There are free and paid parking lots in Montenegro. They are indicated by appropriate signs and markings.
Unpaid parking in Montenegro is considered illegal and is subject to a fine.
Free parking in Montenegro
They are located on the roadside, in special pockets, on unequipped sites. You can leave your car free of charge wherever it will not block traffic and where there is no “parking fee” sign. A car that violates the rules (for example, blocking traffic) can be taken away by a tow truck. They work quite actively, especially in the summer, when the flow of cars to Montenegro increases.
Free parking spaces can be found in almost any settlement (with very rare exceptions, more on that below). As a rule, they are located at some distance from the historical center and cultural monuments that are actively visited. And if it’s not difficult for you to walk 15 minutes, then you can save on parking lots.
Paid parking lots in Montenegro
There are two types of paid parking spaces in Montenegro:
- Located along the streets;
- Parking with a barrier.
Paid parking lots located along the streets can be found in the city center. You can find them by the paid parking sign (the letter “P” and a sign with information explaining: time limit, parking price/hour, etc.). The road surface of these parking lots is marked, and cars are parked only with markings.
Parking along the streets is less than with the barrier. It is more difficult to find a free space here, and you can park for a maximum of 2 hours. The cost is 0.50-2 € / hour. You can pay via parking meter or SMS.
There are more parking lots with a barrier in the country, there are many free places, and the time of their use is not limited. But tariffs are also 30-50% higher.
Parking under the barrier is simple. You need to approach the barrier and press the button on the device nearby. Take the check. As soon as you pick up the check, you are let through. You drive in, park the car. You need to put the check so as not to lose it. It shows the time when you started using parking, which means it is necessary for calculations. If the check is lost, you will have to pay a fine of €10, or even €30. Payment is made when you pick up the car from the parking lot. You drive up to the control booth, show the check and give the money.
Payment is considered per parking space/hour. If the car occupied the parking lot for 3 hours and 5 minutes, it will be necessary to pay for 4 hours. Take this into account when calculating parking time.
Payment for parking in Montenegro
There are two ways to pay for parking along the streets:
- Via SMS . With a SIM card from a local operator, you can easily pay for parking from your phone. Under the “P” sign you will see a shield with instructions on how to do it. Nothing complicated: the number to which you send an SMS is on the panel: just the number of the car without spaces, no explanation is needed. The amount is debited from the phone: the price of the park/hour, and you receive an SMS: “the parking is paid until then.” The language is Montenegrin, but the meaning is clear. If you want to extend the payment time, after the end of the hour, pay another one, in the same way. Unfortunately, it is not possible to pay for half an hour or fifty minutes of SMS.
- Through the parking meter . You will definitely see him nearby. The price of the park/hour is on the plate. Drop the required amount of coins into the slot, the parking meter does not issue change. Click the green button and get your receipt. Put it behind the car window so that the inspector can see it.
Be strict with your parking time. Controllers are on the lookout, and a careless overdue traveler can find a ticket for a fine, or get rid of his car for a while – it will be taken away by a tow truck.
There are cities in the country where parking zones are distinguished by colors (the color can be recognized on the plate under the “P” sign). It is very convenient. It is most expensive to park a car in the “red” zone, in the “yellow” the prices are already loyal, “green” is the most budget-friendly. The closer to the center of the settlement, the more expensive it is.
Fines for non-compliance with parking rules in Montenegro
For violation of parking rules, the controllers can: issue a warning, impose a fine or completely evacuate the car. Everything depends on the location and the severity of the violation.
The amount of the fine depends not only on the violation, but also on the settlement in which you committed it. You can win from 15€ to 150€. In addition, the tow truck and the time spent by the car in the parking lot are paid separately. Therefore, it is better not to disturb.
How can you pay a fine and is it mandatory to pay?
What to do after a violation:
- If the decision specifies the amount of the fine , then it can simply be paid by mail.
- If the exact amount is not specified , you should immediately contact the rental company. They will explain in detail where and how to get a receipt for payment.
- If the car was evacuated , your actions will depend on the locality in which it happened. Perhaps it will be possible to pay the fine immediately, in the parking lot – and immediately pick up the car. Or you will need to go to the bank or the post office (whichever is closer) with the issued receipt, pay there, and then return by car with the stubs of the receipts.
When imposing a fine without specifying the exact amount, it will first be necessary to collect the decision from the police station of the city in which the violation was committed. And then pay it.
If you can’t or don’t want to deal with the fine yourself, ask your landlord for help. The rental manager himself will go to the city where the offense was committed, collect the decision and pay it. Moving costs, time spent and commissions are borne by the client.
An unpleasant surprise will await a tenant who does not take seriously the “paper” shoved behind him by the janitor and simply disposes of it at the nearest bin. The fine will be sent to the rental company in any way – reporting for them is strict. His firm will cover at its own expense and send a letter to the client asking for compensation for all damages. If the customer ignores the request, the rental company will file a lawsuit in court and the violator will face bailiffs on his next visit to Montenegro.
How much does parking cost in different cities of Montenegro
Budva : 1.00-2.40 € parking / hour. There are many free parking lots, mostly on roadsides, in “pockets”, etc.
Przno , Bečići, Rafailovići, Petrovac, Sveti Stefan: parking is mostly free, but there are not enough places in the summer.
Bar : 0.50-1.00 € parking / hour. There are many free parking lots.
Shushan – there are very few (any) parking lots. If you are planning a vacation in Shushan, choose a hotel or guest house with parking.
Tivat : 0.50-2.00€ parking/hour.
Tivat Airport : €0.80 per hour. There is no free parking at the airport, only a short stop to pick up/drop off passengers.
Kotor : 0.80-1.20 € parking / hour. There are very few free parking spaces.
Herceg-Novi : 0.50-1.00 € parking / hour. When going to Herceg-Novi, be sure to check whether there is parking at your hotel. The city is built on the slopes of a mountain and there is simply nowhere to park cars.
Podgorica : EUR 0.40-0.80 parking/hour.
Pidgorica airport : €0.60 per hour.
Podgorica is one of those cities where paid parking spaces along the streets are zoned:
- green – €0.40 parking lot/year
- yellow – €0.50 parking/hour
- red – €0.60 parking/hour
Free parking on the outskirts of the city, on the roadside, in special pockets, in the yards of buildings.