What can go wrong when you rent a car in Montenegro

Rental companies do not write about this — they have no reason to. We are an information guide, so we can.

Money and nerves usually go on the same few things: someone else’s scratches at return, a deposit that takes weeks to unblock, a camera fine months later, a border crossing without a Green Card, a tank that is not full, a mileage limit and parking in August.

What follows is not scaremongering but a list of what actually costs people money and nerves in Montenegro. Almost all of it is solved by five minutes of attention when you collect the car.

Scratches you did not make

The most common way to lose a deposit. The car is handed over with existing damage, and that damage goes into the check-in form — except not always all of it.

What to do. Walk around the car and film it: the body all the way round, the wheels, the windscreen, the interior. Bumpers and sills separately — that is where everything collects. Make sure every scratch you can see is on the form. If something is missing, have it written in before you sign, not after.

Thirty seconds of video on your phone closes this question completely.

The deposit did not come back straight away

Not every car has one: some are let with no deposit at all, and there is a filter for exactly that on the car rental page. Where there is a deposit, there are two sets of figures: €100–300 with local rental companies, €900–2,000 blocked on a credit card with the international chains.

Local companies give the deposit back as soon as you return the car. A card hold with an international chain does not release instantly — it takes 5 to 30 days to lift. That is not the rental company stalling, it is how card holds work.

What to do. If you need that money during the trip, take a car with no deposit or with a cash deposit.

The fine arrives three months later

A camera records the offence, the fine goes to the rental company, the company charges you — usually with an admin fee on top. Weeks or even months pass between the offence and the charge.

What to do. Remember that the law allows no speeding margin: one kilometre per hour over is formally an offence. The police have said that for now they will not fine anyone up to 10 km/h over, but that is practice, not a right. A new road traffic law has been in force since 7 August 2026: fines have doubled or tripled and start at €60. And do not be surprised by a letter in the autumn.

The Green Card: no border crossing without it

If you plan to drive into Albania, Bosnia, Croatia or Serbia you need a Green Card — insurance valid outside the country.

The rental company issues it in advance for an extra fee — €25–50 per rental at most firms. You cannot buy it at the border. Arriving at the crossing without one means turning around and losing a day.

Leaving the country at all is only allowed with the rental company’s written permission. Without it you face a €300–500 penalty and lose your insurance cover.

What to do. Tell the rental company about the crossing when you book, not when you pick up the keys.

A tank that is not full

The standard condition is full tank out, full tank back. Hand it over short and the difference is charged at the company’s rate, which is always above the pump.

What to do. Fill up on the way to the airport and keep the receipt. More in the article on petrol stations.

Mileage limits

Some cars come with a limit — say 200 km a day. For a coastal holiday that is plenty. A trip north and back, however, eats the allowance in a single day.

What to do. Check the condition before booking. If Durmitor or the Tara canyon are on the plan, choose an unlimited option.

Parking in August

Not strictly about renting, but it spoils a trip more than anything else. In July and August there are physically no free spaces in the centres of Kotor and Budva.

What to do. Ask about parking before you book the accommodation, not after. Details in the article on parking.

A serpentine you are not ready for

The road to Lovćen is twenty-five hairpins, single-track in places. If you rarely drive, have not driven for a while or dislike heights, it will be a trial rather than a pleasure.

What to do. Do not be a hero. Most mountain destinations have a normal-road alternative: for Lovćen people go up via Cetinje, and the view is nearly the same.

The car breaks down

Rare, but it happens. The main thing is do not fix it yourself and do not call the first tow truck you find: those costs will not be reimbursed.

What to do. Call the rental company immediately — the number is in your contract and voucher. Then follow their instructions. Save the number in your phone contacts: the signal drops in the mountains, and you will have nothing to search your inbox with.

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None of this is a reason to skip the car: without one half the country is out of reach. It is a list of five-minute precautions that keep the trip smooth. The route: Montenegro by car in 5 days. And if a crash does happen, the steps are in car accident in Montenegro. Prices checked in September 2026.