Car rental · Serbia
Car rental in Belgrade
Belgrade is the cheapest capital in the region to rent from and the best base for a loop through Serbia's monasteries and the Danube gorge. The airport is 20 minutes from the centre on a free motorway.
Compare prices across every desk
International brands and local companies side by side — deposits and cover included.
Which car, and what it costs
| Class | Per day | Best for |
|---|---|---|
| Economy | €20–38 | City breaks and Novi Sad |
| Compact | €28–50 | Motorway to Niš or the Iron Gates |
| SUV | €45–85 | Tara and Zlatibor mountains in winter |
| Automatic | +€7–12 | Better availability than elsewhere in the Balkans |
The rules in Serbia — the part the aggregators skip
| Drives on the | RIGHT |
|---|---|
| Speed limits (town / open road / expressway / motorway) | 50 / 80 / 100 / 130 km/h |
| Tolls | Toll booths on the motorways, payable in dinars, euros or by card; a tag is available from some rental desks. |
| Vignette | None. |
| Winter rules | Winter tyres compulsory from the start of November to the start of April if there is snow or ice on the road — in practice, fit them. |
| Taking the car across borders | Rentals cross into Bosnia, Montenegro, North Macedonia, Croatia, Hungary and Romania with a fee. Kosovo is excluded by almost every company; do not test this. |
| Local quirks | Headlights on at all times. Belgrade parking is by SMS in three zones and the enforcement is ruthless. The Djerdap (Iron Gates) road along the Danube is the best drive in the country. |
| Currency | Serbian dinar (RSD) |
Airport or city desk
Airport desks carry a modest surcharge. City offices around Slavija and the railway station are cheaper and easy to reach by taxi for 1,500–2,000 dinars.
Local companies or international brands
Serbian companies are plentiful and competitive; the international brands charge more for the cross-border paperwork. If you plan to enter Bosnia or Montenegro, compare the cross-border fee first — it varies from €15 to €60.
Five things visitors get wrong
- Kosovo is excluded by virtually every Serbian rental contract, and a car with Serbian plates may be refused at the boundary anyway. Plan around it.
- Motorway tolls run about €10 Belgrade–Niš and are paid at booths in dinars or euros.
- Belgrade parking works by SMS: text the plate number to the zone's short code. Red zone allows one hour, and fines are added to your rental bill months later.
- The Djerdap road along the Danube from Golubac to Kladovo is the best day's driving in Serbia — leave early, it is 150 km of curves.
- Winter tyres are compulsory when there is snow or ice from November to April; rental fleets fit them, but confirm.
Common questions
How much does it cost to rent a car in Belgrade?
from €20 a day out of season, €35–65 a day in July and August. Automatics and SUVs carry a premium; book two to four weeks ahead in summer.
How big is the deposit?
Typically €200–1,000, blocked on a credit card and released a week or two after the return. Debit cards are refused by most desks.
Do I need an International Driving Permit?
Bring one. It costs little, takes minutes to obtain at home, and both the police and the insurer may ask for it alongside your licence.
Can I take the rental car out of Serbia?
Rentals cross into Bosnia, Montenegro, North Macedonia, Croatia, Hungary and Romania with a fee. Kosovo is excluded by almost every company; do not test this.
Is the minimum age a problem?
Minimum age is 21. Under-25 drivers usually pay a daily young-driver surcharge and may be barred from the larger classes.
Airport or city pick-up?
Airport desks carry a modest surcharge. City offices around Slavija and the railway station are cheaper and easy to reach by taxi for 1,500–2,000 dinars.