Visiting Montenegro during the summer is a magical experience, especially if you can afford to hire a car. In case you are courageous enough to drive in foreign countries, renting a car is a great way to see a lot of smaller towns and secret gems on your schedule. Renting a car in Montenegro is easy to do once you follow these travel tips. In this article, we share our insider tips & tricks on how to rent a car in Podgorica at Airport and Tivat Airport.
How to Drive in Montenegro – Tips & Tricks For Travelers
Before we share our recommendation on how to rent a car in Podgorica and Tivat, it helps to receive a few tips on driving in Montenegro from people who have become familiar with it. For travelers to Montenegro, it can be a little intimidating.
- First, if you didn’t practice driving a manual transmission car, I would recommend hiring an automatic vehicle. They can be a little more expensive but are worth the peace of mind and safety. When booking a rental car, you will see options for manual transmission or automatic transmission. If you do not make a specific request while booking, the rental car company can provide you with the option they choose.
- Second, Montenegrins are known for being very good, fast drivers. Sometimes, that can frustrate travelers from other countries. But don’t let that prevent you from driving in Montenegro. I’ve found Montenegrian drivers to be a bit impatient, but they are conscientious and very skilled at driving. Also, lots of Russian and Ukrainian people have been living in Montenegro recently, not only Montenegrian drivers. Take your time, and when on the main roads, stick to the right-hand lanes.
- Third, be prepared with a map on your phone (Google Maps works best in Montenegro). As an alternative, most Montenegrian rental car companies will offer a GPS as an upgrade or a small pocket WiFi device you can rent. But you can buy a tourist SIM prepaid card in any Telekom or Telenor shop for 10 euros, it will provide you with 100 GB for 15 days. Pretty much enough for your stay. So, no need for an expensive GPS; just use Google maps.
How To Rent A Car At Podgorica Airport Or City Center
For people arriving in Montenegro at Podgorica Airport or Tivat Airport, there are a few easy options to pick up a car.
Car Rental at Podgorica or Tivat Airports
The main airport is in Podgorica. It has a couple of world-famous car rental agencies located outside the terminals. When booking, look for car rentals for Podgorica Airport.
The agency that we used, Montenegro Car Rentals, doesn’t have offices at the airports, however, they are very well organized, and you can choose a pick-up location. Otherwise, if you book through some of the international brands like CarRentals, Six, Europcar, or Hertz, the cars are located in front of an airport, on large parking.
If you’re going to Tivat Airport, the second airport in Montenegro, the best option is to book your car in advance online or by phone. Most local car rental agencies have free phone numbers for international travelers or Viber numbers.
The airport is small, but during the season, it’s crowded, and sometimes, international agencies’ offices are overcrowded with tourists. So, the best option is to book in advance, we suggest local car hire because they are much faster in delivering the car and the agency staff will wait for you in front terminal on the airport (help you with your baggage).
Podgorica and Tivat Car Rental – City Center
You can also pick up your car at many different points in the city center. We picked up our rental car in the parking of a hostel near the bus station. On the off chance that you are organizing a pickup in the downtown area make certain to get some information about confined driving zones inside the focal point of the city to evade a ticket. A manager from a car rental agency or staff in your hostel/hotel/local host should be able to show you on a map where these restricted zones are in comparison to your accommodation.
Car Hire Pro Tip: If you book a car via international brands, someone may not be at the desk when you arrive. The airports are not open 24 hours a day. Most agencies are closed from 9 PM until 8 AM. Research carefully opening hours before arriving. As we said earlier, probably the best is to book a local car rental agency since they are more flexible and will wait for you at the airport until you arrive.
Car Rental Tips in Montenegro
Imagine you have an early flight at 7 AM or 8 AM, which can be very usual if using low-cost airlines, but you need to drop-off the car before 8 AM – most of the agencies will be closed at the airport. Arrange drop-off time with the car rental manager in advance if possible. It is much less stressful.
Documents for renting a car in Montenegro:
To drive in Montenegro, you will require a substantial domestic driving permit. There are no limitations about a driving experience or uncommon age limits. On the off chance that you are more than 21 years of age, you can hire a vehicle in Montenegro.
Deposit for car:
Many car rental agencies have rules to take a deposit that has been concurred ahead of time with agency agents. Most of the companies take a deposit of up to 400€. Be that as it may, the standard deposit is 100€ – this is something you need to check before making a final online reservation with a local or international company.
However, it is highly recommended to always check the car well, or take pictures to confirm the true condition of the car. It can be very unpleasant if you return the car with some damages and you can’t prove damage or scratches were already there.
How To Find The Best Car Rental Service In Podgorica
My suggestion when looking for car hire is to book early, in advance, and online. If you book a few months in advance you can save some money since the prices during the season are extremely high. Also, before making a final decision on a car rental company, check and read reviews. I found that the best way to do this is to read reviews on Google listings and TrustPilot. Almost all rental companies have their profiles.
What is the cost of renting a car in Montenegro?
On average, a car hire in Montenegro costs around 34€ per day. During the off-season, you can book a car for 9€ per day. In the summer season, the prices go up to 60€ per day for small cars.
