Car Registration in Montenegro: Guide for Foreigners

Car Registration in Montenegro: Guide for Foreigners

The process of buying and registering a vehicle in Montenegro is strictly tied to your migration status. If you are a tourist, your options are limited. If you have obtained a temporary residence permit (boravišna dozvola), you gain rights equivalent to local residents, but with a few nuances.

Basic Requirements and Migration Status

Montenegro integrates traffic regulations with the resident control system. Owning a car here is not just about buying it, but also registering it with the Ministry of Interior (MUP).

• Tourists (without TRP): Can use temporary schemes, rent a car, or drive by power of attorney (if the owner is a local or a company), but cannot become a full owner in the documents.
• Residents (with TRP): After receiving the plastic boravišna dozvola card (based on work, real estate, or family reunification), you can register the car in your name.

Registration Process: Step by Step

The procedure takes from 1 to 2 weeks. The cost of documentation (excluding taxes) is about 300 euros.

1. Purchase or Import

If you are buying a car that is already on Montenegrin plates, you need a notarized sales contract. If the seller is a foreigner, a court interpreter may be required.

If you brought the car from abroad (import):

• A customs declaration is required.
• Emission standard: Euro 5 or Euro 6.
• Age restriction: Since July 2024, the import of cars older than 15 years is prohibited.
• Payment of customs duty (5%, or 0% for EU cars with EUR.1 certificate) and VAT 21%.

2. Taxes

When buying a used car within the country, the buyer pays a turnover tax — 5% of the catalog value (assessed by the tax authority, not to be confused with the market price in the contract). Payment is made at the tax office.

3. Submission to MUP

The document package is submitted to the local branch of the Ministry of Interior. Officers check the papers and within 5–7 days issue:

• New license plates (foreigners are often issued special RP plates).
• "Blue Card" (saobraćajna dozvola) — the traffic license.

Registration for foreigners is usually issued for the duration of the TRP (1 year) and requires annual renewal.

Technical Inspection (Tehnički pregled)

Technical inspection in Montenegro is not a formality but a strict procedure. Without the "tehnički," the car will not be registered. It is conducted in authorized centers (e.g., Sava Car).

• Frequency: Annually for most cars. Every six months for cars older than a certain age or taxis.
• What is checked: Brakes, steering, tires, lights, emissions.
• For import: Homologation (confirmation of compliance with standards) and a COC certificate are required.
• Price: 20–50 euros.

Insurance

Third-party liability insurance is mandatory since 2012. Without a policy, MUP will not accept documents for registration.

• Coverage: Minimum 550,000 – 750,000 euros for bodily injuries to third parties.
• Cost: From 100 euros per year (depends on engine power and experience).
• Foreign plates: A "Green Card" is required for entry. If unavailable, border insurance must be purchased at the border (minimum for 15 days).

List of Necessary Documents

For successful submission to MUP, prepare a folder:

1. Passport (original and copy).
2. TRP (Boravišna dozvola) — proof of grounds for registration.
3. Sales Contract (notarized, translated).
4. Owner's Traffic License (when buying used) or Certificate of Origin (for imports).
5. Proof of Technical Inspection (sheet from the service).
6. Compulsory Insurance Policy.
7. Tax Payment Receipt (5% or customs fees).
8. Driver's License.