Driving in Montenegro Licence & IDP Requirements Key Traffic Laws Blood Alcohol Limit Speed Limits Mandatory Equipment Winter Tyres & Mountain Driving Deposits, Insurance & Excess Border Crossings Road Conditions & Practical Tips Useful Resources Frequently Asked Questions Do I need an International Driving Permit for Montenegro? What is the drink-driving limit in Montenegro? Can I drive a rental car from Montenegro to Croatia? How much is the rental deposit in Montenegro? What are the speed limits in Montenegro? Are toll roads common in Montenegro? Ready to book your car? Driving in Montenegro — IDP, Laws, Deposits & Borders Driving in Montenegro Last updated: March 2026 Montenegro is a compact country with dramatic landscapes — towering mountains, deep canyons, and a winding Adriatic coastline. A rental car is by far the best way to explore it all, but the driving conditions here are quite different from what most UK, US, or Australian visitors are used to. This guide covers the essential rules, licence requirements, and practical tips you need before getting behind the wheel. Licence & IDP Requirements Drive on the right — International Driving Permit strongly recommended Montenegro drives on the right-hand side of the road. If you hold a driving licence from the UK, US, Australia, Canada, or any EU/EEA country, you can legally drive in Montenegro. However, an International Driving Permit (IDP) is strongly recommended — and in practice, many rental companies will not release the car without one. UK drivers need a 1968 Convention IDP, available from the Post Office. US drivers can obtain one from AAA, and Australians can get theirs through their state motoring organisation. The IDP is valid for one year and must always be carried alongside your original licence. Even if Montenegrin law does not strictly require an IDP for your nationality, rental suppliers frequently ask for one. Arrive without it and you risk being turned away at the desk. Need to pick up at Tivat Airport? See our Getting Here guide. Key Traffic Laws Strict BAC limit, mandatory equipment, and dipped headlights year-round Blood Alcohol Limit Montenegro enforces a 0.03% BAC limit — one of the strictest in Europe. For practical purposes, this means zero alcohol. A single beer can push you over the threshold, and fines start from €150 upward. Police checkpoints are common, particularly on coastal roads during the summer months. Speed Limits Urban areas: 50 km/h Open roads outside towns: 80 km/h Dual carriageways and expressways: 100 km/h Motorways (where marked): 130 km/h — though Montenegro has very few true motorway sections Speed cameras exist but are not widespread. Mobile police radar checks, however, are frequent on the main E65 coastal highway and the approaches to Podgorica. Mandatory Equipment Reflective warning triangle Reflective safety vest (must be accessible inside the cabin, not in the boot) First-aid kit Spare tyre or repair kit Rental cars should come equipped with all of the above, but check before you drive away. You are also required to use dipped headlights at all times — day and night, year-round. Dipped headlights are mandatory 24/7 in Montenegro. Failure to comply can result in an on-the-spot fine of €40–€100. Winter Tyres & Mountain Driving Compulsory from mid-November to mid-March — snow chains for mountain passes Winter tyres (or all-season tyres meeting the M+S marking standard) are legally required from 15 November to 15 March. If you are renting during the winter season, confirm with your supplier that the vehicle is fitted with appropriate tyres — this is your responsibility to check. If you plan to drive inland toward Žabljak, Kolašin, or over the Krstac pass above Kotor, snow chains may be required even outside the official winter period. Mountain roads above 1,000 metres can see snowfall well into April. Deposits, Insurance & Excess What to expect at the pickup desk Most suppliers in Montenegro require a credit card deposit (security hold) at pickup. The amount varies significantly — typically between €200 and €1,500 depending on the vehicle class and your insurance coverage level. Debit cards are rarely accepted for this hold. Basic rental rates usually include Collision Damage Waiver (CDW) and Theft Protection (TP), but these come with an excess — the amount you would pay toward any claim. The excess can range from €500 to €2,000. You can reduce or eliminate this by purchasing a full-coverage option from the rental supplier, or by buying standalone excess insurance from a third-party provider before you travel. Always confirm whether the quoted deposit is a hold (released after return) or a charge (refunded later). A hold is strongly preferable — it does not reduce your available credit limit in the same way. Border Crossings Croatia, Bosnia, Albania — what you need to know Taking your rental car across an international border requires prior written authorisation from the supplier, plus a Green Card insurance document. A cross-border fee — typically around €30–€50 per country — usually applies. Never assume cross-border travel is included in the base rate. Croatia is the most common cross-border trip from Herceg Novi. The Debeli Brijeg border crossing is just 12 km away, putting Dubrovnik within easy reach. Bosnia (Trebinje) is also straightforward with most suppliers. Albania is permitted by some companies but not all. Kosovo is prohibited by the vast majority of rental suppliers operating in Montenegro. Do not attempt to cross into Kosovo without explicit written permission — you risk voiding your insurance entirely. Check cross-border terms before you book, not at the pickup desk. Request the Green Card and authorisation letter in writing before you confirm the reservation. Driving from Herceg Novi to Dubrovnik is one of the most popular day trips — see our homepage for route details. Road Conditions & Practical Tips What the coastal highway and mountain roads are really like The main E65 coastal road is generally well-maintained, but it is a two-lane highway for most of its length. Expect slow-moving trucks, sharp bends, and limited overtaking opportunities. In summer, traffic between Budva and Petrovac can be heavy. Inland roads — particularly the route to Durmitor National Park via the Piva Canyon — are spectacular but demanding. Single-lane sections, unguarded drops, and occasional livestock on the road are all part of the experience. Drive defensively, keep your speed down, and use your horn before blind corners. Fuel stations are plentiful along the coast and on main routes. In remote mountain areas, fill up before you leave the last major town. Unleaded 95 and diesel are widely available; LPG stations are less common. Useful Resources Official links for planning your trip Herceg Novi Municipality (hercegnovi.me) — Local information Visit Montenegro — Official tourism portal Montenegro Ministry of Internal Affairs — Driving regulations Frequently Asked Questions Do I need an International Driving Permit for Montenegro? An IDP is not strictly required by Montenegrin law for all nationalities, but it is strongly recommended. Many rental companies will not release the car without one. UK drivers need a 1968 Convention IDP from the Post Office; US drivers can obtain one from AAA; Australians from their state motoring organisation. What is the drink-driving limit in Montenegro? Montenegro enforces a 0.03% BAC limit — one of the strictest in Europe. For practical purposes this means zero alcohol. A single beer can put you over the threshold, and fines start from €150. Police checkpoints are common on coastal roads in summer. Can I drive a rental car from Montenegro to Croatia? Yes, but you need prior written authorisation from your rental supplier, a Green Card insurance document, and a cross-border fee (typically €30–€50). The Debeli Brijeg border crossing to Croatia is just 12 km from Herceg Novi. Always confirm cross-border terms before booking. How much is the rental deposit in Montenegro? Most suppliers require a credit card security hold of between €200 and €1,500, depending on vehicle class and insurance coverage. Debit cards are rarely accepted. Always confirm whether the deposit is a hold (released after return) or a charge (refunded later). What are the speed limits in Montenegro? Urban areas: 50 km/h. Open roads: 80 km/h. Dual carriageways: 100 km/h. Motorways: 130 km/h (though Montenegro has very few true motorway sections). Mobile police radar checks are frequent on the E65 coastal highway and approaches to Podgorica. Are toll roads common in Montenegro? No. Montenegro has very few toll roads. The only significant toll is the Sozina tunnel (€3.50) on the Podgorica–Bar route. The main coastal highway (E65) and most other roads are toll-free. Questions about this guide? Contact us. Ready to book your car? Compare prices in Herceg Novi.