Mandatory third-party liability
Every registered vehicle in Montenegro has third-party liability insurance. It covers damage you cause to others — their car, property or people. It does not cover damage to the car you are driving.
CDW and the excess
Collision damage cover (CDW) pays for damage to the rental car. It almost always comes with an excess: the amount up to which you pay for damage yourself. With a €500 excess and €300 of damage, you pay €300. With €2,000 of damage, you pay €500.
The excess depends on the company and the car class. Cheaper offers often have a high one, so always compare it together with the price.
Full insurance
Full insurance (SCDW) is a daily add-on that reduces the excess or removes it entirely. For short rentals and towns with narrow streets and tight parking — Kotor, Budva, Herceg Novi — it is usually the smart choice.
On localcars.me you can see which cars offer full insurance and its daily price, and the 'Full insurance' category on the homepage collects all of them.
What is almost never covered
Even with full insurance, most companies exclude:
- tyres, wheels and glass (unless added separately)
- underbody damage on gravel roads and off-road
- lost keys and documents
- damage caused under the influence of alcohol or by an unregistered driver
- misfuelling
How the deposit works
The deposit is a guarantee against damage, fines or missing fuel. It is taken at pick-up — in cash or as a block on your credit card — and returned when you bring the car back in order.
A card block is not a charge, but it reduces your available balance until the bank releases it, which can take several working days. No-deposit rentals exist, mostly with full insurance.
If something happens
After an accident, call the police (122) and notify the company straight away. Without a police report, the insurer often refuses the claim, even if you were not at fault. Photograph the scene, the vehicles and the other driver's documents.
See real prices from local companies for your dates.
Cars with full insurance