According to the latest figures from the Croatian Vehicle Centre (CVH), the average age of cars cruising the country’s roads is a creaky 13.3 years, while the overall vehicle average is an even rustier 14.8 years.
In the first half of 2025, 112,369 first-time vehicle registrations were clocked – a 3.3% dip from last year – proving that while Croatians love their wheels, they’re not exactly in a rush to upgrade.
But it’s not all doom and diesel fumes. Sales of brand-new cars are on the up, with 41,825 shiny new motors hitting the roads between January and June, up from 39,486 in the same period last year. Used imports are still king, though – 45,799 second-hand cars were registered for the first time, beating last year’s figure of 44,342.
Petrol vs Diesel vs… Electric?
When it comes to fuel, it’s a tale of two tanks. Petrol-powered cars dominated the new market (48.2%), while used car buyers still have a soft spot for diesel workhorses (58.8%).
And what about electric cars, the supposed future of driving? Well, the spark seems to be fading. Electric vehicle (EV) registrations plummeted 19% compared to the first half of 2024. Only 1,138 EVs were registered this year – and of those, just 393 were new, down from 790 last year.
However, there’s a bright(ish) side – second-hand EVs are gaining traction, with 745 registered so far this year, up from 625.
Meanwhile, hybrids continue to quietly take over. A whopping 17,351 hybrids and 2,531 plug-in hybrids joined the Croatian fleet, along with 913 LPG-fuelled cars.