Destinations / Montenegro
Driving in Montenegro as a visitor
Usually yes. Montenegro expects visiting drivers to carry an International Driving Permit alongside their national licence, and rental desks ask for one. It matters most when your licence is not printed in the Latin alphabet.
Standard delivery included. Need it sooner? Express lands by for $25 more.
Reviewed July 2026 · A translation of your own licence, carried with it. Not a government permit.
What Montenegro expects
| Permit needed | Expected |
|---|---|
| Convention format | 1968 Vienna |
| Valid for | Up to 3 years |
| Drives on the | Right |
| Emergency number | 112 or 122 |
| Top speed limit | 100 km/h expressways |
What the rental desk will ask you for
| Your own licence | The original card. A photo of it, or a photocopy, gets turned away. |
|---|---|
| Licence translation | Expected. Hand it over with the licence, never instead of it. |
| Booklet format they know | 1968 Vienna |
| Minimum age | 18. Under 25 usually pays a young-driver surcharge. |
| Deposit | A credit card in the driver's name. The hold is taken in EUR. |
Rules that catch visitors out
| Lights | Headlights on at all times. |
|---|---|
| In the car | Carry a reflective vest and triangle. |
| Alcohol | 0.03% alcohol limit. |
| Tolls | Tunnel toll on the Sozina route. |
On the road in Montenegro
At the pump
Unleaded 95/98 and diesel are widely available across the country, including main coastal and mountain routes; stations are mostly attended or self-service with card acceptance, and prices are moderate and state-regulated.
After a crash
Call 112 for police and ambulance. By law you must not move the vehicles before police attend and document the scene; an official police report is mandatory for any insurance or rental-damage claim.
Sources: rac.co.uk · tollguru.com · tyremap.com · autoeurope.com
Common questions
Do you need an International Driving Permit in Montenegro?
Usually yes. Montenegro expects visiting drivers to carry an International Driving Permit alongside their national licence, and rental desks ask for one. It matters most when your licence is not printed in the Latin alphabet.
Which IDP format does Montenegro accept?
Montenegro recognises the 1968 Vienna format. Your permit is prepared in that format.
Will a rental desk in Montenegro ask for one?
Podgorica and Tivat desks request an IDP for non-EU licences.
How fast can you get one?
Express orders are emailed within 5 minutes. The exact delivery moment is quoted before you pay and the order is refundable for 30 days.