Airport Picking up a rental car at Pula Airport (PUY) is straightforward because the rental desks, baggage claim, and exit are all inside one compact terminal. This guide explains where to find the counters, what documents to bring, how deposits and insurance work, and how to drive from Valtursko polje into Pula, Rovinj, or the wider Istrian peninsula. Pula Airport (PUY) places the main rental counters in the arrivals hall, next to the baggage claim area and customs exit. SIXT, Enterprise, Alamo, AVIA Rent a Car, and Europcar are the most visible on-site desks, and several bookings from Hertz, Dollar, Goldcar, Last Minute Rent a Car, Nova Rent a Car, Flizzr, or National are commonly fulfilled by those same counter operators. The airport layout is compact, so the walk from the terminal main hall to the rental desk typically takes under two minutes. The pickup car park is directly outside the terminal, and the route into the city follows the local road network toward Valtursko polje and Pula’s southern ring roads. On-site and partner rental brands at Pula Airport (PUY): SIXT airport desk, often used for premium and compact rentals. Enterprise frequently handles partner brands such as Alamo and National. Alamo airport pickup via the shared rental counter. Europcar on-site desk with seasonal staffing. AVIA Rent a Car local and airport-focused supplier. Last Minute Rent a Car usually fulfilled through a partner counter. Nova Rent a Car often routed to a shared airport desk. 💡 Tip: If your voucher names a broker brand, the final supplier name matters more than the logo on the booking page, so read the pickup instructions before you enter the arrival hall. Pula Airport rental hours change by season because summer flight volume is higher and winter traffic is lower. In peak months, most desks cover late arrivals from Ryanair, easyJet, and Eurowings, while off-season pickups can require advance notice or a specific appointment time. According to airport-pula.hr and the individual suppliers’ counter policies, summer opening hours are usually longer than winter hours. Operator Typical summer hours Pickup note SIXT Some locations offer after-hours key drop-off for returns. Enterprise / Alamo / National Counter coverage often follows the last scheduled arrival. Europcar Confirm the exact closing time on the voucher. AVIA Rent a Car / Last Minute Rent a Car / Nova Rent a Car Seasonal staff coverage can vary by day. ⚠️ Warning: If your arrival is delayed into the night, call the local branch number shown on the voucher, because a missed pickup window can trigger a no-show fee or a next-day collection. A fast pickup at Pula Airport depends on matching the booking name, driver name, and payment card exactly. The standard document set for most suppliers in Istarska županija includes a valid driving licence, a passport or national ID card, and a credit card in the main driver’s name for the pre-authorisation. International Driving Permits are recommended by MUP for licences not printed in Latin script, especially for travellers holding documents in Cyrillic, Arabic, or Chinese. Credit card in the main driver’s name the desk places a security deposit pre-authorisation on this card. Valid driving licence most suppliers require at least 12 months of licence history. Passport or national ID the desk uses this to confirm identity. Booking voucher printed or digital, with the exact pickup location and supplier. IDP and licence note: EU, EEA, and UK licences are normally accepted without issue, while non-Latin licences are safer with an International Driving Permit and the original national licence. MUP guidance and local rental terms can still differ by operator, so the final approval always belongs to the counter agent. Pula Airport rentals usually combine a standard collision policy with an excess that you can reduce or remove by buying extra cover. A basic package may include CDW and TP, while upgraded packages can add SCDW or FDW and lower the excess/deductible to zero. The exact terms differ by supplier, but the core logic is the same: the cheaper the base rate, the higher the franchise or excess usually is. Coverage type What it usually does Typical effect on deposit CDW Covers collision damage with an excess/deductible. Pre-authorisation remains high. SCDW Reduces the damage excess. Deposit often decreases. FDW Can reduce the excess close to zero. Lower hold or zero excess package. TP Covers theft loss subject to conditions. Separate theft excess may still apply. Full coverage Bundles multiple protections. Usually marketed as “zero excess” or “full coverage.” 💡 Tip: If a desk offers zero excess, ask whether windscreen, tyres, underbody, and keys are included, because some “full coverage” products still exclude damage to those items. ⚠️ Warning: Third-party insurance can still be valid, but the rental desk may still place a pre-authorisation hold or require a damage excess guarantee until the contract is closed. Before you leave the pickup area near Pula Airport, inspect the car and document every visible mark. This is especially important for compact models such as the Fiat 500 and Renault Clio, where scratches on bumpers and alloy wheels are common on busy airport fleets. Photograph the dashboard, fuel level, tyres, windscreen, mirrors, and the roof so the return team cannot dispute pre-existing damage. Take photos and video record a full walk-around in daylight if possible. Mark existing damage ask the agent to note dents, scratches, and chips on the rental agreement. Check the cabin confirm mileage, fuel level, and warning lights. Test the essentials headlights, indicators, wipers, air conditioning, and infotainment. Verify legal equipment reflective vest, warning triangle, and first-aid kit should be present. Confirm the fuel policy full-to-full is the simplest option if the contract says so. 💡 Tip: A timestamped video from the airport parking bay is usually stronger evidence than a paper note alone if a later damage dispute reaches customer support or the insurer. A few problems recur at Pula Airport rentals: aggressive upselling of insurance, deposit disputes, fuel-charge arguments, and late-return penalties. The best defence is to compare the voucher with the counter agreement before you sign, and to keep copies of all receipts and photos. Croatian rental contracts often include an excess/deductible or franchise amount, so the final out-of-pocket risk matters more than the headline daily rate. Insurance upsell the agent may promote SCDW, FDW, or “full coverage,” even when you already booked CDW and TP through a broker. Higher-than-expected deposit ask for the exact pre-authorisation amount before you accept the keys. Fuel mismatch photograph the gauge when you leave and when you return. Late return charge even one extra hour can trigger another rental day on some contracts. If a dispute happens, stay calm, ask for the rental agreement number, and contact the booking provider or the local branch manager while the evidence is still fresh. Pula Airport sits in the southern part of Istria, so most first drives are short and easy on local roads. The route to Pula city centre passes through the Valtursko polje area, while longer trips toward Rovinj, Motovun, Grožnjan, or the Lim Bay turn-off can connect to the A8 and A9 motorway network, also known as the Istrian Y (Istarski ipsilon). Bina Istra operates those roads, and the toll system has been moving toward free-flow tolling with ENC and Crolibertas infrastructure under Hrvatske autoceste (HAC) and related national road authorities. Destination Approx. distance from PUY Typical drive time Notes Pula Arena / Forum Square / Temple of Augustus 6–7 km 12–15 min Central parking can be limited in summer. Medulin / Premantura / Cape Kamenjak (Rt Kamenjak) 10–15 km 15–25 min Good base for beaches and coastal drives. Rovinj 36–40 km 30–50 min Use local roads or the Istrian Y depending on traffic. Fažana / Brijuni National Park 15–20 km 20–30 min Check ferry timings if visiting Brijuni. 💡 Tip: For a day trip from Pula, a Renault Captur, Kia Stonic, or Peugeot 308 Auto gives more space than a Fiat 500 while still being easy to park near Riva, Giardini, or the Karolina lot. ⚠️ Warning: Drivers with a Croatian licence aged 24 or under fall under the mladi vozač rule in Article 222 ZSPC, so they may have to drive 10 km/h slower than the posted limit; that rule does not automatically apply to foreign-licence holders. Central Pula parking is regulated by Pula Parking, with current city guidance available on pulaparking.hr and pula.hr. Near the Pula Arena, the Karolina lot can reach €4 per hour in summer, while other central areas such as Dobrićeva garage and Giardini may be better for short sightseeing stops. Official tourism details from visitpula.hr and pulainfo.hr help with walking routes to the Roman amphitheatre, Sergijevaca, Forum Square, and the Temple of Augustus. Place Typical use Helpful note Karolina lot Arena visits Highest summer rate among central lots. Dobrićeva garage Central parking Useful for longer city-centre stays. Giardini Short visits Close to the Forum and Sergijevaca. Riva Waterfront access Good for promenade access near the harbour. Many Pula Airport rental contracts allow travel into Slovenia (review the cross-border declaration rules before you leave the counter) or Italy, but the booking terms should mention any cross-border fee and whether the vehicle includes a Green Card / zelena karta. If you plan to cross into Slovenia toward Trieste, Ljubljana, or Postojna Cave, or take a ferry from Brestova toward Cres and Lošinj, confirm the rules before departure and check whether the company requires prior written approval. 💡 Tip: For cross-border day trips, keep your rental agreement, Green Card / zelena karta, passport, and a charged phone with offline maps in the glove box before you leave Istria. Pula Airport and central Pula both host a broad mix of international and local suppliers, and the exact desk or pickup point depends on the reservation channel. The names below are common in Pula, although some operate through partner counters rather than their own branded office. SIXT: Airport and city rentals with compact options such as Fiat 500, Renault Clio, and Renault Captur, plus larger cars like Audi A4 on selected bookings. Enterprise: Frequently manages shared airport pickups and partner reservations, including Alamo and National, with economy and family cars. Europcar: Offers airport-based rentals and seasonal fleet availability, often including Renault Megane, Peugeot 308 Auto, and SUV categories. AVIA Rent: A local airport-focused provider that often serves flexible short-stay rentals and winter bookings. Last Minute Rent a Car: Commonly used for late bookings, with airport desk handoff through a partner supplier. Nova Rent a Car: A regional supplier that may offer lower-cost compact cars and straightforward airport pickups. HAK Pula (Hrvatski Autoklub): Useful as an emergency roadside and travel-information reference point in Istria, especially when checking local traffic, towing, or winter-road advice. Hertz, Dollar, National, Goldcar, Carwiz, Active, AddCar, Autowill, Surprice, Right Cars, Prestigio, and Flizzr: These brands may appear in Pula through partner desks, broker channels, or seasonal fleets, so the voucher supplier name is the one to trust at pickup. Pula Airport fleets usually include small city cars, compact hatchbacks, SUVs, and a limited number of premium sedans. Availability changes by date, but the models below are common reference points for comparison when checking prices and luggage space. Fleet model Typical class Best use case Fiat 500 Mini Two adults, short city parking, low fuel use. Renault Clio Economy Affordable airport pickup and easy urban driving. Kia Stonic Compact SUV Higher seating position for mixed road and coast travel. Renault Megane Compact Balanced choice for couples or small families. Renault Captur Compact SUV Good boot space for beach gear and day trips. Dacia Jogger 7-seater / estate Family travel and larger luggage loads. Peugeot 308 Auto Automatic compact Smooth driving for motorway and city use. Audi A4 Premium sedan Business travel and longer highway routes. Mercedes E-Class Luxury sedan Comfort-focused travel on longer Istrian routes.