instead of a fixed plate number when the car has not yet been assigned a license plate. The insurance detail matters more than the ferry ticket, because many rental contracts require preauthorisation for island use or add a ferry surcharge to the booking. Typical protection terms in Croatia include CDW, SCDW, FDW, zero excess, excess/deductible, franchise, third-party liability, and TPL, and the exact coverage level determines whether damage on embarkation, boarding, or while parked on Hvar remains the renter's financial risk. A preauthorisation hold on a card is common, and the size often depends on whether the rental is bought with full coverage or a zero-excess package. Local and international agencies can differ sharply on ferry permissions, and a rental from Antonio Rent, SunCity, Luka Rent, Real Hvar, Dino Rent, Lutar, Rapidus, Hvar Quads, Basetina Rent, Hvar Life, or Hvar-Unlimited should be checked in writing before payment. The practical rule is simple: if the rental desk does not explicitly confirm ferry travel, the renter should assume the island crossing is not included and should ask whether an island fee, SCDW upgrade, or preauthorisation increase applies. Rent on the Mainland or on Hvar? Renting on the mainland usually gives the widest fleet choice, while renting on Hvar usually reduces ferry time and paperwork. A Split Airport pickup can offer models such as a VW Up, VW Polo, Opel Corsa, Fiat 500, Toyota Yaris Hybrid, Seat Arona, Nissan Qashqai, Škoda Octavia, Audi A3, or Mercedes E at a lower base rate, but the total trip often includes a ferry ticket, waiting time, and a possible island surcharge. Renting locally on Hvar is often the more efficient choice for stays of three days or more, because the island agencies can hand over the vehicle at Stari Grad port or in Hvar Town without a ferry crossing. For Hvar road conditions and driving tips, see our driving guide. Antonio Rent, SunCity, Luka Rent, Real Hvar, Dino Rent, Lutar, Rapidus, Hvar Quads, Basetina Rent, Hvar Life, and Hvar-Unlimited are the main names travelers compare, and the best fit depends on whether the trip needs a compact city car, a family SUV, or a small off-road option for village roads and beaches. For sightseeing and winery visits, a local car also makes it easier to reach Zlatan Otok, Duboković, Vina Carić, Tomić, Pavičić, Lacman, and Vujnović, plus village roads to Jelsa, Vrboska, Pitve, Brusje, and the interior around Stari Grad Plain. A practical benchmark is that a local rental removes the ferry line item entirely, while a mainland rental usually adds ferry cost plus island-use conditions in the contract. Getting to Hvar Without a Car Hvar can be reached without bringing a vehicle, and the fastest passenger-only option is the catamaran from Split to Hvar Town. Kapetan Luka, Krilo, and Jadrolinija all operate passenger catamarans on Adriatic routes, and the sailing time is roughly one hour with fares commonly around €25 per person. This option works well for travelers heading to Hvar Town, the waterfront, or day trips to the Pakleni Islands, because water taxis and local boats can handle the final transfer. On the island, roads and services are supported by INA fuel stations, HEP ELEN charging points, Fontik d.o.o. parking or services where available, Hvar Parking, Bmove, and PayDo, so a traveler can combine bus, taxi, ferry, and walking without needing a mainland car. A bus is still useful for point-to-point travel between Hvar Town, Stari Grad, Jelsa, Vrboska, Sućuraj, and nearby settlements, but the schedule is less flexible than self-driving. For beaches and inland villages such as Dubovica, Jagodna, Malo Zarace, Ivan Dolac, Pitve, Sveta Nedjelja, Zavala, Brusje, Velo Grablje, and Malo Grablje, a car or scooter remains the most time-efficient option — compare scooter and e-bike rental options to find the right fit. Hvar by Road, Rail Link, and Island Access: What the Location Means Hvar has no rail link, so all vehicle access depends on the ferry network and the island road layout managed in practice through Croatian Roads (Hrvatske Ceste) and local port operations. The island's main driving axes connect Stari Grad to Hvar Town and the eastern route from Sućuraj, and the physical geography of the Kabal Peninsula and the southern village roads affects travel time more than the ferry crossing itself. The most useful decision points are Hvar Town versus Stari Grad, because the town center favors catamarans and foot travel, while Stari Grad favors car ferries and rental pick-ups. For travelers comparing beaches and villages, the road access to Pokonji Dol, Dubovica, Jagodna, Malo Zarace, Ivan Dolac, Sveta Nedjelja, Zavala, and the upper settlements near Pitve and Brusje is best planned around the available parking and ferry arrival time. For travelers continuing through the Dalmatian islands, Korcula ferry planning notes help compare onward ferry timing, arrival logistics, and whether collecting a car after the crossing is easier. FAQ Ready to explore Hvar Island? Compare car rental deals from local agencies.