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Driving in Montenegro

A visitor can drive in Montenegro on a valid foreign driving licence. Carry your licence and the vehicle registration document, have valid insurance and follow the rules below.

On this page
  1. Driving licence and documents
  2. Insurance for a foreign car
  3. Tolls and eco fee
  4. Main traffic rules
  5. Equipment and winter tyres
  6. After an accident

Driving licence and documents

A visitor can drive with a valid foreign driving licence for the vehicle category on the licence. An international driving permit, carried together with the foreign licence, is also valid.

A foreigner who stays temporarily in Montenegro may drive on a valid foreign licence for as long as the licence is valid. The law gives no separate time limit for tourists.

  • Always carry your driving licence and the vehicle registration document (saobraćajna dozvola).
  • Show them to the police on request.
  • If you have an approved temporary or permanent residence in Montenegro, you may drive on a foreign licence for 6 months from the day you enter the country.

Insurance for a foreign car

The driver of a foreign-registered car must have valid international motor liability insurance when entering Montenegro. The document must be valid in Montenegro. A valid green card counts. A licence plate of a car normally based in a state that signed the Multilateral Agreement also counts.

The border police (Interior Ministry) check the insurance document at the border. For cars normally based in an EU state or a third country that enter from an EU member state, the law says the check is non-systematic.

  • No valid document? Buy border insurance from a Montenegrin insurer at the border.
  • The policy covers your stay in Montenegro, for at least 15 days. It is also valid in EU member states.

See also Customs and Entry.

Tolls and eco fee

A 2021 government document states that driving on public roads is mostly free, except passing through certain tunnels and over certain bridges. A 2022 Government decision set tolls on the Smokovac–Mateševo motorway section and the Sozina tunnel.

PlaceToll (2022 decision, with VAT)
Motorway Smokovac–Mateševo (whole section)EUR 1.50 to 17, by vehicle category
Sozina tunnelEUR 1 to 18, by vehicle category

These are the ranges from the Government decision of 9 June 2022. The toll depends on the vehicle category.

Main traffic rules

PlaceSpeed limit
Built-up area50 km/h (up to 80 km/h where a sign allows)
Motorway (autoput)130 km/h
Expressway (brza saobraćajnica)100 km/h
Other roads outside built-up areas80 km/h
Motorway: vehicle towing a trailer without brakes, or vehicle over 3,500 kg90 km/h

The speed shown on a sign is the limit that applies. A lower limit on a sign also applies.

Allowed

  • Phone with a hands-free system.
  • A child up to 3 years in a rear-facing seat in the front seat, when the airbag is off or missing.

Not allowed

  • Phone or other communication device in your hand while driving.
  • Radar detector, or any device that detects or disturbs speed measurement. You may not use it or have it in the car.
  • Alcohol above 0.3 g/kg. Young drivers and novice drivers: no alcohol in any amount.
  • A child under 12 in the front seat.
  • Alcohol, drugs or medicines after an accident, until the police investigation ends.
  • Lights: keep dipped headlights or daytime running lights on during the day.
  • Seat belts: the driver and all passengers must wear them in vehicles with belts.
  • Child seat: a child under 5 must travel in a child seat or carrycot fixed with the vehicle belt.

Equipment and winter tyres

  • In the car: one reflective vest and one first aid kit.
  • If you stop on the road: switch on all indicators and put a warning triangle behind the car. Minimum distance: 50 m outside built-up areas, 10 m in built-up areas.
  • Driver outside the car on the road: wear the reflective vest.

Winter tyres are compulsory for passenger and goods vehicles from 15 November to 1 April in winter conditions (snow, ice). The minimum tread depth is 4 mm.

On road sections named in a Ministry order, winter tyres are compulsory even without winter conditions.

After an accident

Call the police on 122 for a traffic accident.

After an accident with injuries, deaths or large damage:

  1. Stop. Switch off the engine and turn on the hazard lights.
  2. Set the warning triangle.
  3. Call the competent authority and emergency medical help.
  4. Give first aid.
  5. Stay at the scene until the police arrive and finish the investigation.
  • Property damage only: move the vehicle if it blocks traffic and warn other drivers. If the police do not attend, fill in the European Accident Statement.
  • Police investigation: if you ask for one, you pay EUR 50. The other participants must stay until it ends.
  • Leaving the scene: the police remove a driver who leaves the scene of an accident from traffic temporarily.

See also Health for medical help.

Sources