Tivat Car Rental

Renting a car in Tivat

Tivat car rental puts you on the Bay of Kotor the moment you pick up the keys. The town wraps around a calm stretch of water beside Porto Montenegro, and because the airport sits on its doorstep, collecting a car here is as quick as it gets in Montenegro. Rent a car in Tivat and the whole bay, from Kotor in the north to the Budva beaches in the south, is an easy drive away.

Tivat for drivers

Tivat has changed fast. The superyacht marina at Porto Montenegro brought smart restaurants and a long waterfront promenade, while the older town behind it keeps its everyday, lived-in feel. For a driver that mix is ideal: easy parking on the edges, short hops to the sights, and a base that never feels as hemmed in as the old walled towns.

Most visitors use Tivat as a launch pad. A car turns it from a quiet marina town into the most practical base on the coast, with Tivat Airport car rental pickup just up the road for arrivals and departures and the bay road running both ways from the centre. See the full fleet on the hiring a car at Tivat Airport homepage.

Where to pick up in Tivat

Pickup in Tivat is flexible. You can collect right at the airport, at the marina, or have the car delivered to your hotel; you will be told the exact spot when you book.

• Tivat Airport (meet and greet)
• Porto Montenegro marina
• Tivat town centre
• Free delivery in Tivat
• Hotel or villa delivery
• Tivat bus station

If you are flying in, the quickest option is to collect on arrival; see the Tivat Airport page for how the meet-and-greet works.

Getting there and driving

Driving out of Tivat is simple. The waterfront road leads north toward the Vrmac tunnel and Kotor car rental country, or south over the ridge to Budva and the open coast. Roads are well surfaced and distances short, so you are rarely more than half an hour from the next bay town.

Montenegro drives on the right, fuel stations are plentiful around Tivat, and the only real planning you need is for summer parking in the busier resorts. Carry some euros for meters and the occasional toll on the longer inland routes.

Parking in Tivat

Tivat is one of the easier coastal towns to park in. There is metered parking along the waterfront and free spaces a short walk back from the centre, so leaving the car while you wander the promenade is straightforward.

Around the marina, parking fills up on summer evenings when the restaurants are busy, so arriving a little earlier pays off. For day trips, leave the car in the larger lots on the edge of whichever town you visit rather than circling the centre.

Scenic drives and day trips

From Tivat the classic first drive is the loop around the bay to Perast and Kotor, with photo stops at every turn. Going the other way, the Budva Riviera and Sveti Stefan are twenty minutes over the ridge.

For a longer day, the Lovcen switchbacks above the bay reward an early start, and the beaches of the Budva car rental coast string out south toward Bar. Plan fuel and time for anything heading into the mountains.

Insurance and deposit

Every Tivat car rental includes third-party cover by law, and most listings add a collision and theft waiver on top. You choose how much extra protection to add as you book, and the live price moves with your choice.

Deposits are held on a card at pickup and released when the car comes back in order, or you can filter for no-deposit listings. It is worth reading the insurance and deposit guide before you travel.

For the bay roads a compact petrol car is the easy pick; for the Lustica coves or a group with luggage, an SUV gives more room and clearance.

Pick up the keys and drive

Tivat is the most convenient base on the Montenegrin coast, and a car makes the most of it. Book ahead in summer, pick up in town or at the airport, and the whole Bay of Kotor opens up from your first morning.

Tivat car rental FAQ

Quick answers on picking up in Tivat, parking, the airport link and driving on to Kotor, Budva and the bay. These are the things most Tivat visitors want to confirm before booking.