You may drive a rental car in Montenegro on a valid foreign driving licence or an international permit together with the foreign licence, while a foreigner granted residence may do so for only six months from entry. A young driver, up to 24, and a driver with less than a year's experience may not drive faster than 70 km/h, or 100 km/h on the motorway, and may not have any alcohol in their system. Since August 2026 a driver under 21 may not drive between midnight and 5 a.m., nor drive a car of more than 80 kW without an experienced driver supervising.
The rules come from the Law on Road Traffic Safety, amended in July 2026, and the Law on Compulsory Traffic Insurance. Terms such as the minimum rental age, the deposit and crossing the border are set by each rental company in its contract; this guide explains what the law requires.
Which driving licence is valid?
| Driver | Rule |
| Tourist or foreigner staying in Montenegro temporarily | Drives on a valid foreign licence, or an international permit with the foreign licence, while the foreign licence is valid |
| Foreigner granted temporary or permanent residence | Drives on the foreign licence for six months from entering Montenegro |
| Montenegrin citizen living abroad | The same rule as for a foreigner staying temporarily |
The law lists driving on a foreign licence without an international permit for the category being driven among its offences, so it is safer to carry an international permit as well. A vehicle owner may not let a person without a valid licence for the right category drive the vehicle. When a foreigner has to exchange a licence is explained in our article on the driving licence for foreigners.
What applies to young and novice drivers?
| Rule | Who it applies to |
| At most 70 km/h, at most 100 km/h on the motorway, at most 40 km/h on a moped | Young drivers up to 24 and novice drivers with less than 12 months' experience |
| No alcohol in the body in any amount | Young and novice drivers |
| No driving from 00 to 5 in the morning | Drivers under 21, since August 2026 |
| No driving a category B car of more than 80 kW, unless supervised by a person who has held a category B licence for at least five years | Drivers under 21, since August 2026 |
Breaking the new restrictions for drivers under 21 carries a fine of 300 to 600 euros and a 60-day driving ban. So a young driver renting a car should check the engine power in the registration certificate.
What are the speed and alcohol limits?
| Road | Maximum speed |
| In a built-up area | 50 km/h, and signs may allow up to 80 km/h |
| Outside built-up areas | 80 km/h |
| Expressway | 100 km/h |
| Motorway | 130 km/h |
A driver is under the influence of alcohol above 0.3 g/kg in the blood, and for young and novice drivers the limit is zero. Dipped headlights or daytime running lights must be on during the day. You may use a phone only with hands-free equipment, and the fine for using a phone while driving is 150 to 400 euros. A driver or passengers not wearing a seat belt pay 150 to 300 euros.
How does a camera fine reach you?
When a camera or the police record an offence and the driver is not stopped, the vehicle owner is liable, unless they prove the vehicle was used without their permission. Since August 2026 the owner, or the responsible person in a company, must within eight days of the notice provide reliable details of who was driving, for example a certified statement from the driver. For a rental car this means the company names the driver from the rental contract, so the fine reaches you even after you return the car.
What does insurance cover, and what should you do after an accident?
Every vehicle must have compulsory third party motor insurance, which covers damage caused to others, not damage to the rental car. Damage to the car itself is governed by what you agreed with the rental company. If nobody is injured, a European accident report is filled in; if someone is, the police are called. The details are in our guide to car insurance and the European accident report.
By law rental cars go for a technical inspection every six months. A person resident in Montenegro may not normally drive a car registered abroad, but that does not apply to a rental car.
What applies in winter and at the border?
From 15 November to 1 April a car driving in winter conditions must have winter tyres, and on roads under the ministry order even without snow, as our article on winter tyres explains. The compulsory insurance of a Montenegrin vehicle covers European Union and green card countries at no extra premium, but not Russia and Belarus. Whether you may cross a border in a rental car is set by your contract with the company, so agree on it before you leave.
If you rent out or sell a vehicle yourself, the rules on registration and the technical inspection are set out in our article on vehicle registration. Servicing and help with a vehicle can also be booked through the Glatko platform.
Frequently asked questions
Can I rent a car in Montenegro with a foreign driving licence? Yes. A tourist drives on a valid foreign licence, or an international permit with the foreign licence, and it is safer to have an international permit as well.
How old do I have to be to rent a car? The law sets no minimum age for renting, which the company decides. The law limits young drivers: up to 24 a maximum of 70 km/h, and drivers under 21 do not drive from midnight to 5 a.m. or drive a car of more than 80 kW without supervision.
What is the drink-driving limit in Montenegro? 0.3 g/kg, and zero for young and novice drivers.
What are the speed limits in Montenegro? 50 km/h in built-up areas, 80 km/h outside them, 100 km/h on expressways and 130 km/h on motorways.
Who pays a camera fine for a rental car? The company, as owner, must report within eight days who was driving, so the fine goes to the driver named in the contract.
Must daytime lights be on? Yes. Dipped headlights or daytime running lights must be on when driving during the day.
Sources
The rules for drivers are set by the Law on Road Traffic Safety (Official Gazette of Montenegro 33/2012, 58/2014, 14/2017 and 66/2019, amended by 111/2026, Articles 22, 36 to 37a, 71, 176, 176a, 182, 182a, 264, 286, 308, 319, 321 and 322). Insurance is governed by the Law on Compulsory Traffic Insurance (Official Gazette of Montenegro 44/2012, amended by 146/2021, 69/2025 and 114/2026, Articles 25, 27a and 28). The legislation was checked on 25 September 2026. Fijaka is a classifieds platform and does not give legal advice; check the rental terms in your contract with the rental company.