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📍 Herceg Novi: a coastal town at the western entrance to the Bay of Kotor, close to the Croatian border.
Is a Car Worth It in Herceg Novi?
The old town and promenade can be walked, but the town is built on a hillside and the sights around it are spread out. A car lets you reach the bay, the ferry and quiet beaches towards the border, and makes a Dubrovnik day trip possible, with permission.
Our advice: book for the days you explore and ask the agency to deliver it to your hotel. If you plan to enter Croatia, ask about permission before you book.
Drive Times from Herceg Novi
Times are approximate and depend on traffic; use live navigation for the real figure.
| Destination | Approx. distance | Typical drive |
|---|---|---|
| Igalo | ~3–5 km | 10–15 min |
| Kamenari ferry | ~15–20 km | about 25–35 min |
| Kotor | ~45–50 km | about 1–1.5 hours, less with the ferry |
| Tivat Airport (TIV) | ~40–45 km | about 1 hour, less with the ferry |
| Debeli Brijeg border (Croatia) | ~10–15 km | 20–30 min plus queue |
| Dubrovnik (Croatia) | ~45–50 km | about 1–2 hours plus border; needs agency permission |
The Croatian Border and Ferry Shortcut
The main road passes through town and heads towards Debeli Brijeg and Croatia. Border queues in summer can be long, so allow plenty of time. You need the agency's written permission and usually a green card to cross, and some agencies refuse. The Kamenari ferry across the bay saves a long drive around towards Tivat and Kotor; check the schedule and any restrictions.
- Ask for cross-border permission before you book
- Carry passports and the booking voucher at the border
- 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 Herceg Novi or Igalo, or collected at Tivat Airport (TIV). 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 Herceg Novi: Roads and Habits
Steep streets, stairs and one-way sections make the old town awkward by car. Use paid car parks outside the centre.
- 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