Can I take a car from Split to Hvar?
The Split to Hvar ferry for cars is Jadrolinija's line 635, from Split to Stari Grad on Hvar. It does not go to Hvar town. The fast boats to Hvar town carry foot passengers only: Jadrolinija's catamaran on that route, line 641, takes no vehicles, and Jadrolinija carries cars only on its ferry lines.
Only two of Hvar's four passenger harbours take cars, so for car hire in Split the crossing to plan around is the ferry terminal near Stari Grad. The other is Sućuraj at the island's eastern tip, linked to Drvenik on the mainland.
Am I allowed to take my hire car on the ferry?
Yes, with prior arrangement. The rental conditions for Croatia allow a ferry crossing between the mainland and the islands only when it has been arranged with customer support before the booking is completed; the email address is in the rental conditions. Arrange it first, then book the ferry.
The rental conditions say no more about the crossing than that it needs arranging. The cover on a hire car at its standard level excludes the wheels, the undercarriage, the windscreen and the interior.
How long is the car ferry crossing?
About two hours: 110 minutes one way in Jadrolinija's 2026 timetable, 120 minutes on its line page. The timetable has separate tables for the off-season, the season and the high season, so check the sailings for your date on Jadrolinija's line page rather than relying on last year's.
From the Stari Grad ferry port, Stari Grad town is 1.5 km, Jelsa 11 km and Hvar town 20 km. With a night on the island between two driving days, Hvar works as an island stop on a road trip down the coast.
Do I need to book the car ferry in advance?
On this line, the vehicle ticket is the booking. A car ticket for Split to Stari Grad is also a reservation for the departure you choose, bought on Jadrolinija's website, in the mJadrolinija app or at a Jadrolinija sales point. A vehicle ticket asks for the car's registration document. If you book before you know the hire car's number plate, Jadrolinija's own advice is to type RENTAL in the plate field.
Car fares on Jadrolinija depend on the car's length and height, in two bands for cars of up to nine seats: up to 5.00 m long and 2.00 m high, or above either. Each passenger, the driver included, pays a separate fare. The fares are published per line on Jadrolinija's site.
How early should I get to the port with the car?
At least 45 minutes before departure, and 60 minutes in the summer season: that is Jadrolinija's instruction for drivers with a ticket on this line. The ferries leave from Split's city port, the harbour in the centre of town, where Jadrolinija's Split agency is on Gat sv. Duje. The berth is assigned per sailing by the port authority and listed on its live timetable, so check it on the day.
Do not wait in the boarding lanes unless your car is boarding. The Port of Split Authority prohibits parking in the ferry lanes for cars that are not boarding and announced legal proceedings against offenders from 7 July 2025.
| From | To | Time | Distance |
|---|---|---|---|
| Split Airport | Split ferry port | 35 minutes | 25 km |
| Split ferry port | Stari Grad ferry port | about 110 minutes by ferry | line 635 |
| Stari Grad ferry port | Hvar town | no time given | 20 km |
Road times are without traffic or stops, rounded up to five minutes; the ferry time is the 2026 timetable.
Collecting the car before the ferry
Most Split hire cars are collected at Split Airport, 35 minutes from the ferry port without traffic; for 5 October to 19 October 2026, 64 of the 84 Split cars were collected there. In summer, traffic in the direction of Split can be heavy, so allow for that, the pick-up itself and the 45 or 60 minutes Jadrolinija asks for at the port when you choose a sailing on your arrival day.
The same search covers every pick-up airport, so a trip that crosses to Hvar from Split can still end elsewhere, with a drop-off in another city such as Dubrovnik or Zagreb once you are back on the mainland. The drop-off charge for a one-way is inside the price shown for the car.
Costs to budget on the island
The ferry ticket is a Jadrolinija ticket, bought from Jadrolinija. Fuel, parking and fines stay the renter's to pay under the rental conditions, on the island as on the mainland. The car goes back with the fuel level it left with.
Frequently asked questions
Is Stari Grad the same as Hvar Town?
No. The car ferry lands at the Stari Grad ferry port, and Hvar town is 20 km away.
What is the difference between the car ferry and the catamaran?
The car ferry, line 635, takes vehicles to Stari Grad. The catamaran to Hvar town carries foot passengers only.
Does my ticket reserve a place on a specific sailing?
On the Split to Stari Grad line, yes: a vehicle ticket is also a reservation for the departure you choose. Type RENTAL in the plate field if you do not know the plate yet.
Which port in Split does the ferry leave from?
Split's city port, the harbour in the centre of town. The berth is assigned per sailing and shown on the port authority's live timetable.