Breakdown or Accident in Montenegro: What to Do

Montenegro's roads range from smooth coastal highways to steep mountain switchbacks above Kotor and the high plateau roads near Žabljak — beautiful to drive, but not without risk. Knowing exactly what to do in the first minutes after a breakdown or collision will protect you, your passengers, and your legal standing with the rental company.

Step 1: Make the Scene Safe

Before anything else, protect yourself and others from further harm.

• Switch on hazard lights immediately — even before the car has fully stopped if it is safe to do so.
• Move off the road if the vehicle can be driven without causing further damage. On narrow roads such as the Kotor–Lovćen serpentine or the gorge roads near Tara Canyon, the hard shoulder may be almost nonexistent; get as far right as possible.
• Place warning triangles at least 50 metres behind the vehicle on a normal road, further on a fast road. Your rental car should have a triangle in the boot — check before you drive away from the pick-up location.
• Put on a high-visibility vest before you step out of the car. In Montenegro, as in most of Europe, it is a legal requirement to wear one when you exit a vehicle on the road.
• Do not stand behind the vehicle — stay on the verge or behind a barrier.

Step 2: Check for Injuries and Call Emergency Services

If anyone is injured, call 112 (the pan-European emergency number, free from any phone). Operators speak English. Give your location as clearly as possible — on the coast, landmarks like the Kamenari–Lepetane ferry crossing or the Sozina tunnel entrance are easy reference points; in the mountains, note the road number and the nearest village or km marker.

For police, you can also reach the Montenegro police on 122. For roadside assistance, call 19807 (the HAK/Auto-Moto Association of Montenegro helpline) — keep this number saved in your phone for the duration of your trip.

When must you call the police? Montenegro law requires you to call the police if the accident involves injury, a third party, or significant property damage. Even in minor incidents, having a police report protects you and simplifies the insurance process — so when in doubt, call.

Step 3: Document Everything

While waiting for police or assistance, gather evidence thoroughly.

Photos to take

• Both vehicles from multiple angles, including number plates
• The point of impact and surrounding road conditions (wet road, blind bend, potholes)
• Road signs, skid marks, debris
• Any visible injuries (with consent)
• Wider context shots showing where the vehicles ended up relative to the road

Details to collect from the other driver

• Full name and address
• Driver's licence number and country of issue
• Vehicle registration number and make/model
• Insurance company name and policy number
• Phone number

Never rely on memory or a verbal agreement at the scene. Montenegro is a small country and tourist incidents can become complex when parties have already travelled on.

Step 4: Complete the European Accident Report (Constat)

If the accident is minor and both drivers agree on what happened, you can use the European Accident Report (also called the Constat amiable or the blue form). A copy should be in the rental car's document folder.

• Fill in both sides of the form together with the other driver.
• Each driver signs their own section.
• Each driver keeps a copy.
• Do not sign anything you disagree with — the form is a legal document. If there is any dispute about what happened, wait for the police.

For a full overview of how insurance and the deposit system work on your rental, see our guide to car rental insurance and deposits in Montenegro.

Step 5: Call Your Rental Company

Contact Montrent as soon as the immediate emergency is resolved — most rental agreements require notification within a specific window (check your contract). Have ready:

• The rental agreement number
• Your location
• A brief description of what happened
• Whether police attended and, if so, the incident reference number
• Your photo documentation

Do not attempt repairs yourself or authorise a third-party garage without speaking to the rental company first. Unauthorised repairs can void the insurance coverage on the vehicle.

Step 6: Breakdowns (No Collision)

If the car simply stops working — a flat tyre, dead battery, or warning light — the process is simpler but still important.

• Follow the same safety steps: hazards, triangle, vest.
• Call the rental company's roadside assistance number (listed in your rental documents and on the key fob card).
• Do not leave the vehicle unattended in a hazardous position for an extended period.
• If you are deep in the mountains — near Durmitor or on the road to Ostrog — mobile signal can be intermittent. Save the assistance number before you depart and consider downloading an offline map. Our Durmitor and Tara Canyon road trip guide includes tips on connectivity and fuel stops in remote areas.

Flat tyre

Check whether your rental includes a full-size spare or a space-saver. A space-saver spare is only intended for slow speeds over a short distance to reach a tyre fitter — not for continuing a long mountain drive. Alert the rental company and arrange a tyre swap before resuming your journey.

Warning lights

Do not ignore a warning light and drive on. Pull over safely, take a photo of the dashboard display, and call the rental company for guidance.

Useful Numbers to Save Before You Drive

A Note on Montenegro's Road Conditions

Many incidents happen not on the main coastal highway but on secondary roads that look fine on a map — the pass above Cetinje, the descent into Virpazar near Skadar Lake, or the narrow lanes around Perast and Herceg Novi. Driving in Montenegro has a full breakdown of what to watch for by region. For the specific risks of mountain and winter driving, see our winter driving guide.

If you are crossing into Croatia, Bosnia, or Albania and an incident occurs near the border, the rules become more complex — our cross-border rental guide explains what documentation you need before you leave Montenegro.

Accidents and breakdowns are rare, but they happen to careful drivers too. A little preparation — knowing who to call, where the accident form is, and what photos to take — turns a stressful situation into a manageable one. If you are planning your Montenegro road trip, browse our full car range or explore pickup locations to start with a vehicle and a team you can rely on.