ZAGREB, 20 Jan 2025 (Hina) – In 2024, there were 214,224 first-time vehicle registrations at technical inspection stations in Croatia, which is an increase of 23,401 vehicles, or 12%, compared to the previous year. The average age of vehicles was 14.6 years, the same as in 2023, according to the Croatian Vehicle Centre.
Last year, 159,563 vehicles were deregistered, marking an annual increase of 20.6%. A total of 2,446,940 driving licences were extended, which is 4.2% more than the previous year.
According to the Croatian Vehicle Centre, in 2024, a total of 2,497,056 regular technical inspections were carried out for vehicles of all categories, and 427,256 vehicles, or 17%, were found to be defective.
A defective vehicle had six faults on average. The most common issues were found with devices that ensure normal visibility (22.9%) and braking devices (22.3%).
The average age of passenger cars was 13.9 years, while the total average age of vehicles was 14.6 years, representing the first stagnation in the average age of vehicles in Croatia for quite some time.
Growth in hybrid vehicles
There has also been significant growth in the number of hybrid vehicles. In 2024, 70,608 hybrid vehicles were registered in Croatia, compared to 44,311 in 2023. The number of registered electric vehicles in 2024 was 9,987, which is also a significant increase compared to 2023, when there were 7,032.
Tomislav Škreblin, Assistant Director for Technical Affairs at the Croatian Vehicle Centre, says that the results from 2024 indicate positive shifts in the vehicle fleet, but also highlight the ongoing need to raise awareness about technical compliance.
“After a long time, we’ve finally had a year in which the average age of the fleet hasn’t increased. We hope that this stagnation in the average age signals a new trend of reducing the average age of vehicles in Croatia. However, nearly six faults per defective vehicle indicate that vehicle owners need as much information as possible about how to identify and repair faults in time, thereby improving their own safety and that of other road users,” said Škreblin.
Proper vehicle maintenance, which is still below the European average, increases not only safety but also the lifespan of vehicles, reduces fuel consumption, and lessens their environmental impact, he added.
