Croatia faces a multitude of structural problems, the most pressing of which include demographic collapse, unbalanced economic development reliant on tourism, an outdated education system, and a healthcare system riddled with deficiencies. These are complex issues that cannot be solved overnight but rather require years to “straighten out the kinks.” However, some important administrative and technical decisions require a significantly shorter time frame. One of the pressing issues that can be resolved—not necessarily overnight, but certainly quickly—is the introduction of uniform license plates for vehicles, eliminating city names.
In the early years of independence, Croatia inherited license plates from the former Yugoslavia. New plates were introduced in 1992, when the country became independent and internationally recognized. Three years after Croatia joined the European Union in 2016, a modernized design was introduced, incorporating the EU emblem. However, a key element remained on the plates: city codes. Codes such as RI, ZG, ST, OS, and ZD have proven problematic, as they make vehicles targets for vandals who destroy and damage them—and sometimes even attack the drivers and passengers inside.
Two Motives for Attacks
Criminals commit these acts for two main reasons. The first is regional animosity—hostility toward Dalmatians, Istrians, Rijeka residents, Zagreb residents, and Slavonians. The fact that hatred toward people from different Croatian regions can drive some individuals to acts of vandalism should not be underestimated. The second and more prevalent reason is football-related. Delinquents vandalize vehicles because they assume they are owned by supporters of Dinamo, Rijeka, Hajduk, Osijek, or another football club. Hooligan violence, fueled by football rivalries, has been a major issue for several decades.
As expected, the worst cases involve cars with Split license plates in Zagreb and those with Zagreb plates in Split and Dalmatia. The situation is equally bad for Rijeka plates in Split and Split plates in Rijeka. Vehicle damage incidents involving these plates occur almost weekly, causing losses ranging from hundreds to thousands of euros. Most of these incidents go unnoticed by the general public. The irony is that vandals fail to consider that the vehicle owners may not even support the football clubs from their registered cities.
Benefits for Individuals
Introducing uniform license plates across Croatia would be a highly beneficial move for several reasons. It would eliminate vehicle damages such as tire punctures, scratches, dents, and broken windows, as well as more severe incidents like vehicle arson. At the same time, drivers and passengers would no longer be targets of physical attacks by hooligans, which have also occasionally occurred.
Benefits for Institutions
This change would also benefit Croatia’s healthcare system, as emergency services would not have to treat victims of these attacks, saving public funds on medical care. The elimination of these incidents would free up the police and judiciary, allowing them to focus on other cases rather than investigating and prosecuting perpetrators. The police already face staffing shortages and a wide range of responsibilities, while Croatia’s judiciary has been in disarray for decades. Insurance companies would also benefit, as they would no longer need to allocate resources to compensate for damages covered under comprehensive insurance policies. The money saved could be redirected to other sectors.
Benefits for Society and the Country
Standardizing license plates would improve vehicle identification across Croatia, enhancing security and traffic monitoring efficiency. Not only individuals but also businesses—especially transport companies—would benefit. Additionally, costs would be reduced, and the process of transferring vehicle ownership between different cities would be simplified. For example, a vehicle sold from Split to Zagreb could retain its existing plates. Estimates suggest that such a move could prevent costs amounting to tens of millions of euros annually due to vehicle damages, personal injuries, insurance claims, and legal expenses.
Most importantly, removing city codes would reduce the potential for social and political tensions based on regional affiliation, contributing to a more stable social climate. People could travel more freely across Croatia for business, family, tourism, or football-related reasons without worrying about whether the parking garage or lot where they leave their car has security cameras to identify potential vandals.
Decision Coming in the Future
Uniform license plates could be introduced in a manner similar to Bosnia and Herzegovina—this is one of the few things Croatia should emulate from BiH. Similar systems exist in Belgium and France. However, given Croatia’s political and social climate, it is unlikely that uniform plates will be introduced in the near future. Nevertheless, sooner or later, decision-makers will recognize this as a necessary and beneficial step.
Author: Matija Šerić
