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Home/Routes/Albania routes/to Montenegro
Cross-border route

Albania Montenegro

Driving across the border
Yes — you can drive from Albania into Montenegro: carry a certified IDP translation of your licence alongside the original so border officials and rental desks can read your credentials. Montenegro expects foreign drivers to hold an IDP, prepared in the 1968 Vienna Convention format. Both countries drive on the right, so there is no change of driving side at the border. Plan your border crossing in advance and keep your passport, national licence and IDP together.

Last reviewed July 2026

Route at a glance
FromAlbania
ToMontenegro
IDP in MontenegroStrongly recommended
Accepted format1968 Vienna
Driving sideright (no change)
Currency in MontenegroEUR
Emergency number112 or 122
Top speed limit100 km/h expressways
Driving in Montenegro
AlbaniaMontenegro

Crossing the border

Albania and Montenegro share a land border you can cross by car. Keep your passport, national driving licence and International Driving Permit together, and check opening hours and any toll or vignette requirements before you travel.

Driving rules in Montenegro

  • Headlights on at all times.
  • Carry a reflective vest and triangle.
  • 0.03% alcohol limit.
  • Tunnel toll on the Sozina route.

What to see when you arrive in Montenegro

  • the Bay of Kotor
  • the walled town of Budva
  • Durmitor National Park
  • Sveti Stefan islet
  • the Tara River Canyon

Once you're driving in Montenegro

Destination-specific detail sourced from national road authorities, motoring clubs and rental policies — the things that catch cross-border drivers out.

Driving on a foreign licence

Foreign licences are valid for up to 12 months; an International Driving Permit must be carried alongside the original if your licence is not printed in the Latin alphabet and is recommended for all non-EU drivers.

Tolls & road charges

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.

Parking in the cities

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.

Fines & camera enforcement

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.

If you have an accident

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.

Driving in the capital

Beyond Podgorica's busy roundabouts, the serpentine Kotor-Lovcen 'Ladder of Kotor' switchbacks and narrow Bay of Kotor coastal road are extremely tight, with blind hairpins, tunnels and oncoming buses demanding caution.

Sources: rac.co.uk · tollguru.com · tyremap.com · autoeurope.com

Common questions

01
Do I need an International Driving Permit to drive from Albania to Montenegro?
Yes — Montenegro commonly asks foreign drivers to carry an IDP with their national licence. Montenegro recognises the 1968 Vienna Convention format, which is the format your certified IDP translation is prepared in.
02
Does the driving side change between Albania and Montenegro?
No. Both Albania and Montenegro drive on the right.
03
What is the emergency number and speed limit in Montenegro?
In Montenegro, dial 112 or 122 for emergencies; 112 also works from most GSM phones. The maximum for cars on the fastest road class is 100 km/h expressways, but posted limits in towns and on secondary roads are lower and always take precedence.
04
How do tolls and road charges work 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.
05
How quickly can I get an IDP for this trip?
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