VRENTY CAR is an independent comparison service. The search above is provided by our partner Localrent and lists local agencies side by side; you book directly with the provider. Always confirm the price, insurance and deposit before you pay.
📍 Bar: a port city on the southern Montenegrin coast, about 55–60 km from Podgorica Airport (TGD).
Is a Car Worth It in Bar?
Local buses and taxis cover the town, but the hilltop ruins of Stari Bar, the old olive groves and the lake villages are easier by car. Bar is also a good base for Lake Skadar and the beaches towards Ulcinj.
Our advice: book the car from Podgorica Airport (TGD) if you arrive by air, or ask the agency to deliver it to your hotel in Bar.
Drive Times from Bar
Times are approximate and depend on traffic; use live navigation for the real figure.
| Destination | Approx. distance | Typical drive |
|---|---|---|
| Stari Bar | ~5 km | 10–15 min |
| Sutomore | ~10 km | 15–20 min |
| Ulcinj | ~30 km | about 40–60 min |
| Lake Skadar (Virpazar) | ~25–30 km | about 40–50 min |
| Budva | ~35–40 km | about 45–75 min |
| Podgorica Airport (TGD) | ~55–60 km | about 1 hour |
Port Traffic and the Road North
Roads around the port can be busy with lorries and ferry traffic. The road to Podgorica crosses mountains and tunnels, and some sections may charge tolls, so ask the agency how they are handled. Parking in Bar is mostly paid; in summer, use car parks near the beaches and keep receipts.
- Allow extra time before any ferry or train departure
- Avoid mountain roads in snow without winter tyres
- Fines from police and cameras are sent to the agency, which charges you after the rental
Pick-Up and Delivery
Pick-up is usually delivered to your hotel in Bar or Sutomore, or collected at Podgorica Airport (TGD). Use the "Specify location" option in the search to choose, and check the car card for any fee. Do not rely on a named office unless it is written on the car card. If you arrive late, give the provider your flight number.
Documents and Age
- Valid driving licence, usually held for at least a year; minimum age is typically 21 (23 or 25 for larger or premium cars)
- International Driving Permit (IDP) may be requested alongside your national licence — rules for foreign licences can change, so ask the agency exactly what you need before you travel
- Passport and the booking voucher
- A payment method that matches the offer: many agencies block the deposit on a credit card; use the No deposit or No credit card filter if you need an alternative
Insurance and Deposit Explained
With basic insurance the excess — your share of any damage — can be large and the agency blocks a deposit. Full coverage brings the excess close to zero and, with many local agencies, means no deposit. Typical exclusions are tyres, glass, the underbody, interior damage and lost keys, and the cover is not valid off-road. Tolls, ferry tickets, fines and parking are billed separately. Photograph the car with the agent at pick-up and return and make sure all damage is in the acceptance document.
Driving in Bar: Roads and Habits
Trucks and buses dominate the main road at the port; overtake only when you have a clear view.
- Traffic drives on the right; overtake on the left and give way as signed at roundabouts
- Dipped headlights are expected to be on at all times, day and night, all year; check with the agency how this applies to your car
- Speed limits are signed and enforced by police and cameras; typical limits are lower in towns and villages, so watch the signs rather than guessing
- Winter tyres (or chains in the car) are generally required in winter, roughly November to March; ask the agency what the car carries, especially for the mountains
- Very strict drink-driving limit with heavy penalties — the safest rule is zero alcohol before driving
- No handheld phone; seatbelts are compulsory and children need a suitable seat
- Mountain and coastal roads have hairpin bends, narrow stretches and rockfall; slow down and keep right on blind bends
- Do not take the car on unpaved tracks: insurance is not valid there
- Cross-border trips (Croatia, Bosnia and Herzegovina, Albania, Serbia, Kosovo) need the agency's written permission and usually a green card; without them you may not be insured