All ten Balkan countries drive on the right, seat belts are mandatory in every seat, and 112 works as the emergency number across the region. Beyond that, limits vary: drink-drive rules range from effectively zero tolerance in Albania and Kosovo to 0.05% in several neighbours, and motorway charging ranges from Slovenian and Bulgarian vignettes to per-section tolls in Croatia, Serbia and North Macedonia.
Quick reference table
| Country | Speed limits (town / open road / motorway) | Drink-drive limit | Tolls | Winter / seasonal |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Albania | 40 km/h in towns, 80–90 km/h on open roads, 110 km/h on motorways | Effectively zero tolerance — the legal limit is set at 0.01%, low enough to allow for alcohol in medicines. | No toll roads. | Snow chains must be carried from 1 November to 30 April. |
| Bosnia and Herzegovina | 50 km/h in built-up areas, 80 km/h on open roads, 100 km/h on dual carriageways, 130 km/h on motorways | 0.05% general limit; zero tolerance for professional drivers under state law. | Motorway tolls on the FBiH motorway network (JP Autoceste FBiH). | Dipped headlights at all times; radar detectors prohibited. |
| Bulgaria | 50 km/h in built-up areas, 90 km/h outside, 130–140 km/h on motorways (by signage) | 0.05%. | Vignette required on motorways — buy the e-vignette online from bgto.bg before travel. | Headlights on in daytime; reflective jacket for every passenger. |
| Croatia | 50 km/h in built-up areas, 90–110 km/h outside, 130 km/h on motorways | 0.05% general; zero for novice and professional drivers. | Electronic tolling on motorways (HAC/ENC) — no vignette. | Winter equipment compulsory on winter road sections from 15 November to 15 April. |
| Kosovo | 50 km/h in towns, 80 km/h outside, 130 km/h on the motorway | Zero tolerance (0.01%, effectively allowing only alcohol in medicines). | Toll on the Pristina–Hani i Elezit motorway. | Green Card is NOT valid in Kosovo — buy temporary local insurance at the border. |
| Montenegro | 50 km/h in built-up areas, 80 km/h outside, 100 km/h on expressways | 0.03% — among the strictest in the region. | No motorway tolls; a charge applies on the Sozina tunnel. | Dipped headlights in daytime all year round. |
| North Macedonia | 50 km/h in towns, 80–110 km/h outside, 130 km/h on motorways | 0.05% general; 0.009% for professional drivers and drivers with under two years of experience. | Motorway tolls payable in cash or by card. | Winter tyres or chains from 15 November to 15 March; radar detectors prohibited. |
| Romania | 50 km/h in built-up areas, 90 km/h outside, 130 km/h on motorways | 0.05% general; zero tolerance for novice and professional drivers. | Rovinieta electronic road tax — roughly €3 for 7 days to €28 for 12 months. Official site: cnadnr.ro. | Reflective jackets, warning triangle, fire extinguisher and first-aid kit required. |
| Serbia | 50 km/h in towns, 80 km/h outside, 130 km/h on motorways | 0.02% (0.20 mg/ml) from primary law; zero tolerance for professional drivers and drivers of passenger vehicles with 8+ seats. | Motorway tolls via the Toll4All/TAG system — no vignette. | Winter equipment required from 1 November to 1 April when snow or ice is present. |
| Slovenia | 50 km/h in built-up areas, 90–110 km/h on open roads, 130 km/h on motorways | 0.05% general; zero tolerance for novice drivers and drivers under 21. | Vignette required on motorways — buy the official e-vignette from evinjeta.dars.si. | Winter tyres recommended in winter; warning triangle required. |
Check before you drive
Country by country
Albania
- Speed limits: 40 km/h in towns, 80–90 km/h on open roads, 110 km/h on motorways.
- Drink-driving: Effectively zero tolerance — the legal limit is set at 0.01%, low enough to allow for alcohol in medicines.
- Tolls: No toll roads.
- Seasonal and equipment: Snow chains must be carried from 1 November to 30 April. Warning triangle, first-aid kit and reflective jacket required.
Bosnia and Herzegovina
- Speed limits: 50 km/h in built-up areas, 80 km/h on open roads, 100 km/h on dual carriageways, 130 km/h on motorways.
- Drink-driving: 0.05% general limit; zero tolerance for professional drivers under state law.
- Tolls: Motorway tolls on the FBiH motorway network (JP Autoceste FBiH).
- Seasonal and equipment: Dipped headlights at all times; radar detectors prohibited. Warning triangle required.
Bulgaria
- Speed limits: 50 km/h in built-up areas, 90 km/h outside, 130–140 km/h on motorways (by signage).
- Drink-driving: 0.05%.
- Tolls: Vignette required on motorways — buy the e-vignette online from bgto.bg before travel.
- Seasonal and equipment: Headlights on in daytime; reflective jacket for every passenger. Warning triangle required.
Croatia
- Speed limits: 50 km/h in built-up areas, 90–110 km/h outside, 130 km/h on motorways.
- Drink-driving: 0.05% general; zero for novice and professional drivers.
- Tolls: Electronic tolling on motorways (HAC/ENC) — no vignette.
- Seasonal and equipment: Winter equipment compulsory on winter road sections from 15 November to 15 April. Reflective jacket, warning triangle and first-aid kit required.
Kosovo
- Speed limits: 50 km/h in towns, 80 km/h outside, 130 km/h on the motorway.
- Drink-driving: Zero tolerance (0.01%, effectively allowing only alcohol in medicines).
- Tolls: Toll on the Pristina–Hani i Elezit motorway.
- Seasonal and equipment: Green Card is NOT valid in Kosovo — buy temporary local insurance at the border. Warning triangle required.
Montenegro
- Speed limits: 50 km/h in built-up areas, 80 km/h outside, 100 km/h on expressways.
- Drink-driving: 0.03% — among the strictest in the region.
- Tolls: No motorway tolls; a charge applies on the Sozina tunnel.
- Seasonal and equipment: Dipped headlights in daytime all year round. Warning triangle required.
North Macedonia
- Speed limits: 50 km/h in towns, 80–110 km/h outside, 130 km/h on motorways.
- Drink-driving: 0.05% general; 0.009% for professional drivers and drivers with under two years of experience.
- Tolls: Motorway tolls payable in cash or by card.
- Seasonal and equipment: Winter tyres or chains from 15 November to 15 March; radar detectors prohibited. Warning triangle required.
Romania
- Speed limits: 50 km/h in built-up areas, 90 km/h outside, 130 km/h on motorways.
- Drink-driving: 0.05% general; zero tolerance for novice and professional drivers.
- Tolls: Rovinieta electronic road tax — roughly €3 for 7 days to €28 for 12 months. Official site: cnadnr.ro.
- Seasonal and equipment: Reflective jackets, warning triangle, fire extinguisher and first-aid kit required. Pay the rovinieta before driving; fines for missing vignettes are substantial.
Serbia
- Speed limits: 50 km/h in towns, 80 km/h outside, 130 km/h on motorways.
- Drink-driving: 0.02% (0.20 mg/ml) from primary law; zero tolerance for professional drivers and drivers of passenger vehicles with 8+ seats.
- Tolls: Motorway tolls via the Toll4All/TAG system — no vignette.
- Seasonal and equipment: Winter equipment required from 1 November to 1 April when snow or ice is present. Warning triangle required; daytime lights day and night.
Slovenia
- Speed limits: 50 km/h in built-up areas, 90–110 km/h on open roads, 130 km/h on motorways.
- Drink-driving: 0.05% general; zero tolerance for novice drivers and drivers under 21.
- Tolls: Vignette required on motorways — buy the official e-vignette from evinjeta.dars.si.
- Seasonal and equipment: Winter tyres recommended in winter; warning triangle required. Roundabout rule: do not indicate when entering.
Crossing borders with a rental car
Cross-border rental rules are separate from driving laws: confirm which countries your specific rental car is allowed to enter, whether a border authorization fee applies, and whether Green Card or written permission is included. Kosovo is the key exception — its border insurance requirement applies to rental cars too. See our guide to crossing Balkan borders with a rental car and the border crossings guide for the full picture.
Ferries and road journeys
If you are combining a road trip with an Adriatic crossing, check current sailings with the ferry operator rather than assuming year-round service — see the transport guide for operator links and timetables.
Frequently asked questions
Do I need an International Driving Permit to drive in the Balkans?
A full EU/EEA, UK or US licence is generally accepted for short stays in all ten countries, but rules differ per country and some rental companies ask for an IDP regardless. Confirm with your rental company and the local auto club (HAK, AMSS, BIHAMK, AMZS, AMSM or AMSCG) before you travel; an IDP is cheap insurance if your licence is not in Latin script.
What is the drink-drive limit in the Balkans?
Limits vary: Montenegro and Serbia are the strictest (roughly 0.02–0.03%), Albania and Kosovo are effectively zero tolerance, and the rest of the region is 0.05% — with lower or zero limits for novice and professional drivers nearly everywhere. The safest rule is to drink nothing if you plan to drive, and confirm the current limit with the local auto club or police before your trip.
Do I need a Green Card to drive in the Balkans?
EU-registered vehicles have not needed a Green Card since August 2021 in most of the region, but Kosovo is the exception: the Green Card is not valid there and you must buy temporary local insurance at the border. Always carry your insurance certificate and vehicle documents, and ask your insurer or rental company to confirm cross-border cover in writing.
Are winter tyres compulsory in the Balkans?
In winter months, yes in practice across much of the region: Serbia requires winter equipment from 1 November to 1 April when snow or ice is present, Croatia on winter road sections from 15 November to 15 April, North Macedonia from 15 November to 15 March, and Albania requires snow chains to be carried from 1 November to 30 April. Check the current seasonal rules with the national auto club before a winter drive.
What speed limits apply in the Balkans?
General limits are similar across the region: 50 km/h in built-up areas, 80–90 km/h on open roads, 100–110 km/h on expressways and dual carriageways, and 130 km/h on motorways (Bulgaria allows up to 140 where signed). Signposted limits always override the general rule, and lower limits often apply for novice drivers.
Do I need a vignette or toll sticker in the Balkans?
Yes for motorways in several countries: Slovenia and Bulgaria require a vignette (buy online from DARS or bgto.bg), Romania uses the rovinieta electronic road tax, and Croatia, Serbia, Bosnia, Kosovo and North Macedonia charge per-section motorway tolls (no vignette). Montenegro has no motorway tolls but charges for the Sozina tunnel. Pay before you travel where the system is electronic — fines for driving without a valid vignette are substantial.