A vehicle registered abroad is used in Montenegro without customs duty and VAT under temporary import, if it is used by a person who does not have registered residence (prebivalište) in Montenegro. A person with registered residence in Montenegro may drive a foreign-plated car only in exceptions: if they have approved residence abroad for more than six months and use the car while in Montenegro, if they are employed by the foreign employer the vehicle belongs to, or if they rented the vehicle to return home or to leave. For private use of a road vehicle the limit is six months, except for students and people on fixed-term jobs. A person who breaks the conditions pays €500 to €4,000, and the EU rules on registering 24 hours in advance under Law 104/2026 only apply from the day Montenegro joins the European Union.
This guide explains who may drive a foreign-plated car, for how long, who counts as a resident, the fines and what changes with EU accession.
Who may drive a foreign-plated car?
| Situation | Allowed | Condition |
| Person without residence in Montenegro, vehicle registered abroad to a person outside Montenegro | yes | temporary import without import duties (Article 491) |
| Another person without residence in Montenegro drives someone else's foreign vehicle | yes | with the written authorisation of the permit holder (Article 491) |
| Person with residence in Montenegro who has approved residence abroad for more than six months | yes, while in Montenegro | re-exports the vehicle on leaving (Article 494) |
| Person with residence in Montenegro employed by a foreign owner, lessor or lessee of the vehicle | yes | for the commute and work tasks set out in the employment contract (Article 494) |
| Person with residence in Montenegro with a vehicle rented abroad | yes | only to return home or to leave Montenegro (Article 494) |
| Person with residence in Montenegro who fits none of the exceptions | no | the vehicle must be imported and registered |
- Close family members of a person living abroad may only use that person's vehicle while the person is in Montenegro.
- An employee of a foreign employer shows a copy of the employment contract when customs asks for it.
How long can a foreign-plated car stay?
| Who uses the vehicle | Temporary import period |
| Student | while staying in Montenegro solely to study |
| Person on a fixed-term job | as long as the job lasts |
| Everyone else, for private use of a road vehicle | six months from placing the vehicle under the procedure |
| Vessel for private use | 18 months |
| Aircraft for private use | six months |
The periods are set by Article 497 of the Decree on the detailed manner of conducting customs procedures and customs formalities.
Who counts as a resident?
- The Customs Law defines a person established or resident in Montenegro as a natural person with registered residence in Montenegro (Article 6 point 9).
- The rules for residents therefore apply to people with registered residence in Montenegro, not to tourists.
- If you are unsure how your stay is treated, ask the Customs Administration before the period runs out, not after.
What is the fine?
- For a natural person who does not meet the conditions of an authorisation for a special procedure, which includes temporary import, the Customs Law sets a fine of €500 to €4,000 (Article 204).
- If you want the car to stay in Montenegro for good, import, duty and VAT are explained in our guide to importing a car.
What changes when Montenegro joins the EU?
- The Law on tax exemption for certain means of transport temporarily imported from one member state into another was published on 17 July 2026, but it only applies from the day Montenegro joins the European Union (Article 16).
- From then on, a person with habitual residence in an EU member state, including Montenegrin citizens living there, will be exempt from tax on a private vehicle for up to six months in a 12-month period, if they do not sell it, rent it out or lend it to a person resident in Montenegro (Article 5).
- Vehicles without Montenegrin plates will have to be registered electronically at least 24 hours before entering and leaving Montenegro, free of charge, in the Register of Foreign Vehicles (Articles 11 and 12).
- For failing to register the law sets a fine of €700 to €4,000 (Article 13), but neither this obligation nor the fine applies before EU accession.
Importing and registering a car is explained in our guide to importing a car, and driving on a foreign licence in our guide to driving licences for foreigners. Insurance and the green card are explained in our guide to car insurance, and the rules at the border in our guide to border crossings. Customs relief for household goods and a car when moving to Montenegro is also covered by RoNa Legal.
Frequently asked questions
How long can I drive a foreign-plated car in Montenegro? If you have no registered residence in Montenegro, a private road vehicle under temporary import can stay six months, unless you are a student or on a fixed-term job.
Can a resident of Montenegro drive a foreign-plated car? Only in exceptions: with approved residence abroad for more than six months, as an employee of the vehicle's foreign owner, or with a rented vehicle to return home or leave.
Can family members drive my foreign-plated car? Close family members may use it only while you are in Montenegro, if you have approved residence abroad for more than six months.
What is the fine for unauthorised use? For a natural person who does not meet the conditions of a special procedure, the Customs Law sets a fine of €500 to €4,000.
Do I have to register a foreign-plated car 24 hours before entering? Not yet, because that obligation under Law 104/2026 only applies from the day Montenegro joins the European Union.
How long can a foreign pleasure boat stay? A vessel for private use under temporary import can stay 18 months.
Sources
The conditions and periods of temporary import are set by the Decree on the detailed manner of conducting customs procedures and customs formalities (Official Gazette 26/2023, Articles 491, 494 and 497; the amendments 97/2023 and 104/2025 do not change these articles), the definition of residence and the fine by the Customs Law (Official Gazette 86/2022, Articles 6 and 204), and the rules that apply from EU accession by the Law on tax exemption for certain means of transport (Official Gazette 104/2026). The information was checked on 26 September 2026. Fijaka is a classifieds platform; this article is not legal advice.