Driving and rental
Driving in Montenegro: rules, tolls, ferries and winter tyres
Montenegro has few motorways and many mountain roads, so trips take longer than the map suggests. The rules are close to the rest of Europe, with a few points that matter for visitors: winter equipment from mid-November, a short list of tolls and border crossings that need the rental company's permission.
In short
- Traffic drives on the right.
- Winter tyres are required from 15 November to 1 April when there is snow or ice, and on road sections listed by the government for the whole period.
- Only two road tolls: the A1 motorway section Smokovac-Mateševo (3.50 EUR for a car) and the Sozina tunnel between Podgorica and Bar (2.50 EUR).
- The Kamenari-Lepetane ferry across the Bay of Kotor costs 5 EUR per car.
- Driving the rental car out of Montenegro needs the rental company's written permission.
Picking up the car
At Tivat and Podgorica airports the car is handed over at the airport or in the airport rental parking, with the keys from a representative or the rental desk. Your exact pick-up instructions come by e-mail after booking and again before pick-up. Walk round the car, photograph existing marks, check the fuel level and, from mid-November, check the tyres are marked for winter use.
Road rules visitors ask about
- Dipped headlights on at all times, day and night.
- No right turn on a red light unless a separate green arrow shows.
- At unmarked junctions, give way to traffic from the right.
- Seat belts for everyone, front and back; no hand-held phone while driving.
- Carry the reflective vest and warning triangle that come with the car.
Tolls
Montenegro has no vignette. You pay only at two places: the A1 motorway section between Smokovac (near Podgorica) and Mateševo, used on the way to Kolašin and the north, and the Sozina tunnel on the road from Podgorica to Bar. Both accept cash in euros and bank cards at the booth.
The Bay of Kotor ferry
The Kamenari-Lepetane ferry crosses the narrowest point of the bay and saves the drive round the inner bay through Risan, Perast and Kotor. It runs day and night and the crossing takes a few minutes. Expect queues on summer weekends and at rush hour.
Winter: tyres, chains and mountain roads
From 15 November to 1 April all vehicles driving in winter conditions (snowfall, snow or ice on the road) must have winter tyres with at least 4 mm of tread, and the government publishes road sections where they are required for the whole period regardless of the weather. The coast is mild, but the roads to Cetinje, Lovćen, Kolašin and Žabljak can be snowbound.
Planning mountain drives between November and April? Ask for a car with winter tyres and snow chains when you book, and check the road status on the day.
Parking
Kotor, Budva, Herceg Novi and Podgorica centres have paid parking zones and car parks. Pay as shown on the signs (machine, attendant or SMS from a local number) and keep the receipt. Parking fines reach the car's owner after the rental and are passed on to the driver under the rental terms.
Crossing into Croatia, Bosnia and Herzegovina or Albania
Dubrovnik and Mostar are close to the Bay of Kotor, but a rental car may only leave Montenegro with the rental company's written permission and the insurance documents for the countries you enter. Ask when you book. Without permission, insurance cover can be void outside Montenegro.
Frequently asked questions
Do I need a vignette in Montenegro?
No. Only the A1 Smokovac-Mateševo section and the Sozina tunnel are tolled, paid at the booth.
Are winter tyres needed on the coast?
From 15 November to 1 April they are required whenever there is snow or ice on the road, and on government-listed sections at all times in that period. Snow is rare on the coast but common in the mountains.
Can I take the rental car to Dubrovnik?
Only with the rental company's written permission and the right insurance documents. Ask before you book.
Car rental in Podgorica | Car rental in Tivat
Sources
- Winter tires mandatory as of today, CdM (Police Directorate statement) (checked October 27, 2026)
- Government order on road sections with mandatory winter tyres, Vujačić Company (text of the order) (checked October 27, 2026)
- Motorway toll Montenegro, tolls.eu (checked October 27, 2026)
- Maut in Montenegro, ADAC (checked October 27, 2026)
- Kamenari-Lepetane ferry timetable and fares, Novosti (checked October 27, 2026)
- Traffic and road conditions in Montenegro, CountryReports (checked October 27, 2026)
Rules, prices and opening hours change. Check the official source before you travel. Drive times are approximate.
More guides
Montenegro in 5 days by car: a loop from Tivat or Podgorica
Bay of Kotor, Perast, Lovćen and Cetinje, the Budva coast, Lake Skadar and Ostrog Monastery in five days, with a winter variant for when the mountain roads close.
Day trips from Tivat and Kotor by car
Six day trips from a base on the Bay of Kotor: Perast, the Luštica peninsula, Herceg Novi by ferry, Lovćen and Cetinje, the Budva coast and Lake Skadar.
Montenegro in winter: coast, ski slopes and what is closed
A winter plan for Montenegro by car: quiet coastal towns, skiing at Kolašin, Ostrog and Cetinje, plus what closes after mid-November and the winter tyre rule.