Does Thrifty require an IDP in Montenegro?
Written by Daniel MercerUpdated July 2026
Thrifty in Montenegro: the policy in plain terms
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Montenegro drives on the right and signs the 1968 Vienna Convention; an IDP is advised for its serpentine coastal and mountain roads.
In Montenegro specifically, many rental companies and local authorities in Montenegro ask foreign drivers to present a translation of their licence alongside the original, so Thrifty will typically ask for it at the counter. Podgorica and Tivat desks request an IDP for non-EU licences.
Thrifty runs a global network; at its Montenegro desks, foreign renters are asked for an International Driving Permit in the 1968 Vienna Convention format alongside the original licence. Montenegro drives on the right, uses the EUR, and sets a minimum driving age of 18, so an IDP is the document that removes any doubt at the counter.
What to bring to the Thrifty counter in Montenegro
- Your original national driving licence (the IDP never replaces it).
- Your International Driving Permit in the 1968 Vienna Convention format.
- Your passport and a payment card in the main driver's name.
- Local payment for the EUR deposit; Montenegro drives on the right with a young-driver surcharge under 25.
Driving rules in Montenegro Thrifty renters should know
- Headlights on at all times.
- Carry a reflective vest and triangle.
- 0.03% alcohol limit.
- Tunnel toll on the Sozina route.
Thrifty's rental terms that affect your IDP booking
Thrifty's published minimum rental age is 20 at most U.S. and Canada locations (18 in Michigan, New York, and Quebec); drivers aged 20-24 (or 18-24 in those exception states/province) are charged an Underage Drivers fee that varies by location, typically around $29/day and higher (roughly $35-$52) in New York and Michigan.
A valid credit/debit card in the renter's own name is required and a hold is placed for estimated charges plus roughly $200 extra for credit cards or $500 for debit (about $350 CAD in Canada); Visa/Mastercard/Discover debit cards are accepted only on Compact through Fullsize classes (not Premium and above) and a physical card must be presented as digital-wallet cards are not accepted.
Additional drivers must meet the minimum age requirement and hold a valid licence, and an additional-driver fee applies per day; it is waived for Blue Chip Rewards members, government renters on official orders, corporate-rate customers, and the companion/driver of a physically impaired customer. Thrifty's general policy requires a valid driver's licence covering the entire rental period but does not publish a fixed minimum tenure; in practice under-25 renters are typically expected to have held a full licence for at least one year.
Driving is generally restricted to the continental United States and Canada, and a Canadian resident is prohibited from driving a U.S.-owned vehicle into Canada; one-way rentals are offered within the U.S. and within Canada subject to location/availability with a one-way drop fee.
Foreign renters must present a driver's licence issued in their country of residence together with a valid passport; if the licence is not in English, Thrifty requires both the foreign licence and a current International Driver's Permit to be presented.
Once you collect the keys in Montenegro
There is no vignette; tolls are paid per use, chiefly the Sozina tunnel on the Bar-Podgorica route (about EUR 2.50-3.50 for a car) and the new Bar-Boljare motorway, payable by cash or card at booths.
Paid zones operate in Podgorica, Kotor, Budva and other towns at roughly EUR 0.50-1 per hour, often via attendant, meter or SMS. Coastal old towns like Kotor are largely pedestrianised, so use peripheral car parks to avoid towing.
Police frequently enforce speeding and tunnel overtaking (notably inside Sozina) with on-the-spot fines typically starting around EUR 30-60; phone and seatbelt offences are also fined. Rental firms recharge camera/police fines to the renter.
Call 112 for police and ambulance. By law you must not move the vehicles before police attend and document the scene; an official police report is mandatory for any insurance or rental-damage claim.
Full driving guide for Montenegro →