About Avax Rent a Car

Avax Rent a Car is operated by Fuerte d.o.o., a Croatian company headquartered at Obala Lazareta 3 in Split. The company was founded in 2016 by director Vedran Vukusic with a straightforward goal: to build a car rental service in Croatia that travelers could actually trust. At the time, Croatia's rental market was dominated by international franchise brands and small operators with opaque pricing. Vedran saw an opportunity to create something different — a locally owned agency that combined the professionalism of larger chains with the personal attention and flexibility that only an independent operator can provide.

Avax launched with a modest fleet at Split Airport (SPU), serving the steady stream of tourists arriving on Croatia's Dalmatian coast. The early years were focused on perfecting the customer experience: streamlining the pickup process, ensuring every vehicle was thoroughly cleaned and mechanically inspected before each rental, and training staff to communicate clearly in multiple languages. Word spread quickly through online reviews, and by 2018 the company had expanded to Dubrovnik Airport (DBV) — Croatia's second-busiest gateway — followed by Zagreb Airport (ZAG) in the capital and Zadar Airport (ZAD) on the northern coast. Each new location added city-center pickup points and a meet-and-greet delivery service for guests staying at hotels, apartments, and cruise ports.

A key milestone came when Avax eliminated the deposit requirement for customers choosing the Premium insurance package, making it one of the first car rental companies in Croatia to offer zero-deposit rentals. This removed a major pain point: many travelers arriving from the UK, Scandinavia, and other European countries had grown accustomed to large deposit holds blocking hundreds of euros on their cards. Avax also introduced debit card acceptance for economy vehicles, removing one of the biggest barriers for budget-conscious travelers who do not carry credit cards. In 2022, the company expanded its cross-border policy to include free travel to Montenegro, Bosnia and Herzegovina, and Slovenia on rentals of three days or more — a policy that remains rare among Croatian rental agencies.

Today, Avax operates a fleet of over 200 vehicles across 16 categories — from fuel-efficient city cars and compact hatchbacks to spacious estate wagons, seven-seat minivans, and premium automatic SUVs. The company serves more than 15,000 customers annually, maintains a 4.7-star rating on Trustpilot and a 4.9-star rating on Google based on over 438 verified reviews, and supports its website and booking platform in 20 languages. Avax holds Croatian tourism license HR-AB-21-060411211 and operates under VAT identification number HR71550144918.

We believe renting a car in Croatia should be simple, transparent, and stress-free. Our mission is to make car rental accessible to everyone — no credit card required for economy vehicles, no hidden fees added at the counter, and no unpleasant surprises on your final invoice. Just a well-maintained car, clear pricing that matches what you saw online, and a team that genuinely cares about your experience.

Every decision we make — from our insurance structure to our fuel policy to the way we train our staff — is guided by one question: would we be happy with this experience as a customer? That standard has earned us a 4.7-star Trustpilot rating and a 4.9-star Google rating built on hundreds of genuine reviews from travelers who visited Croatia and chose Avax over larger international alternatives.

Avax is led by founder and director Vedran Vukusic, who oversees daily operations and sets the strategic direction of the company from its headquarters in Split. The team includes fleet managers responsible for vehicle procurement, maintenance scheduling, and seasonal allocation across locations; customer service agents who handle reservations, modifications, and post-rental support in multiple languages; and on-the-ground station staff at each airport and city pickup point who manage check-ins, vehicle inspections, and handovers.

Every front-desk employee receives training in conflict resolution, local travel advice, and the technical details of each insurance tier, so customers get accurate information rather than a sales pitch. The company maintains a dedicated 24/7 roadside assistance line staffed around the clock, ensuring that any mechanical issue, flat tire, or lockout is resolved promptly regardless of location or time of day.

Unlike multinational rental chains that apply standardized global policies, Avax is a fully independent Croatian agency. This independence gives us the flexibility to adapt quickly to local conditions — whether that means adjusting pricing during off-peak shoulder seasons, offering tailored packages for island-hopping itineraries along the Adriatic, or accommodating last-minute pickup location changes without the bureaucratic overhead of a corporate hierarchy. When you call Avax, you speak directly with the team that manages the fleet, not a remote call center in another country.

Being locally based also means we have first-hand knowledge of Croatian roads, ferry schedules, toll systems, and border crossing requirements. Our staff regularly advises customers on the best routes to national parks like Plitvice Lakes and Krka, coastal drives along the Makarska Riviera, and practical tips for navigating the narrow streets of Dubrovnik's Old Town or parking near Diocletian's Palace in Split. This local expertise is something no international brand can replicate.