Montenegro

Key points for young drivers:

• Up to 24 or licence for less than a year? Maximum 70 km/h outside built-up areas, 100 km/h on motorways.
• General limits: 50 km/h in built-up areas, 80 outside built-up areas, 100 on expressways, 130 on motorways.
• Alcohol: above 0.3 ‰ you count as drunk – best to drive on zero.
• Lights on all day.
• In the car: first-aid kit, warning triangle, high-visibility vest, tow rope and spare bulbs.
• No vignettes, no Green Card needed.

Seat belts and child seats

A child under 12 may not travel in the front seat (nor may a drunk person). A child under 5 must travel in a special child seat.

Always wear your seat belt.

Traffic lights

No specific information in official sources – follow traffic lights as in most EU countries.

Helmet not compulsory

No data in official sources.

Helmet compulsory

• motorcycle and moped

We have not confirmed the details (bicycle, e-scooter, age) in official sources.

Compulsory equipment in the car

• first-aid kit
• warning triangle
• high-visibility vest
• tow rope
• set of spare bulbs

Compulsory equipment on a bike

No specific requirements in the sources.

Winter tyres and snow chains

Winter equipment is compulsory from 15 November to 31 March when there is snow, ice or black ice on the road. In a car you can choose:

• winter tyres (e.g. M+S) on all wheels
• winter tyres on the drive wheels + snow chains on at least two drive wheels
• summer tyres on all wheels + snow chains on at least two drive wheels

Tyre tread – at least 4 mm.

Note: these rules were set out by the Government of Montenegro in a 2019 notice – before a winter trip, check the current rules at gov.me.

Phone, drugs and other bans

• Phone: you must not use a phone while driving.
• Alcohol: above 0.3 ‰ you count as drunk – you face the highest fines and even detention.
• Drugs and other narcotics – the highest penalties, including detention.
• Are you up to 24 years old or have you had your licence for less than 12 months? Your maximum is 70 km/h (also on expressways), 100 km/h on motorways and 40 km/h on a moped.
• Dipped headlights or daytime running lights must be on during the day too.

Vignettes, tolls and low-emission zones

There are no vignettes – most roads are free. You pay for:

• the Sozina tunnel (Podgorica – Sutomore route)
• the Bar–Boljare motorway section (Podgorica/Smokovac – Kolašin/Mateševo)
• the Kamenari – Lepetane ferry across the Bay of Kotor

Documents and insurance

• Driving licence: according to the German Federal Foreign Office, a German licence is recognised, and according to the Polish Ministry of Foreign Affairs, a Polish one too. If your licence is from another country, check your foreign ministry’s travel advice before you travel.
• A Green Card has not been needed since 2021 – Montenegro is part of the Multilateral Agreement of Green Card Bureaux, so for a car from the EU or EEA your third-party motor insurance is enough.
• Hiring a car? Check and photograph its condition before you take it; the Polish Ministry of Foreign Affairs recommends extra insurance.

What to watch out for

• Mountains, narrow and winding roads, in places in poor condition and badly signposted – drive carefully and stick to the main roads.
• Local drivers drive recklessly – be especially careful at roundabouts, where most minor collisions happen.
• Fines are very high – you can be fined even for speeding by 1 km/h.
• Google Maps often fails (“passable” roads can be narrow gravel tracks), and in many places there is no mobile signal.
• In summer: accidents, closed roads, traffic jams and road strikes – leave for the airport with plenty of time to spare.

Sources

• Road Traffic Safety Law of Montenegro (2018 text)
• Government of Montenegro – compulsory winter equipment (2019)
• Government of Montenegro – draft amendment to the law (alcohol limit)
• Council of Bureaux – Green Card system
• German Federal Foreign Office – Montenegro: travel and safety advice (in German)
• Polish Ministry of Foreign Affairs – Odyseusz: Montenegro (in Polish)
• Last updated: September 2026.