Foreign-plated vehicles raise new questions over illegal taxi operations in Croatia

ZADAR, 4 September 2026 – Illegal taxi operations remain a persistent issue in Croatia, particularly during the busy tourist season, but local drivers in Zadar are now raising concerns over a newer phenomenon – foreign-registered vehicles allegedly operating taxi services without the necessary authorisation.

Taxi drivers say they have documented vehicles with registration plates from Austria, Poland, the Czech Republic and the Netherlands picking up passengers and offering rides in Croatia, HRT reports.

According to the Initiative of Taxi Drivers and the Platform Drivers’ Union, some of these operators are openly advertising their services across various platforms and meeting customers directly.

“They operate without any questions being asked,” representatives of the initiative said, raising concerns over what they describe as unlicensed activity in the Croatian market.

Zadar taxi driver Vlatko Cvetkoski said reports had already been submitted to the relevant institutions, but questioned why more action had not followed.

“We have reported all of this properly. The bigger question is why nobody is responding to our reports when we have already reported them to all the institutions,” he said.

Cvetkoski said some of those operating were not technically taxi drivers, but people allegedly working illegally and charging passengers in cash. He also claimed that some had POS terminals for accepting card payments.

He said around 70% of drivers were operating without cards, while under Croatia’s new taxi regulations, both police and municipal enforcement officers have powers to intervene in certain cases.

Police confirm action

Zadar police have confirmed that they have acted following reports concerning the unauthorised provision of taxi transport using foreign-registered vehicles.

Police said documentation collected following the reports had been forwarded to the State Inspectorate and the competent road transport inspectorate within the Ministry of the Sea, Transport and Infrastructure for further action.

Attempts were made to contact an inspector for further comment, but no response was received.

The issue has become a source of growing frustration among some local taxi drivers.

Antonio Perić, who has worked as a taxi driver for five years, questioned why the problem appeared to be continuing despite complaints.

“It is obvious that someone is involved or that they are not interested,” he said.

Taxi representatives are also calling for tighter controls over the number of vehicles operating on the market.

Ivan Bulat of the Zadar Taxi Drivers’ Association said authorities needed to take stronger action against vehicles being used for what the association considers illegal operations.

“This is absurd. We are asking institutions to start carrying out controls in such a way that vehicles are confiscated because this cannot continue,” he said.

Taxi drivers have also raised suspicions of possible corruption, although no evidence of corruption has been established in the information provided.

Cvetkoski said new legislation was being introduced but questioned whether it was being properly implemented.

The concerns come as Croatia’s coastal destinations experience a surge in demand for taxi and platform transport during the peak tourist season, placing additional pressure on the sector and on authorities responsible for enforcing transport regulations.

Police have confirmed that the reports involving foreign-registered vehicles have been passed to the relevant inspection authorities, which are responsible for determining whether offences or violations have occurred.