Montenegro taxi scams: 7 tricks and how to avoid them (2026)

The most common and most expensive trick. At Tivat Airport the driver suggests “on the meter, it’s fairer”, sets tariff 2 (night/out-of-town) or “forgets” to switch it off from the last ride, and 21 km to Budva become €90–120 instead of €50–70. From Podgorica, 60 km comes to €150–180.

Why it works: visitors do not know that intercity trips in Montenegro never run on the meter — they are always a negotiated price per car. Defence: give the address before you get in and hear a figure. If the answer is “on the meter”, take the next car.

The quoted price sounds reasonable; at the hotel it was “each”. Four passengers — €120 instead of €30. Common at the airports and the ranks by Budva Old Town, more often at night.

Defence: one clarifying question — “for the whole car?” In a dispute at the hotel, point out that Montenegrin tariffs are always per car; it is on the tariff card on the rear door window.

You hand over €100 for a €55 ride and the driver shrugs: no change, the ATM is far, “leave it”. The second most common trick after the meter; €20–40 on average.

Defence: small notes before you get in (both airports have an ATM and an exchange desk in arrivals). If there is no change, ask to be driven to the nearest shop or petrol station to break the note — the wish to “leave it” disappears.

Inside the arrivals halls at Tivat and Podgorica, someone approaches with “taxi, cheap, car is right here”. These are not drivers from the rank: often a private car without a licence, passenger insurance, meter or receipt. The price is lower at the start and higher at the hotel, with nobody to argue with.

Defence: official taxis wait only outside at the rank. Yellow TAXI sign on the roof, plate starting “TX”, tariff card on the window. Anything else — no, even if it is “cheaper”.

A classic for late arrivals without a printed booking. The driver states confidently that the hotel is closed for renovation or “very far, this one is better” — and drives you to “his” hotel for a commission, leaving you in another district at another price.

Defence: you have an address and a booking — go to the address; check the pin on the map before you get in. Hotels in Montenegro do not “close” suddenly, and if one did, you would have been emailed.

From Podgorica Airport to Budva there are two roads: through the Sozina tunnel (60–75 minutes) and over Cetinje (80–90). The trick is to drive on the meter via Cetinje “because it is beautiful” and add “tunnel extra” at the end, although there was no tunnel on that road. From Tivat to Budva some “avoid traffic” via Kotor, doubling the kilometres.

Defence: a negotiated price per car settles the route question — a longer road costs the driver, not you. The Sozina toll (about €2.50) belongs inside the agreed price; say “including the tunnel”.

Small extras that appear at the end: €5 “for the suitcases”, €10 “for waiting for the flight” (there was no wait), “it’s night tariff now” at 21:40. Small individually, €15–25 together.

Defence: standard luggage is not charged in Montenegro; waiting for a request sent with a flight number is the driver’s obligation, not a service; the night tariff starts at 22:00. If the sum changes after the ride, pay the agreed figure and ask for a receipt.

The check takes less time than an argument at the hotel.

It works if you have the plate number (photo when you got in) and a receipt, or at least the exact time and place. Budva Tourist Organisation takes complaints on Viber/WhatsApp at +382 67 111 988 and passes them to the inspectorate; the municipal inspectorate fines licensed drivers for tariff violations. Police — 122 — for threats or refusal to hand over luggage.

In practice a complaint rarely gets money back, but a photo of the plate taken openly as you get in prevents most tricks before the ride even starts.

A request through Budva Taxi App shows the tariff estimate before you send it; the driver who accepts appears with name and plate, confirms the price in the chat before the trip, and is paid directly in cash — the app takes no commission from the passenger. The meter, “per person”, touts, “hotel closed”, the long road and surprise extras simply do not arise: price and car are known before you leave the terminal. One habit remains — small notes.