Driving in Montenegro

Driving is a great way to experience this Montenegrin magic, but if you’re planning a road trip to the Balkans it’s essential you’re fully prepared ahead of time as driving there has many differences to the UK. 

To make your journey to Montenegro as safe and effortless as possible, we’ve put together a guide to everything you need to know before you go, from required documents to rules of the road.  

Driving a rented vehicle? Jump to the advice for driving a hire car in Montenegro section.

RAC European Breakdown Cover (Basic and Comprehensive) provides a wide range of benefits should you breakdown in Montenegro to ensure you stay safe. 

To supplement this, RAC also offers travel insurance. Cover will include medical expenses, baggage, personal money and belongings, among many other benefits.

• A valid, full UK driving licence
• A GB sticker (even if your car is equipped with EU number plates showing the country code in a circle of 12 gold stars on a blue background, as Montenegro is not an EU member state) 
• Your motor insurance certificate
• V5 registration document or hire car paperwork

Aside from the documents above, there are some legally-required items you must bring with you to drive in Montenegro.

Unless your headlights can be adjusted, it's a legal requirement to carry headlamp converters (stickers for your headlights when driving on the right, so your lights don't dazzle motorists coming the other way).

A warning triangle is also compulsory to carry in vehicles in case of a breakdown.

It's also recommended to have:

• Spare bulbs for your car's external lights
• A fire extinguisher 
• A first-aid kit
• A reflective jacket
• Have antifreeze in the windscreen fluid and a shovel to clear snow if you’re driving in winter
• A Green Card (this is no longer a requirement, but it could be useful to back-up your insurance documents and show you've got the minimum legal level of cover. To find out more, contact your insurance company)

You can pick up all the car kit you need from RAC Shop.

• Use dipped headlights during the daytime all year round and on all roads
• Make sure everyone in the car wears a seat belt at all times
• Wear a crash helmet if you're riding a motorcycle or moped
• In Montenegro, you drive on the right and overtake on the left. Vehicles from the right generally have priority
• Horns should only be used when an audible warning is required to prevent an accident
• If you're caught committing a minor driving offence while travelling through Montenegro, you could be given an on-the-spot fine
• Seat belts must be worn in all seats where a belt is available
• Children under 5 years of age must use an appropriate restraint or child seat. Children under the age of 12 are not allowed in the front passenger seat
• The drink-drive limit for all drivers is 0.03%. Random tests are carried out by police officers if a driver is suspected of being over the limit 

Speed limits in built-up areas are 50km/h unless otherwise stated via local signs. Outside these areas, the limit is 80km/h and 100km/h on faster expressway routes.

• Montenegro does not have any motorways or toll roads, although a charge is levied on the Sozina tunnel, linking the capital Podgorica with the Adriatic coastline
• Unleaded petrol and diesel are readily available throughout Montenegro – there are no automatic petrol pumps
• There are no parking meters in Montenegro, and payments in car parks are usually made to an attendant 

In an emergency

112 - Here's a really important bit of knowledge; you can dial 112 from anywhere in Europe and an operator will connect you to an emergency service in the country you're visiting.

Operators can answer your call in their native language, English or French.

Breaking down in Montenegro

RAC offers great-value, flexible RAC European breakdown cover tailored to meet your needs. We also offer comprehensive travel insurance, including cover for medical expenses, baggage, personal money and belongings.

Not all of the information in the guide above will be relevant to those looking to rent a hire car in Montenegro.

Though it might be a good idea to read through everything anyway, here are the most important things to know for drivers of rental vehicles:

Rental information

• The minimum age to hire a car is 21
• You need a full, valid UK driving licence and usually a second proof of ID (passport)
• Some car rental companies ask that you have held your licence for a minimum term - check with your hire company first
• Some companies require you to use a credit card for deposit
• You may not be able to drive outside of Montenegro unless planned in advance - check with your hire company first
• Make sure you get car hire excess insurance before your trip to protect yourself from unexpected costs. It's almost always cheaper to do this with a separate insurer and in advance

Hire car driving tips

• Montenegrins drive on the right and overtake on the left - the opposite to the UK
• Speed limits in built-up areas are 50km/h unless otherwise stated via local signs. Outside these areas, the limit is 80km/h and 100km/h on faster expressway routes.
• Dial 112 in an emergency
• It’s compulsory to wear seat belts in the front and rear seats
• The blood alcohol content limit for drivers of private vehicles is 0.03%. That's lower than thewhole of the UK

UK Government travel advice

See up-to-date travel advice