Company permission
The rental agreement must include permission to cross the border, or you receive a separate authorisation with it. Without it, border police can turn you back, because you are not driving your own vehicle. Many companies charge a one-off cross-border fee, so mention it when you book, not at the desk.
The green card
The green card is international proof that the car is insured. Montenegrin vehicles carry one for the countries in the system, including Croatia, Bosnia and Herzegovina, Serbia and Albania. Check on the card itself that your destination is not crossed out.
Kosovo is not part of the green card system, so border insurance is bought on entry. Some companies do not allow trips to Kosovo at all.
Croatia and Dubrovnik
Croatia is in the EU and the Schengen area, so checks at the Debeli Brijeg–Karasovići crossing are thorough. In July and August the wait can exceed an hour, especially on Saturdays. Set off early in the morning.
If you continue towards Split, the Pelješac bridge takes you around Neum, so you avoid another Bosnian border crossing.
Bosnia and Herzegovina, and Serbia
Trebinje is half an hour from Herceg Novi, while Mostar and Sarajevo make great two-day trips. Serbia is usually reached via Bijelo Polje or Pljevlja. Roads are mostly regional, so allow more time than the map suggests.
Albania
The Božaj crossing near Tuzi and Sukobin near Ulcinj lead to Shkodër and on to Tirana. Drive carefully in Albania — traffic behaviour is different and there are many speed cameras.
Documents to carry
- passport (an ID card is enough for the EU/Schengen only for EU citizens)
- driving licence
- rental agreement with cross-border permission
- vehicle registration document
- green card
See real prices from local companies for your dates.
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