Things to know before driving in Bosnia and Herzegovina
If you are planning a road trip through Bosnia and Herzegovina, you’re in for a treat! This beautiful country is filled with breathtaking landscapes, charming villages, and friendly locals. But before you hit the road, there are a few things you need to know about driving in Bosnia and Herzegovina. We are fairly used to driving in the Balkans since we are from Slovenia, but for tourists used to American or British traffic, driving in Bosnia can be quite a different experience.
In this blog post, we’ll cover the basics of driving in Bosnia, including things like driving regulations, rental car options, and our personal tips on how to avoid any issues. So buckle up and let’s get started!
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Driving in Bosnia as a foreigner: general guidelines
Driving in Bosnia and Herzegovina is generally a straightforward and enjoyable experience, but it’s important to familiarize yourself with the local traffic rules to ensure a smooth and safe journey. Unfortunately, it is common for foreign cars to be stopped by random police checks, so it helps if you know the local traffic rules and make sure you are doing things right.
Here are some general guidelines for driving in Bosnia:
- Drive on the right-hand side of the road
- Wear your seatbelt at all times – obligatory for all passengers of the vehicle, including in the back seat
- Don’t drink and drive – the legal blood alcohol limit is 0.03%, which is lower than the standard 0.08% in the US
- Use headlights at all times, even during the day
- Respect speed limits and other traffic signs
- Don’t use your phone while driving
- Keep your documents (driver’s license, registration, insurance) with you at all times
The speed limit for driving in Bosnia
One of the most important things you need to know as soon as you cross the border or get your rental car in Bosnia are the speed limits. These are the rules you should follow:
- In built-up areas 50 km/h
- Outside built-up areas 80 km/h
- On dual carriageways 100 km/h
- On motorways 130 km/h
Pay close attention to the speed limit because one of the main reasons for being stopped at random police checks is speeding.
Is it safe to drive in Bosnia?
Now that we got the most important rules of driving in Bosnia covered, it is time to share our personal opinion. Driving in Bosnia is generally safe but if you will be driving for a few days, it is almost certain that you will have an encounter with the local police because they are simply everywhere. We will talk a bit more about the police checks in the next section.
Bosnia is only now building its major highway so it doesn’t yet cover a lot of the territory. The highway connects Sarajevo to other areas of the country and it is in great condition and very nice to drive in. However, if you will be crossing the country, you may be forced to drive through local roads which are typically more narrow and windy.
We recommend sticking to the main roads as much as possible, especially during the night. The more rural roads can have quite a poor conditions and it would be best to avoid them.
Our best advice is to drive defensively and be aware of your surroundings. The most unsafe we have felt was when drivers would try to overpass other cars in not-so-safe conditions. So, just be mindful of the rules and attentive to the road, and you should have no trouble driving in Bosnia during your trip.
Unfortunately, many travelers are afraid of renting a car and driving in Bosnia because of the stories they read online. Since we have been on Bosnian roads many times, we feel that it is our duty to reassure you that we do believe that doing a road trip is very worth it and one of the best ways of exploring the country.
Road checks when driving in Bosnia
If you will be driving across different cities in Bosnia or crossing to one of the neighboring countries, the chances of encountering local police cars are very high.
The random police checks are usually set up on smaller and local roads, but they can also happen inside cities like Mostar or Sarajevo. There is really no rule here, they are truly random.
The police cars may be checking for speed specifically (controlling it with the speed gun) or just doing random checks, which can cover anything from traffic violations to the condition of the car, such as a broken headlight.
From our experience, foreign cars are stopped quite often, but all they will do is try to give you a fine. In this part of the world, bribes are not very uncommon. Asking for the receipt is the only way of knowing you are getting an official fine.
What happens in most cases is that they give you a very high value for the fine, payable only to the bank or post office – which for any tourist is quite a bummer as it means you will lose time dealing with it. As an alternative, they say that if you pay in cash on the spot, the value is cut in half. That’s when you know they are looking for a bribe, as they won’t give any official receipt or anything.
Do you need to rent a car for your trip?
We always use DiscoverCars to rent our car. So far it has proved to be not only the cheapest option but also the most reliable one. We used DiscoverCars to rent our car for our trips through Slovenia, Montenegro, Serbia, Italy, and so many other countries, and we never had any issues. We even convinced all of our friends and family to use it. So that’s why we are also recommending it to you!
3 essential tips for driving in Bosnia
- Always have small bills – If you find yourself in a situation where the officers are asking for a bribe and all you have on you is € 100, this will be a very expensive bribe. Instead, make sure you have 10s and 20s with you when driving. Don’t show the big bills and say you are not carrying that much cash with you if they ask for crazy amounts.
- Have the right documentation – Make sure that you have the necessary driving documents and vehicle documents. The police officers will always ask for the document first. Even though we never had to show our International Driving Permit, it is recommended to have it.
- Have Bosnian currency on hand – while tourist places often accept Euros, small parking places don’t always do and it is always good to have local currency to avoid any trouble.
Renting a car for your Bosnia road trip
Renting a car in Bosnia is generally easy and convenient, as there are many rental car companies operating in the country. Most major cities and airports in Bosnia and Herzegovina have car rental agencies, including the airport of Sarajevo.
To rent a car in Bosnia and Herzegovina, you will need to have a valid driver’s license and a credit card. You will also need to be at least 21 years old (although some rental agencies may have higher age requirements).
Read also: All you need to know before renting a car in Bosnia
If you’re planning a road trip through Bosnia and Herzegovina, a rental car can give you the freedom to go at your own pace and visit off-the-beaten-path destinations that might not be accessible by public transportation. We always use Discover Cars for our rentals when traveling abroad.
Driving in Bosnia with a US driving license
It is highly recommended to get the International Driving Permit if you plan on driving in Bosnia with a US driving license. Even though the car rental company may not ask for it before giving you the car (they are not obliged to!), it is a good precaution to have it with you to make sure you are 100% compliant with the local rules.
The same applies to travelers who want to drive in Bosnia using a UK or Canadian license.
For EU residents, the same is technically valid, but I have never seen anyone from the EU being asked for the IDP document. However, better safe than sorry!
FAQ on driving in Bosnia as a foreign traveler
It depends on the contract you have with your car rental company. Many companies will charge you for crossing international borders with the car because this means they need to have insurance valid in this other destination too.
That being said, if you have all the right documents on the car and personal driving documents (ID, driving license, and International Driving Permit), then you can definitely rent a car in Croatia and drive to Bosnia or another country.
In fact, the route between Dubrovnik, in Croatia, and Mostar, in Bosnia, is extremely popular among tourists. Many people go for a day trip to Mostar and the beautiful Kravice falls and come back to Dubrovnik.
Since August 2021, a green card is no longer required for driving with your vehicle to Bosnia. Even so, it is still a simple and practical way of showing that your vehicle is properly insured so many people still show it when crossing the border if asked for such proof.
Yes, all vehicles must have winter tires for driving in Bosnia during winter. Snow chains are not obligatory but it is recommended to have them in the vehicle in case they are needed, which is if you come across the relevant snow sign or if the snow layer is more than 5 cm deep.
Before getting on the road, drivers are also obliged to remove snow and ice from the vehicle, the same as in most countries.
Apart from these rules, you should just be more attentive if the weather conditions are rough and practice caution.
If your trip will be focused on the larger cities such as Sarajevo, you do not need a car to fully enjoy it. In fact, having a vehicle in Sarajevo can be more of a headache than a pleasure because finding parking is not the easiest thing to do.
However, if you plan on exploring more of the country, renting a car and going on a road trip through Bosnia may be one of the best choices you can make. The public transport in Bosnia is very slow and you will be limited with times and routes. Having a car will give you the freedom to explore the places you want and really take in the beautiful scenery this country has to offer.
If you don’t want to drive, a good alternative is to book a tour that will take you where you want to go. Check out some of the best tours and activities in Bosnia here.
Do you need to rent a car for your trip?
We always use DiscoverCars to rent our car. So far it has proved to be not only the cheapest option but also the most reliable one. We used DiscoverCars to rent our car for our trips through Slovenia, Montenegro, Serbia, Italy, and so many other countries, and we never had any issues. We even convinced all of our friends and family to use it. So that’s why we are also recommending it to you!
Organizing your trip
To help you plan your trip to Bosnia, we have put together our favorite planning resources:
- Flights: Get affordable flights to Bosnia on Skyscanner.com.
- Travel insurance: Make sure you are protected during your trip. We use SafetyWing whenever we are traveling abroad.
- Renting a car: We always use Discover Cars to get the best car deals.
- Accommodation: Find the best hotels and apartments on Booking.com.
- Activities: Get fun ideas of what to do and buy unique activities with Get Your Guide.
- SIM Card: Stay connected during your trip with Airalo.
Disclosure: This post may contain affiliate links. This means that we get a small commission from any purchase you make, at no additional cost to you!
How do I get the green card for Bosnia vehicle insurance?
Hi,
usually you arrange a green card with your car insurance company. In Slovenia for example we request the green car when we arrange insurance before we extend car registration.
Best,
Fe & Edo
Can I drive a rental car from Poland into Bosnia?
In general yes, you are able to do that. But I would recommend you to reach out to the rent-a-car company where you will be renting the car, to see what kind of conditions they will give you. Usually they will charge you more if you leave the country from which you are renting the car.
Best,
Fe & Edo
Hi, I saw some suggestions to rent a smaller car because the road is narrow in Bosnia, is that true and recommended? Would the size of e.g Skoda Octavia consider big and difficult to navigate thru Bosnia road? Thanks
Hi Stehpany,
I believe that you shouldn’t have any issues with a car like Skoda Octavia. All the major roads are normally drivable and won’t cause you any issues. If you decide to go to some of beaten path and some country roads, they could be a bit narrower, but they also shouldn’t cause any issues for car like Skoda. So I would say you should be good to go.
Best,
Fe & Edo
Hi, we plan to visit Croatia in April. We would rent a car in Zagreb and returning in Dubrovnik. From Zagreb we will first drive to Slovenia for two days, then Croatia, then Bosnia for one day and onto Montenegro for two days, and go to Dubrovnik. Would the rental company charge us a lot on insurance to cover four countries? We have 6 people and need to hire a big car (8 people car), is that ok to drive big car in these countries? We come from Hongkong and will have international driving licenses. Thanks
Hi Francine, thank you for reaching out! Usually the rental companies charge you extra fees for driving outside of their country, I do not thing they would increase the insurance for that reason. Note that you will most likely also be charged extra if you rent a car in Zagreb and return it in Dubrovnik. The fees vary between the companies.
What I would suggest you to do is check out prices on DiscoverCars, select a couple of companies and reach out to them, and ask them about those fees. Some of them also show those fees under Rental conditions –> Geographical and ferry rules on the platform.
When it comes to the big cars, I would say you won’t have issues, the road throughout the Balkans are in general okay to drive, and there shouldn’t be a problem with driving a big car there.
Hope you have a great stay!
Best,
Fe & Edo
I want to bring my motorbike from Australia into Bosnia so I can use it whilst I work for a couple of years in Sarajevo. Am I able to do this instead of hiring vehicles? What do I need to be compliant with Bosnian laws?
Hi Damian,
yes, I believe you are able to import your motorbike instead of renting a car. Unfortunately I am not sure what has to be done to be compliant with the law. What I was able to find is this https://www.nezavisne.com/ekonomija/trziste/Sta-treba-da-znate-prilikom-uvoza-auta-u-BiH/808245 (you can google translate it in English), and a contact of the relevant government authority on the topic.
I hope this helps!
Best,
Edin