Tivat Airport is small, and that makes picking up a car there simple, but it is worth knowing how the handover works before your flight lands. This guide covers the pickup itself: meet-and-greet versus a rental desk, deposits, the documents to carry, and crossing into a neighbouring country. It then gives the drive from the airport to Kotor and Budva, including the Kamenari–Lepetane ferry as an option. The airport is run by Airports of Montenegro, and its information line is +382 32 670 930 (see montenegroairports.com).
Meet-and-greet or a desk?
There are two common setups. In a meet-and-greet, a representative from the company meets you in the arrivals area and walks you to the car. Some local operators work this way; Costa Car Rental says its team meets renters at Tivat arrivals, and DAX Rent a Car advertises a fast pickup at the airport. Meet-and-greet is usually quicker, and it means you do not need to find a counter after a long flight.
In the other setup, you collect the car from a rental desk or a pickup point, and the confirmation tells you where to go. One airport guide advises checking your confirmation email for where to meet the agent or find the desk, and saving those contact details to your phone before you land. Whichever setup you have, ask the company when you book which one applies and what the exact meeting point is.
Deposits and card holds
Many international chains freeze a sizeable deposit on your card for the length of the rental. Both companies named above state that no deposit is required, and Costa’s page says you pay when you arrive. Treat that as the start of the conversation, not the end. Ask whether any amount is pre-authorised on your card, how long it stays on hold, and what the excess is if the car is damaged.
Documents to carry
Bring the following to the pickup:
- Your booking confirmation, with the reservation number and the company’s phone number.
- Your national driving licence. Both Costa and DAX say it is accepted, so an international permit is not normally needed for these companies. Check the rules for any other company you book.
- Your passport, which one airport-transfer guide lists alongside the licence and a credit card for pickup.
- A credit card in your own name, if the company asks for one for the booking or a hold.
- Proof of insurance if you plan to decline the company’s cover and rely on your own. Some companies require proof of full coverage before they accept that.
Crossing into Croatia or Albania
Crossing a border with a rental car needs an explicit yes from the company. Costa’s site mentions “border crossing included” in its list of extras, but it does not name the countries covered. DAX lists a green card for cross-border travel as part of every rental. Neither page gives an extra fee or a list of permitted countries, so put your route in writing and ask for the answer by email or WhatsApp before you travel.
The most common crossing is to Dubrovnik, through the Debeli Brijeg checkpoint. Transfer operators put the drive from Tivat at roughly 68 to 76 km and about an hour and a half, though one source gives nearly two hours. Border waits are usually short but can be longer on summer weekends. For Albania, rules and extra fees differ by company, so check the rental terms before you plan that trip.
From the airport to Kotor
Kotor is the quickest drive. The airport is about 8 km from the town, roughly 10 to 15 minutes by car. Parking in Kotor is a separate subject and is covered in a separate guide, so we will not go into it here.
From the airport to Budva
Budva is about 30 to 40 minutes by car along the main coastal road. You do not need the ferry for this trip; the direct road is the shortest option. Allow more time in July and August, when the coastal road can back up badly, and check the route on a live map before you set off.
The Kamenari–Lepetane ferry
The ferry crosses the narrow mouth of the Bay of Kotor between Lepetane, which is just north of Tivat, and Kamenari, on the western side near Herceg Novi. It is most useful when you are heading west, toward Herceg Novi or the Croatian border, because it saves the long way round the inner bay.
- Fare. The car fare is €5, according to the crossing guide at thoroughlytravel.com. The operator’s own site, trajekt.me, lists a €3 fare for residents of Tivat and Herceg Novi. Check the operator’s current price PDF before you go, as the official list was not in the text we could read.
- Tickets. You can buy online through trajekt.me or at the terminal booth, by cash or card. The guide advises against buying a return ticket, as the ferry’s rules do not allow it.
- Timetable. The ferry runs frequently through the day, with fewer sailings at night. Check the operator’s current timetable if you are crossing late.
- Crossing time. The crossing itself is about 5 to 10 minutes, but queues in summer can add 10 to 20 minutes or more at busy times.
Read the full list of car day trips, including the Lovćen and Luštica roads, in Tivat Day Trips by Car: Kotor, Lovćen, Luštica and Budva. For a first look at the local rental companies and what to check before you book, see Car Rental in Tivat: Local Companies and What to Check. For the country-wide picture, read the Montenegro car rental guide.