Budva is where much of Montenegro’s coast holiday happens: the old town on its little peninsula, Bečići and Sveti Stefan just down the shore, and a long string of beaches towards Petrovac. It has no airport of its own, but it is the town where many of Montenegro’s small rental companies are based. That is useful, because a Budva company will usually bring the car to you, at the airport or at your apartment, instead of making you queue at a desk.
Want prices from local companies in Budva? Send us your dates and we will ask two or three local rental companies for offers. Free for you, no obligation.
Why look at local companies in Budva
At Tivat and Podgorica airports you will find the international chains, and they work fine. The difference with a local operator is mostly in how the rental is handled. Budva companies tend to be small, often family-run, and they are used to delivering cars along the coast. Several of them say clearly on their websites that they do not take a deposit for most cars, or that payment happens only when you receive the car. With a chain, a large hold on your credit card is the usual practice.
The trade-off is that you need to read a little more carefully. Small companies describe their insurance in very different ways, and “included” can mean anything from third-party cover only to a zero-excess package. The checklist further down covers the questions worth asking.
Local rental companies in Budva
These companies are listed alphabetically. We checked each website ourselves. The details below are what each company states on its own site; terms change, so confirm them when you book.
Budva Rent A Car
- Office in Budva (Blaža Jovanovića 26). Pickup at Tivat and Podgorica airports, with staff waiting with a sign if you give your flight number.
- Free delivery to Budva, Bečići, Petrovac, Tivat and Sveti Stefan; more remote places for an extra fee.
- States rental without a deposit and payment when you receive the car. A child seat and a second driver are included.
- Basic cover is the compulsory third-party policy only: the site says damage to the rented car itself is not covered by the standard policy. Ask what extra cover costs.
- A green card for driving outside Montenegro is provided if you tell them when booking.
Elite Rent a Car
- Family-run, operating since 2006, office in Budva (Žrtava fašizma 56). Meet-and-greet at Tivat (TIV) and Podgorica (TGD) airports, and delivery to hotels and private accommodation in Budva.
- One-way rentals between Budva, Tivat and Podgorica on request.
- Basic cover includes collision damage waiver, theft protection and third-party liability. Optional packages reduce the excess, or take it to zero. The site says no deposit is taken for most cars.
- Cross-border trips to Croatia, Bosnia and Herzegovina and Albania are allowed for a fee, with advance notice so they can prepare the green card.
- Minimum age 22; a one-time young-driver surcharge applies below that.
First Rent a Car
- Based in Budva (Mainski put 2), with pickup in Budva, Tivat and Podgorica. Also runs transfers.
- Advertises free delivery to Podgorica and Tivat airports.
- The fleet shown is automatic diesel cars, including a 7-seater, with daily prices listed on the site.
- Insurance, deposit and cross-border rules are not on the main page, so ask before you book.
Terrae-car
- A rent-a-car and taxi company based in Budva. The booking form covers pickup almost anywhere on the coast, including Tivat and Podgorica airports, Kotor, Herceg Novi, Bar and Ulcinj, plus Kolašin and Žabljak inland.
- You can reserve by paying 15% upfront by card.
- Publishes monthly rates, which is useful if you are staying a long time.
- Insurance and deposit terms are in a separate “Conditions” section; read it before you book.
What to check before you book
- What the insurance actually covers. Ask directly: “If I damage the car, how much do I pay?” Third-party cover only means the answer could be the full repair.
- Deposit and how it is taken. Cash, card hold, or none at all. If a card hold applies, ask for the amount.
- Delivery point and time. Give your flight number for an airport pickup, or the exact address for an apartment delivery. Ask whether late-night arrivals cost extra.
- Cross-border plans. Kotor to Dubrovnik or the Albanian coast are common day trips. Say so when you book, because the green card has to be prepared in advance.
- Automatic or manual. Some small fleets are mostly automatic, others mostly manual. If you need an automatic in July or August, book early.
- Fuel policy. Full-to-full or same-to-same is standard. Note the fuel level at pickup.
When to book
Budva gets very busy in July and August, and small fleets run out of the popular cars first, especially automatics and 7-seaters. For a summer trip, contact two or three companies a few weeks ahead and compare the full price with insurance included, not just the daily rate. Outside the season you have more room to choose. Some companies also publish lower monthly prices for the winter months.
More for your Budva trip
- Flying in? Tivat or Podgorica airport: which is better for a rental car to Budva.
- Once you have the car: driving and parking in Budva, where summer parking is the main challenge.
- Staying near Tivat or Kotor instead? See local car rental companies in Tivat.
- The full country picture: Renting a car in Montenegro: local companies, real prices and booking direct.
Want prices from local companies in Budva? Send us your dates and we will ask two or three local rental companies for offers. Free for you, no obligation.