We tell you about car rental in Montenegro in 2021. Is it possible to rent without a deposit? Learn about local traffic rules, fines, police and parking. Pros and cons of traveling around the country by car. Reviews and advice of autotourists.
Montenegro is a picturesque part of southern Europe, and only a few tourists spend their entire vacation on the beach. Traveling by car opens up many possibilities. In 1-2 weeks it is easy to see ancient temples, fortresses and amazingly beautiful mountain landscapes.
Find out all the nuances of car rental abroad.
Where is the best place to rent a car in Montenegro
There are international and local car rental companies in different parts of the country.
Airports... Cheap car rental in Montenegro at the airports of Podgorica and Tivat. The offices of major car rental companies are located just behind the arrivals hall. If you have booked a car in advance, it will be brought to the airport, parked and met with a sign. Sign the contract and get behind the wheel!
Railway stations... You can rent a car in Montenegro at the stations of Podgorica, Bar, Sutomore, Niksic, Tuzi or Bijelo Polje. Our prices are slightly higher than at airports.
Cities... There are also rental companies in Montenegrin cities. More places for rent are located in Buda and Bar, where there are traditionally a lot of tourists.
Websites... To save time and money, rent a car in Montenegro through the Myrentacar.com website.
Advice... If you are looking for an unusual car, contact an international car rental company. Prices there are slightly higher than in local firms, but the choice of cars of different classes and modifications is much greater.
Features of car rental in Montenegro
Rights and age... Russian rights will be enough to complete the lease agreement. The renter must be over 21 years old, and in some cases - 22 years old, and have a driving experience of 1-2 years. When making a contract, you will need a passport.
How to pay... Most of the distributors accept both credit cards and cash. There should be no problems with this.
Which car is better to take... For trips around cities and over short distances, a small compact car is more suitable, and an SUV is more suitable for traveling to national parks. Renting compact cars in Montenegro is cheap, so they are in great demand. Summer in Montenegro is warm and sunny, and many tourists are happy to take convertibles.
Look for interesting excursions on the Tripster website - there are collected unique author tours that will show the country from a new perspective.
What you need to know and what to look for... Rental car fees are lower than in many other European countries. However, there are problems here. There are a lot of worn-out and high-mileage cars in the car parks of local car rental companies.
Some rental offices do not take any money for booking. In others, the car is reserved after you have paid 15-20% of the rental price. Still others make a reservation only after full payment.
Lease agreements are drawn up in Montenegrin and English. During the return of used cars, the managers of the rental companies usually do not look at small scratches and shortcomings. However, when you return a new and expensive vehicle, it will be inspected very carefully.
Prices for car rental in Montenegro
To travel around the country, you can take a car of any price category. Budget cars like the Nissan Micra, Mazda 2, Toyota Aygo, Opel Corsa, Skoda Fabia and Toyota Yaris start at € 8 per day. SUVs are offered for 15-40 €, and convertibles - from 20 €. Check the current prices at Myrentacar.com.
The price of car rental in Montenegro, as a rule, includes basic insurance, unlimited mileage, a second driver, delivery to the hotel and the ability to travel to neighboring countries. Some rental offices offer a child seat and a GPS navigator for free.
Car insurance
Montenegro lives according to European laws, amended by local rules.
Types of insurance... The choice of insurance is the same as that of the Russians - OSAGO and CASCO. They cover most problems other than wheel and windshield damage. There is a super-hull insurance. This insurance covers all the troubles you might get along the way.
CASCO franchise for budget and middle class cars costs 5 € per day, for SUVs and luxury cars - 10 €. The cost of CASCO without collateral is 10-15 €.
The deposit is taken in cash or frozen on the card when drawing up a lease agreement. If the damage was not found during the return, the money will be returned in full. In the event of an accident or breakdown, they will be used to restore the rented car. The plus is that the rental company cannot charge you more than the amount of the deposit.
How can you rent without a deductible? Take out a CASCO + MTPL agreement without a deposit, that is, full car insurance. In this case, the risks will be minimal. In some cases, the tenant will still be held liable. You will have to pay if at the time of the accident you were intoxicated or under the influence of drugs, a person who was not included in the lease was driving, or there is no police report on the accident.
Is it safe to travel by car in Montenegro
There are many mountain roads in the country. Take your time and be careful on the winding serpentines! Be sure to turn on the headlights in the tunnels. Please note that many mountain passes are not straight, but with curves.
The crime rate is low here, so no theft or theft insurance is used. Thefts are very rare, but theft from salons still happens. In order not to seduce the robbers, do not leave valuables in sight.
There are many natural parks and forests in the country. Watch the road: suddenly, hedgehogs, foxes, turtles and snakes may appear in front of the car.
Roads in Montenegro
The road network in the country is excellent. Riding here is comfortable and convenient, but we would not recommend driving.
Toll roads... There are no toll highways. You only need to pay for the Sozina tunnel, which reduces the ascent from Podgorica to the sea by 22 km. It stretches over a mountain range for 4 km and costs 2.5 € for a passenger car. Another paid place is the ferry through the Boko-Kotor Bay. Travel on it will cost 4.5 €.
Fines and traffic rules... Montenegrin traffic rules are not too different from Russian ones. Children under 12 years old should not be in the front. Babies under 5 years old travel only in car seats. During the day, cars drive with low beam. On a roundabout, cars that are already in the circle have the advantage.
Here are the most common penalties:
- speeding - 30-2000 €;
- driving without low beam - 30-80 €;
- unfastened seat belts - 40-100 €;
- parking in places for disabled people - 70-200 €;
- excess blood alcohol level above 0.3 ppm - 70-2000 € or arrest up to 2 months.
Speed limits and cameras... Within cities, the speed is limited to 50 km / h, and in some places - 40 km / h. Security cameras are only available on major roads. Be careful! Police officers with radars usually stand behind road signs that limit speed.
Policemen... Traffic police in Montenegro do not take bribes. The only thing that can soften the policeman is your sincere remorse and the insignificance of the violation. Most likely, they will not be punished for speeding over 10 km / h, but for speeding over 20 km / h, a fine will be mandatory.
How to save money on car rental in Montenegro
Features of driving local... On the roads there is a leisurely and calm rhythm of movement. Montenegrin drivers drive skillfully in the mountains. Do not try to bypass them on bends. Local motorists are friendly - those who drive towards you will always smile at you.
Refueling and gasoline prices... Usually, rental cars run on 95 gasoline or diesel. The prices for all gas stations in Montenegro are the same.In 2021, 1 liter of 95 gasoline costs 1.23 €, and diesel fuel - 1.19 €.
Advice... According to tourists, gasoline is not refilled at EkoPetrol gas stations in Budva. In order not to be deceived, refuel yourself or wait until the refueller finishes his work, and then go pay to the cashier.
Parking in Montenegro
There are few free places for cars in the country. Paid parking near beaches and shopping centers start at 1 € per hour. On weekdays from 23:00 to 7:00, as well as on Sundays, no money is taken. If the parking lot has a barrier, then at the entrance you take a coupon with a time stamp, and pay at the exit.
There are special places for parking on the streets. Here you need parking tickets, which are called "parking lot". They are sold in newspaper kiosks and vending machines for 0.7 € each. Write on the coupons the date and time of parking and put under the windshield of the car as many coupons as you left the car for so many hours.
Reviews about car rental in Montenegro
Autotrip on a rental car in Montenegro can bring a lot of pleasure. Tourists celebrate pros:
- The car gives a feeling of freedom. You can easily reach remote beaches and luxurious viewpoints.
- During the autotrip there is no need to book a hotel by the sea and you can save on accommodation.
- No need to spend money on excursions. See the sights where ordinary tourists are not taken!
- In Montenegro, it is not customary to overestimate the cost of repairs, therefore, the damage assessment voiced by the distributor is always true.
Minuses:
- Free car delivery is offered only in Budva and Tivat. To deliver the car to Podgorica airport, you will have to pay 30 €, and for delivery and return - 50 €.
- There are few free parking lots.
- Parking machines are available only in Budva.
Advicehow it is easier and cheaper to rent a car in Montenegro in 2021:
- High rental prices during the swimming season - from early summer to September. Come in the off-season and you will spend less on rent.
- Those looking to rent a special vehicle should book in advance as the demand for exclusive models is high.
- To communicate with managers, it is desirable to know English. Very few people understand Russian.
- If you confidently drive any new car and feel great the dimensions, take a car without hull insurance.
- There are many mountains here, so don't rent a car with a low-powered engine.
- Upon receipt of the car, carefully inspect the interior, headlights, tires and rims and inform the rental company about any damage you have noticed. Make sure that records of scratches and other defects are included in the vehicle card.
- If you plan to travel outside the country, warn about it. The manager will make a special note for the border guards in the lease.
- Pay the deposit in cash. After the delivery of the car, it will be returned immediately. Money that is blocked on a bank card is "unfreezed" for up to a month.