Guide for renting a car in Montenegro in 2024
Renting a car in Montenegro is the best way to explore the country’s incredible landscape. Having your own car will give you the freedom to explore places that standard tours won’t take you – and trust me, they are so worth it!
But we understand most people are reluctant about renting a car in a foreign country like Montenegro. So, we put together this guide to answer all your questions and share our experience.
We have traveled to Montenegro multiple times over the past couple of years, going on a different road trip each time. With time, we gathered quite a bit of experience and we’re here to share it all with you, including the mistakes we made and how we got fined.
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Need to rent a car in Montenegro?
We always use Discover Cars for hiring our cars abroad, whether in Montenegro or anywhere else. They are the best price aggregator platform out there and allow you to find the best deals, including local and international providers!
Where to rent a car in Montenegro
You can rent a car in Montenegro at airports, major cities, and tourist destinations. Major international companies such as Enterprise, Sixt, Europcar, and Avis are present around the country, but you can also find local operators that sometimes offer nice deals.
If you will be flying into Montenegro through one of the local airports, I recommend renting a car directly at the airport. Podgorica Airport, for example, has more options for car rental companies available than the city center.
We always used Discover Cars to rent cars in Montenegro. Their platform is very easy to use and it helps us find great deals without having to scour the internet looking for local providers.
Read also: Best airports for flying into Montenegro
Can I rent a car in Montenegro and drop it off in another country?
Since Montenegro is a small country, most people combine it with one of the neighboring countries like Albania or Croatia.
In this case, you will be doing a cross-border trip, for which you need to agree in advance with the rental company. Most car rental providers allow you to take the car to another country, but you may be required to pay a One-way Fee and/or a Cross-border Fee.
- One-way Fee: This fee is applicable when you want to rent a car in one place and return it in another, whether that is in another city or country. It is the value the car company charges for “bringing the car back” to the place where it is initially listed.
- Cross-border Fee: As the name suggests, the cross-border fee is charged when you want to take a rental car across an international border. This is the price the car company charges to make sure the vehicle has all the documents and insurance needed to be driven in the country you want to take it to.
If you want to rent a car in Montenegro and drive it to another country, make sure you ask the car rental company for the full cost of this trip. It is very likely they will charge you at least one of these fees.
Pro tip: Each rental company sets its own prices for one-way and cross-border fees so make sure you compare the price with different providers to avoid overpaying for your car rental in Montenegro.
How much does it cost to rent a car in Montenegro?
The cost of renting a car in Montenegro varies a lot depending on the time of the year and the length of the rental. Here is what you can expect:
| Season | Average price of a simple car |
| Low season (Nov – Mar) | 10-20 EUR per day |
| High season (Jun – Sep) | from 35-60 EUR per day |
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!
How can I get cheaper deals for renting a car in Montenegro?
Besides seasonality, the factor that influences the daily rates the most is the length of stay.
If you rent a car for multiple days in a row, your daily rental price will be cheaper than if you have a short-term rental of 1 or 2 days.
For example, last year, we rented a car in Montenegro for 10 consecutive days and paid 120 EUR in total (which is 12 EUR per day). For the same period, a single-day rental costs 60 EUR.
So, be smart when planning your trip and always count full 24-hour periods for the car rental. For example, it may make more sense to rent a car for the full length of your trip and pick it up directly at the airport, than rent it only for 2 days in the middle while you will be spending on taxis on the other days.
What are the requirements for renting a car in Montenegro?
Renting a car in Montenegro is fairly easy and accessible to foreigners. But, you need to make sure you meet the general requirements before you pick up the car.
Basic requirements for renting a car in Montenegro:
- Be at least 18 years of age (or 21, depending on the conditions defined by the rental company)
- Have a valid driver’s license
- Have an International Driving Permit (IDP) with you at all times, if one is required based on your nationality (this is not required from most European countries)
- Have a valid ID document with a picture, such as a passport
- Have a valid credit card or debit card to leave a security deposit (most companies require a credit card)
International Driving Permit for renting a car in Montenegro
Whether or not you will require an IDP to drive and rent a car in Montenegro will depend on where is your driving license from.
- EU driver’s license: IDP is not mandatory
- US driver’s license: IDP is highly recommended
- UK driver’s license: IDP is mandatory
If your driver’s license is issued by any other country, make sure to check on the government’s official website whether you will need an IDP or not.
In general, we recommend always having an IDP when you want to drive and rent a car abroad. It is a document that is super easy to make and will save you a lot of headaches in case you are actually checked by the police and need it.
Minimum and maximum age for renting a car in Montenegro
The legal minimum age for driving or renting a car in Montenegro is 18 years old. However, most rental companies have in their policy that drivers must be at least 21 years old to hire a vehicle. Young drivers may be charged an additional fee.
There is no maximum age for renting a car in Montenegro, but it is a common practice among vehicle-hire companies to charge an additional fee if the driver is 65+ years old.
To avoid any additional fee when getting your car, make sure you read the policy of the rental company with attention.
Safety when renting a car in Montenegro
A lot of people wonder whether it is safe to rent a car and drive through Montenegro. In our experience, yes, it is quite safe to do so.
The roads are well maintained, the infrastructure is good and signs are pointing out important landmarks. Make sure you stick to the speed limits and respect the general driving rules, and you should be ok.
We always recommend renting a car through a renowned provider such as Sixt to give you extra peace of mind.
Read our guide about driving in Montenegro to get familiar with the rules and know what to expect from this road trip. In general, we loved our experience in the country so we highly recommend renting a car.
Police checks on the roads
It is very common to have random police checks on the roads in Montenegro. Pay attention when driving, make sure you are following the traffic rules, and have all documents on you in case you are stopped.
Unfortunately, the Montenegrin police checks are famous for targeting foreign vehicles. It happened to us on our first time in Montenegro, as we were traveling in our Slovenian car. We were stopped literally 20 min away from the border as we were leaving the country.
We are sure that the fine they gave us was just a way of making money off the tourists because it was a really shady experience. So, our tip is: make sure you follow the rules and drive safely. If you are stopped, you can always just accept the fine and you will have to pay it at a local post office if it is an official fine. But just in case, it may come in handy to have with you some small bills.
Is it worth hiring a car in Montenegro?
Renting a car in Montenegro is definitely worth it because it gives you the convenience of being able to move around independently, going where you want to go when you want it.
Having your own car means you can visit places that would otherwise be inaccessible with public transport – and guess what, Montenegro has many of those.
The roads in Montenegro are generally in good condition. There are a few things to be aware of when driving in the country, but you don’t need to worry because we prepared a full guide for you. Read here how is it to drive in Montenegro.
FAQ – Renting a car in Montenegro
Is it easy to rent a car in Montenegro?
Yes, it is. There are many companies with which you can rent a car in Montenegro, all you have to do is research the one that best fits your needs.
The hiring process itself is just the same as in other European countries. A word of advice: make sure you read the terms of service carefully so you know exactly what is included in the rental and what isn’t.
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!
Can foreigners drive in Montenegro?
Yes, foreigners can drive in Montenegro as long as they have a valid driver’s license and an international driving permit (IDP), depending on their nationality.
To be legally able to drive in the country, you also need to be at least 18 years old.
Do you need to rent a car in Montenegro?
If you plan to visit many places that are far away from each other, renting a car is highly recommended as the public transport in Montenegro is not very well connected. If you plan on exploring different areas of the country, having a car will help you a lot in planning an itinerary and saving time on transport.
On the other hand, if your stay is mainly within one city, you can get around just fine with public transport or even walking if you stay in small cities such as Kotor or Budva.
Read also:
More tips for traveling to Montenegro
- Best SIM cards for Montenegro
- Montenegro Road Trip Itinerary
- Where to stay in Kotor
- Visiting Perast
- Best airports for flying into Montenegro
Happy travels
Fe & Edo
Organizing your trip
To help you plan your trip to Montenegro, we have put together our favorite planning resources:
- Flights: Get affordable flights to Montenegro 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!
