By the Airport Rent a Car team · Updated
Driving in Montenegro: Rules, Tolls, Parking and Tips
Speed limits, headlights, tolls on the Sozina tunnel and the A1 motorway, parking on the coast, winter tyres and the habits of local drivers: what to know before you drive.
In Montenegro you drive on the right. The limit is 50 km/h in towns and 80 km/h on other roads unless signs say otherwise, dipped headlights must be on during the day, and phones may not be used while driving. There is no vignette: you pay only the Sozina tunnel and the A1 motorway, by cash or card.
Speed limits
The Road Traffic Safety Act sets the general limits below. Signs override them, and on the coast many sections are signed lower than the general limit, so watch for them.
| Road | General limit |
|---|---|
| In towns and villages | 50 km/h |
| Other roads outside towns | 80 km/h |
| Roads reserved for motor vehicles | 100 km/h |
| Motorway (A1) | 130 km/h |
Police often check speed, for example on the coastal road between Bar, Budva and Kotor and on the road from Podgorica to the coast.
Rules that surprise visitors
A few rules catch out first-time visitors more than others:
- Lights on by day: dipped headlights or daytime running lights must be on at all times.
- No phone in hand: the law forbids using a phone while driving. Use a hands-free mount and set the navigation before you leave.
- Seat belts for everyone, in the front and the back.
- Children travel in a child seat suited to their size. We rent infant, baby and booster seats as extras.
- Alcohol: the legal limit is low and police test drivers regularly. The only safe amount before driving is none.
- In a roundabout, cars already on it have priority unless signs say otherwise.
Tolls: only two
Montenegro has no motorway vignette. You pay only two tolls, at a booth, in cash (euro) or by card:
| Where | Passenger car |
|---|---|
| Sozina tunnel (Podgorica / Virpazar – Bar, about 4 km) | €2.50 |
| A1 motorway Smokovac – Mateševo (about 41 km, north of Podgorica) | €3.50 |
On the airport-to-coast route you only meet the Sozina tunnel. The A1 motorway matters if you head north towards Kolašin, Durmitor or Serbia.
Parking on the coast
Parking is the hardest part of driving on the coast in July and August. In Kotor, Budva and Tivat the central car parks fill by mid-morning. Arrive early or park a little further out and walk.
On-street parking works in paid zones marked by signs. Pay at the meter (keep coins ready) or by SMS with a local SIM card, following the instructions on the sign. Public car parks with barriers are paid on exit. Hourly prices are generally a few euros or less; check the sign where you park.
Parking fines and towing are common in summer. If you get a parking ticket in a rental car, contact us so it is paid correctly and on time.
Mountain roads and the Kotor serpentines
Coastal and main roads are in good condition, but mountain roads are narrow and winding, often without a centre line. The famous serpentine road from Kotor up to Lovćen has 25 hairpin bends and room for only one car at many of them.
Drive slowly, use your horn before blind bends, and let buses pass: they need the whole road on the bends. Allow more time than your navigation app suggests, especially in summer traffic.
Winter driving
From 15 November to 1 April, winter tyres are mandatory on roads outside the coastal area, and snow chains when signs require them. The coast rarely sees snow, but the roads to Žabljak, Kolašin and over Lovćen can be icy.
If you plan to drive into the mountains in winter, mention it when you book and ask us about the route and the car’s winter equipment.
If something happens
Stop safely, switch on the hazard lights and put on the reflective vest before you leave the car. The police number is 122 and the general emergency number is 112.
For any damage to a rental car, however small, call the police so they can make an official report, then call us. With full insurance, the police report is what makes the cover apply.
Frequently asked questions
Do I need a vignette to drive in Montenegro?
No. There is no vignette. You pay only the Sozina tunnel (€2.50 for a car) and the A1 motorway Smokovac–Mateševo (€3.50), in cash or by card at the booth.
Do headlights have to be on during the day in Montenegro?
Yes. Dipped headlights or daytime running lights must be on whenever you drive, day and night.
What is the speed limit on Montenegro’s roads?
50 km/h in towns, 80 km/h on other roads outside towns, 100 km/h on roads for motor vehicles and 130 km/h on the motorway, unless signs show a different limit.
Can I use my phone to navigate while driving?
Only hands-free. Holding and using a phone while driving is not allowed, so use a mount and set the route before you start.
Sources: Zakon o bezbjednosti saobraćaja na putevima (Uprava za saobraćaj) · Tolls in Montenegro (tolls.eu, updated Feb 2026) · ADAC: Maut in Montenegro · Adriacom: Driving in Montenegro · Montenegro Guides: Parking and fines