The Croatian competition authority, AZTN, has officially closed an administrative procedure initiated on January 11, 2022, against several driving schools, including Kružni tok d.o.o., Auto škola Hajduk d.o.o., Obrt Auto škola Dalmacija, and Obrt Croatia Start. The investigation aimed to determine whether these entities had entered into a prohibited horizontal agreement regarding the pricing of driver training services, in violation of Article 8 of the Competition Protection Act (ZZTN).

The investigation was prompted by a complaint received in July 2021, which indicated potential price-fixing among driving schools in the Split area, as well as alleged pressures on schools that did not wish to participate in such agreements. AZTN conducted a thorough examination of the market, collecting data from the Croatian Automobile Club and analyzing official price lists, statements from the complainant, and other available information.

During the administrative procedure, AZTN undertook a comprehensive fact-finding mission, which included unannounced searches of the premises of two businesses, gathering statements from the parties involved, analyzing communications related to the complaint, and a detailed review of price movements among the driving schools from 2020 to 2023.

Upon evaluating all evidence, AZTN concluded that there were no indications of coordinated actions or prohibited price agreements among the parties involved. The analysis revealed that the prices of individual driving schools changed independently of one another, and in some cases, price levels were established prior to the alleged meeting where an agreement was supposed to be reached. Furthermore, the same driving schools did not consistently maintain identical prices across all their locations.

Since the investigation did not establish the existence of a prohibited agreement under Article 8 of the ZZTN or any other circumstances justifying further proceedings, AZTN decided to terminate the investigation.

AZTN emphasized that coordinated actions among businesses regarding prices, sales conditions, or other business elements represent one of the most serious forms of market distortion. Therefore, it is crucial for businesses to avoid any exchange of sensitive business information during contacts, meetings, or associations that could lead to coordinated behavior. Transparent and independent pricing and business policies are fundamental to fair market competition and consumer protection. AZTN will continue to monitor market developments and ensure compliance with the ZZTN to prevent actions that distort competition and ensure equal conditions for all market participants.