All questions answered about renting a car in Bosnia and Herzegovina

Yes, absolutely! Renting a car for your trip to Bosnia is one of the best things you can do to explore the country in your own way.

The public transport system in Bosnia is not very effective outside of the main cities, unfortunately. This means that there are some locations where you will either need your own car or book a dedicated tour (if one is available). Having a car in Bosnia will make your trip much easier and will help you explore this beautiful country even better.

Read more: How is it to drive in Bosnia

Yes, it’s absolutely safe to rent a car in Bosnia. There are some rules that you should adhere to while driving in the country, but they are generally the same as other destinations in Europe.

You will find several car rental companies across the country offering good quality vehicles at reasonable prices. In fact, many international rental agencies operate in Bosnia such as Avis, Europcar, and Sixt.

Yes, foreigners are allowed to rent a car in Bosnia. However, you will need to make sure you have the documents to do so. Most rental car companies in Bosnia require that you present your passport (or another valid ID with a photo) and valid driver’s license.

Depending on the conditions of your rental agreement, you may also need to have a deposit or credit card, but more on that later.

Yes, you can rent a car in Bosnia with an American driver’s license, but you are required to present an International Driving Permit (IDP) as well. Note that not all rental agencies will request the IDP when giving you the car but if you are stopped by the police, they may request this document as it is the local law that American tourists have one when driving in Bosnia.

Remember that it is your responsibility as the driver to make sure you are aware of and comply with all the local regulations.

EU citizens technically have to respect the same rule and have an International Driving Permit (IDP) alongside their valid driving license when renting a car in Bosnia.

However, being holders of EU driving licenses ourselves, we have never seen anyone requesting the IDP from EU countries in Bosnia. Still, better safe than sorry so we recommend you do it before your trip.

The official rule says that yes, you do need an International Driving Permit if you want to rent a car and drive in Bosnia but your license has been issued abroad. The IDP can only be valid for a maximum of 2 years and you should always carry it with you when driving in Bosnia.

Valid driver’s license
International Driving Permit
Valid ID with photo (normally a passport for foreign travelers)
Credit card or deposit money (depending on your rental agreement)

Most car rental companies in Bosnia determine that you need to be at least 21 years old to hire a vehicle.

That being said, if you are under 25, you may still need to pay a “young driver” fee. Not all companies charge this fee, it is important to check this information beforehand as each agency has its own set of rules.

Getting a rental car in Bosnia at 18 years old will not be an easy task because most car rental companies have the minimum age limit set to 21 years old. However, this is not something determined by law, it is more of a company regulation. Each car rental agency defines for themselves what are their operating rules, so you may be able to find a local agency that allows you to do so (just don’t expect it to be easy).

The price for renting a car in Bosnia depends a lot on the time of the year you will be renting, the type of vehicle, and the company you use. 
To give you a general impression, in most cases, you can rent a car in Bosnia for as low as 10-15 Euros per day. During the winter (low season), it is possible to find car rental offers for 5 Euros a day while in the summer, prices may rise to up to 50 Euros a day.

Get a quote at Discover Cars to find out how much it would cost to rent a car for your Bosnia trip.

The cheapest car rental option in Bosnia is usually a subcompact or small city car. Car rental agencies usually call them “Economy cars” as they represent the most affordable deals. Depending on the season, you can rent a vehicle of this type for as low as 8-15 Euros per day.

Pro tip: The daily price for renting a car in Bosnia usually gets cheaper if you keep the car for longer periods. Rental prices for a single day are the highest. If you are able to rent the car for at least a week, you will benefit from better deals.

Even though it is possible to rent a car in Bosnia without a credit card, it is not that easy. A credit card is usually required as a safety deposit. Not having one means you may need to provide other forms of safety or guarantee in order to be able to rent the vehicle.

Some rental companies allow payment with a debit card, which is usually subject to more conditions and restrictions than renting a car with a credit card.

Other types of popular deals for renting a car in Bosnia without a credit card are: you may need to leave an extra deposit in cash, have the rent covered by another person (who will be the driver of the vehicle), or may even be required to rent specific types of cars.

It is important to mention that not every rental agency will have those conditions available. Make sure you check this information beforehand if you want to rent a car in Bosnia without a credit card.

Yes, car insurance is necessary when renting a car and when driving in Bosnia. All rental companies have their own policies regarding car insurance, so it is important to check what type of coverage you get with your rental agreement.

Most companies have basic insurance already included in the price but they will offer an additional package that will offer full protection at an extra cost. We do recommend purchasing full protection when driving abroad, whether in Bosnia or anywhere else. Full protection is usually very affordable, especially compared to the price you would have to pay if something indeed happens.

If you rent your car using the Discover Cars platform, you will have the chance to purchase full insurance during the booking process already.

Driving a car rented from Bosnia to Montenegro is allowed, as long as you have the necessary paperwork and permits. Check with your rental agency before making any plans though, as they may have specific restrictions or limitations when it comes to taking their vehicles outside of the country. 

Some rental companies charge an extra fee if you plan on taking your car outside of the country. This fee is related to making sure the car has all the right paperwork and applicable insurance in the country you will be traveling to.

Read also: All about driving in Montenegro

Yes, you can rent a car in Bosnia and drive to Croatia, as long as this is allowed by your rental agency (we recommend letting them know in advance) and you have all the right papers and permits.

Have in mind that if you intend on picking up the car in Bosnia and dropping it off in Croatia, you will be required to pay a “one-way fee”, which refers to the company’s cost in bringing the car back. You should check this information with your rental agency beforehand as one-way fees can be quite expensive.

Yes, the same way you can rent a car in Bosnia and drive to Croatia, you are also allowed to hire a car in Dubrovnik and drive to Mostar in most cases. All you need to do is make sure your rental vehicle is properly insured for the international trip (check with the rental agency when booking) and that you have all the right paperwork for the border crossing.

Read also: Complete Mostar travel guide

Since August 2021, a green card is no longer required for driving with your vehicle to Bosnia. However, you are still required to prove your vehicle is properly insured for the international trip and most people still use a green card as proof of that.

No, Bosnia does not use the vignette system.

There are very few toll roads in Bosnia. In those, you can pay for the toll directly when you exit the highway, using either cash or a card.

Driving in Bosnia is not difficult per se, but it requires attention and caution. If you will be doing a road trip through Bosnia, you will most likely travel through local roads which are narrow and windy. There is no need to panic though, just take it slow and stick to the speed limit and you should be alright.

Both Bosnians and Americans drive on the right side of the road, which means Americans don’t have to adjust too much when driving in Bosnia.

However, there may be quite some differences when it comes to the local rules of traffic in both countries. Before jumping into your car, make sure you are familiar with the basic rules for driving in Bosnia, including the speed limits and parking regulations.

Below, you can find the summary of speed limit rules in Bosnia and Herzegovina: