Renting a Car in Serbia in 2026: My Experience & Essential Tips for an Easy Road Trip

Welcome to my practical guide on how to rent a car in Serbia! Here, I’m sharing my personal experience and essential tips for first-time visitors. In this article, you’ll find everything you need to know before hitting the road: required documents, basic costs and security deposits, advice on choosing the best vehicle for exploring the country, local traffic rules, and answers to the most common car rental questions.

Where to Rent a Car in Serbia—Trusted Services for Belgrade, Novi Sad, and Niš

Most car rental companies are located in major cities — Belgrade, Novi Sad, and Niš. So if you’re flying into Belgrade International Airport, I recommend renting a car right there. From my experience, booking a transfer to any city or resort will cost you as much as several days of car rental.

I always advise everyone to book a car in advance through trusted and reliable websites. For Serbia, these are:

• Localrent — offers cars in various classes, ranging from inexpensive compact cars and city sedans to SUVs. The website partners with local rental agencies in Serbia, so rental prices are highly competitive. You can rent a car without a deposit or a credit card. You can pick up the car at Belgrade Airport, in the center of Serbia’s capital, in Novi Sad, and at other locations. You only need to pay 15% of the rental fee in advance. Visit the official website →
• DiscoverCars — is a large and well-known car rental aggregator operating globally. It’s similar to Economybookings or Rentalcars, but with a slightly larger selection of rental companies and better pricing options. DiscoverCars works with well-known international companies like Avis and Sixt, as well as local rental providers. What I really want to point out, though, is their special deals and price drops. For example, in March, 2026, you could rent a Volkswagen Polo for 6 days for just €35. This was a seasonal promotion marking the end of winter. Visit the official website →

Car Rental in Serbia: Required Documents and Licenses in 2026

In Serbia, only drivers who are at least 21 years old and have a minimum of 2 years of driving experience can rent a car. To pick up your vehicle, you’ll need the following documents:

1. A valid passport (the same one you used to enter the country).
2. A valid driver’s license — national plastic licenses with the driver’s information written in the Latin alphabet are acceptable. The main requirement is that the license must comply with the Vienna Convention. Citizens of countries that have acceded to the Vienna Convention may drive in Serbia using their national driver’s licenses. The list of countries includes the UK, Israel, Moldova, and EU countries (full list).
3. Rental voucher — if you booked a car in advance online, you’ll receive a voucher with your rental details by email. You can simply show this voucher on your smartphone screen.
4. A credit card with the main driver’s name on it. The card is needed to place a security deposit. This applies primarily if you’re renting from an international franchise, such as Sixt or Avis.

In Serbia, there are a few additional requirements for young and senior drivers:

• Drivers between the ages of 21 and 25 are subject to a special fee for young drivers (Taksa za mlade vozače) ranging from €10 per day to €50 for the entire rental period, plus VAT.
• Drivers between the ages of 70 and 75 are subject to a senior driver fee (Taksa za starije vozače) ranging from €10 per day to €50 for the entire rental period, plus VAT.

How Can I Pay for a Rental Car in Serbia?

Paying for a rental car is usually split into two steps:

1. Prepayment (booking deposit). This is a reservation fee to secure your vehicle online.

• On the Localrent website — a 15% online prepayment, with the balance paid upon pickup in cash (RSD or EUR) or by card.
• On the DiscoverCars website — full or partial online prepayment, with any remaining balance paid upon pickup in cash or by card.

Note: Some rental agencies have specific payment requirements. For example, Avis and Sixt (available on DiscoverCars) accept UnionPay cards, while Weego, Surprice, and ACE Rent a Car explicitly state that they do not accept Revolut cards.

2. Payment on arrival (the remaining balance). This is the rest of the rental price. You pay this directly to the rental company at their desk when you arrive. It can usually be paid in cash or by credit/debit card. All international rental companies accept Visa and Mastercard. The card must be in the name of the primary driver. Once this balance is settled (and your security deposit is blocked), you will receive the car keys!

Renting a Car in Serbia Without a Deposit or Credit Card

The security deposit amount usually depends on the car class. The more expensive the car, the higher the deposit. The deposit is always paid or blocked upon pickup.

• The Localrent website offers many cars for rent without a deposit. This platform also features the lowest standard security deposit – around €100. You can leave the deposit in cash, or by credit/debit card. The money is refunded as soon as you return the car.
• On DiscoverCars and Localrent, security deposits for mid-range and premium cars usually range from €300 to €1,200, depending on the rental period and vehicle make. The deposit amount can often be reduced by purchasing additional full-coverage insurance. Most international rental companies place a hold (block) on the deposit amount on your credit card. After you return the vehicle, the hold is released.

If you’re looking to rent a car in Serbia without a deposit or a credit card, simply check the “No Deposit” and “No Credit Card” filters on the Localrent website or on DiscoverCars. Also, in my experience, some rental companies will completely waive the deposit requirement if you purchase their premium full-coverage insurance package for the entire trip.

How Much Does It Cost to Rent a Car in Serbia?

Manual transmission cars are much more common at rental agencies across Serbia. Car rental rates in Belgrade start at around €20 per day for a manual transmission and €29 per day for an automatic transmission.

The rental price of premium vehicles usually includes comprehensive insurance (CASCO), but standard and budget cars generally come with basic third-party liability insurance. If you’re planning to visit national parks, gorges, or rural areas, I strongly recommend purchasing extended insurance coverage. On secondary roads in mountainous areas, small rocks often fall from the cliffs. For example, in Đerdap National Park, you will see “rockfall” warning signs and loose rocks along the roadside. This doesn’t mean it’s dangerous to drive there—it’s just a natural geographical feature.

Here’s a personal example. While on vacation in Zlatibor, I parked my car in what I thought was a completely safe, open spot. But out of nowhere, a group of roaming pigs (!!!) came along and rubbed against the sides of the car, leaving scratches all around the perimeter. The adult pigs even tried to chew on the license plates with their tusks. I had to take the car to a service center for a deep polish, but the deeper tusk marks remained. Comprehensive insurance (CASCO) covers bizarre incidents like this. Standard third-party liability insurance (OSAGO) does not.

Which Car to Choose for a Trip in Serbia?

The choice of a car depends on the number of travellers and your budget.

• If you plan to drive between cities without visiting national parks, a compact car or a city sedan will be enough. Serbia has good roads between its main cities, including high-speed motorways.
• If you are heading to the mountainous regions, choose a car with at least a 1.5L engine to avoid any issues on winding mountain roads.
• If you want to explore national parks and see the country’s unique landmarks, it is best to rent an SUV or a vehicle with high ground clearance. Many iconic spots are still only accessible via gravel roads. You can find a great selection of SUVs on DiscoverCars, where you can also purchase extended insurance for off-road driving. For example, to reach the Uvac River Canyon, you have to drive more than 5 km on a dirt road. In Tara National Park, the main attraction is also reached via a gravel road.

Serbian Traffic Rules Every Tourist Should Know

Here is a list of the main traffic rules in Serbia that every visiting driver must follow:

1. Low beams must be turned on 24/7, regardless of the time of day.
2. Seat belts are mandatory for the driver and all passengers.
3. Children may only be transported in an appropriate car seat or booster seat.
4. The maximum permitted blood alcohol concentration is 0.2‰. Drivers with less than two years of driving experience are strictly forbidden from operating a vehicle with any amount of alcohol in their blood.
5. Winter tires and snow chains in the trunk are legally required from November 1 through April 15.

There are many speed cameras on Serbia’s roads. Here are the main speed limits for passenger cars in the country:

Speed cameras in Serbia now record average speeds on sections of highways (such as between toll plazas and between random segments, like tunnels). In addition, new smart cameras were installed at the end of 2025 that record your current speed, check whether you are wearing a seatbelt, and detect if you are holding a mobile phone while driving.

Parking: In cities, there are marked zones for free and paid street parking, as well as large paid parking lots—either open-air, in covered garages, or in shopping centers. In most shopping centers, the first two hours are free.

Swipe through this gallery — I’ve captioned each photo with important things to pay attention to.

It’s better not to park like this.

See the white and green lines on the sidewalk? Those are marked street parking. It may be paid, or it may be free.

Notice the yellow line in front of the car — parking on a yellow line is strictly prohibited. The tow truck sign confirms this.

Parking zones vary in terms of how long you are allowed to leave your car. For example, in Belgrade and Novi Sad, you can only park in a red zone for a maximum of 2 hours. In Kikinda, you can leave it for the entire day—though parking there is more expensive than in a standard green zone. Don’t worry—there is always an informational sign next to a marked parking area explaining the maximum time limit and how to pay.

You can pay for zoned parking via a mobile app or by sending an SMS to the number provided on the sign. The SMS numbers and rates vary by city, but this information is always clearly indicated on the street signs.

Parking payments are monitored either by parking inspectors or by “Oko Sokolovo” (Falcon’s Eye)—special vehicles equipped with roof-mounted cameras. These vehicles patrol the city and scan the license plates of parked cars. If you haven’t paid, you’ll get a ticket automatically. So it’s highly recommended to pay, even if you’re only stopping “for two minutes.”

The official Parking Servis app for paying for parking and viewing a map of available lots can be downloaded here: Google Play / App Store

Parking on green areas (lawns) or sidewalks is strictly prohibited and heavily fined.

Is Driving in Serbia Difficult? Essential Tips for Tourists

Serbia certainly has its own traffic quirks, but overall, the roads are calmer than, say, in neighboring Montenegro, and much more predictable than in Bosnia. No joke. Of course, there are regional differences. For example, Belgrade has a few hellish intersections, and local drivers sometimes push their luck on yellow lights, while in Novi Sad, the traffic lights switch to blinking yellow after midnight. But overall, Serbian drivers are quite relaxed and polite.

What tourists who’ve rented a car to travel around the country need to know:

• There are many traffic cameras in Serbia—both in cities and on highways. They record both speeding and red-light running.
• Speeding tolerances are very low. You cannot exceed the speed limit by more than 10 km/h. The fines are steep and unpleasant.
• If you’re driving in the left lane on a highway and the car behind you is flashing its high beams, it means you need to move over to the right lane to let them pass.
• I personally prefer to fill up at large gas stations for example NIS Petrol or OMV. Locals say that fuel quality is roughly the same everywhere, and all gas stations buy fuel from NIS (except for OMV, which has its own supplier). It’s nice to stop at NIS Petrol or OMV stations while road-tripping through Serbia—they are spacious, clean, and you can grab a bite to eat and rest comfortably.

Vignette and Toll Roads in Serbia

Serbia does not use a vignette system, but its highways are subject to tolls. The toll fee is calculated based on the distance traveled. You can pay in cash (RSD or EUR), by credit card (Visa/Mastercard), or using an ENP tag.

An ENP tag is an electronic toll collection device that allows you to use the fast-track lanes at toll stations. Car rental companies usually do not provide ENP tags because they require top-ups and can easily be lost, broken, or stolen. Therefore, as a tourist, you should only use the toll booths (called putarina or naplatna stanica in Serbia) that accept cash or card payments. These lanes are typically marked with a sign of a person showing a hand.
The process is simple:

1. When entering the highway, you press a button and take a ticket at the toll gate.
2. When exiting the highway, you hand this ticket to the operator in the booth. They will tell you the final amount, which is also displayed on a digital screen to the left of your car.

I haven’t listed the exact toll prices here, as highway fees have already changed three times in 2026 alone!

Can I Drive a Rental Car from Serbia to Montenegro in 2026?

If you want to rent a car in Serbia and drive to neighboring countries, you must inform the rental company of your plans when booking or picking up the car. Some rental companies require you to notify them at least 5 days before your pickup date.

Currently, you do not need to purchase an additional physical Green Card insurance document for Montenegro, but the rental company must include a special note in your rental agreement stating that cross-border travel is permitted.

This option is usually free with major agencies, but some rental companies charge cross-border fees. For instance, Carwiz charges an additional €30 per day for travel outside Serbia, while AutoUnion CarRental charges a flat fee of €60 per country.

Most rental companies have a specific list of countries you are permitted to drive into. For example, here is Sixt’s list of permitted countries:
Austria, Belgium, Bosnia and Herzegovina, Croatia, the Czech Republic, France, Germany, Greece (mainland), Hungary, Italy (mainland), Luxembourg, North Macedonia, Montenegro, the Netherlands, Romania, Switzerland, Slovakia, Slovenia, and Poland.

Please note: For all rental companies in Serbia, driving into Kosovo is strictly prohibited.

I’ve personally taken road trips from Serbia to Montenegro, Romania, Slovenia, Croatia, Hungary, and Slovakia. Border crossings can get quite congested in the summer or during major winter holidays, and the Hungarian border crossing at Horgoš is busy year-round. I love driving and planning road trips, so if you need any advice about traveling in the Balkans, feel free to ask in the comments below!