Driving in Serbia

If you’re planning a road trip to Serbia, it’s essential you’re fully prepared ahead of time as driving there has many differences to the UK. 

To make your journey east as safe and stress-free as possible, we’ve put together a guide to everything you need to know before you go, from required documents to rules of the road.  

Driving a rented vehicle? Jump to the advice for driving a hire car in Serbia section.

RAC European Breakdown Cover (Basic and Comprehensive) provides a wide range of benefits should you breakdown in Serbia to ensure you stay safe, whether you travel to the area regularly or are just going for a short spell. 

To supplement this, RAC also offers travel insurance. Cover will include medical expenses, baggage, personal money and belongings, among many other benefits.

Our short-term car insurance product is perfect if you're looking for flexible and comprehensive cover for between 1 hour and 30 days.

• A valid, full UK driving licence (you must also be 18 or over)
• Your motor insurance certificate
• The V5 registration document for your own car or the hire car paperwork for a rental

Do I need an insurance green card?

From 2nd August 2021, drivers will no longer require an insurance green card for taking their vehicles to Serbia.

Aside from the documents above, there are some legally-required items you must bring with you to drive in Serbia.

Unless your headlights can be adjusted, it's a legal requirement to carry headlamp converters (stickers for your headlights when driving on the right, so your lights don't dazzle motorists coming the other way).

A warning triangle is also compulsory to carry in vehicles in case of a breakdown.

Winter tyres and snow chains if you're driving between 1st November to 1st April. Chains must be kept in your boot at all times and used where indicated by road signs

It's also recommended to have:

• Spare bulbs for your car's external lights
• A fire extinguisher 
• A first-aid kit
• A reflective jacket
• An International Driving Permit - find out more here

You can pick up all the car kit you need from RAC Shop.

• Drive on the right
• Be 18 or over
• Make sure everyone in the car wears a seatbelt at all times
• Wear a crash helmet if you're riding a motorcycle
• Use daytime running lights or dipped headlights day and night
• Ensure your car is covered by third-party insurance recognised in Serbia, the legal minimum cover for residents and visitors, so check with your provider before you travel
• If you're caught committing a driving offence while driving through Serbia, you'll be given an on-the-spot fine
• Children aged from 3 to 12 can't travel in the front seat and must use an appropriate seat restraint in the back
• A person will be considered to be under the influence of alcohol if the percentage of alcohol present in their blood is 0.03% or higher. There is a zero-tolerance policy for certain drivers, including newly-qualified drivers, professional drivers, and HGV drivers
• Trams have priority over all other vehicles. Priority must also be given to cyclists using cycle tracks
• Horns must not be used in built-up areas, or at night except in cases of imminent danger or if the vehicle is transporting a person needing urgent medical attention
• At intersections, drivers must give way to traffic from the right, unless a priority road is indicated
• Priority at roundabouts is normally indicated with a ‘Give way’ or ‘Stop’ sign. In the absence of signs, the approaching driver must give priority to vehicles coming from the right

Speed limits vary across Serbia, so always check the signposts for maximum speeds. In urban areas, the limit is usually 50km/h unless otherwise signposted

• Never go off-road in rural areas without an experienced guide - you run the risk of coming across landmines and unexploded devices
• Some hire car companies won't let you take the car to Kosovo, Albania or Bulgaria because of safety concerns – there have been a few incidents of Serbian-registered cars being targeted in Kosovo
• Not all insurers cover driving in Serbia so check before you go - if yours doesn't, you can buy temporary cover at the main border crossings
• The standard of roads in Serbia can be quite poor in places. International transit roads are generally the best and visitors are advised to stick to these routes wherever possible
• You may encounter motorway tolls – these are payable in cash or with Mastercard, Maestro, Visa or American Express cards
• Unleaded petrol and diesel are readily available, with the vast majority of fuel stations accepting cash and major credit cards 
• Some parts of the motorway between Novi Sad and Belgrade have two lanes with a hard shoulder on one side only. Some drivers will use the 'middle' lane for overtaking, forcing other drivers onto the hard shoulder
• Parking is limited in built-up areas. In Belgrade, parking is largely time-limited and generally requires payment between 0700 and 2100 hours Monday – Friday and on Saturday mornings
• Protests can be common in Belgrade. They are usually peaceful but can be disruptive. Check Government advice for travelling in Serbia for the latest information

In an emergency

112 - Here's a really important bit of knowledge; you can dial 112 from anywhere in Europe and an operator will connect you to an emergency service in the country you're visiting.

Operators can answer your call in their native language, English or French.

Breaking down in Serbia

RAC offers great-value, flexible RAC European breakdown cover tailored to meet your needs. We also offer comprehensive travel insurance, including cover for medical expenses, baggage, personal money and belongings.

Not all of the information in the guide above will be relevant to those looking to rent a hire car in Serbia.

Though it might be a good idea to read through everything anyway, here are the most important things to know for drivers of rental vehicles:

Rental information

• The minimum age to hire can vary depending on vehicle type, it's best to check beforehand with your provider
• You need a full, valid UK driving licence and usually a second proof of ID (passport)
• Some car rental companies ask that you have held your licence for a minimum term - check with your hire company first
• Some companies require you to use a credit card for deposit
• You may not be able to drive outside of Serbia unless planned in advance - check with your hire company first
• Make sure you get car hire excess insurance before your trip to protect yourself from unexpected costs. It's almost always cheaper to do this with a separate insurer and in advance

Hire car driving tips

• Serbs drive on the right and overtake on the left - the opposite to the UK
• Speed limits vary across Serbia, so always check the signposts for maximum speeds. In urban areas, the limit is usually 50km/h unless otherwise signposted
• Dial 112 in an emergency
• It’s compulsory to wear seat belts in the front and rear seats
• The blood alcohol content limit for drivers of private vehicles is 0.03%. That's lower than the whole of the UK

UK Government travel advice

See up-to-date travel advice