Driving in Bosnia and Herzegovina from the UK: what you need
Checked against official sources on 8 November 2026 · Sources at the bottom of this page
Driving your own car to Bosnia and Herzegovina? You need:
- Your passport, valid for at least 90 days after you leave And stamped when you enter and leave. See below
- A UK sticker, unless your number plate shows "UK" with the Union flag GB stickers are no longer valid: remove or cover them
- Your UK driving licence, logbook (V5C) and printed insurance certificate No green card needed. Hiring or borrowing a car inside Bosnia? You need an international driving permit too (£5.50 at a PayPoint, UK only)
- A warning triangle and a hi-vis vest Wear the vest if you get out on the road
- Dipped headlights or daytime running lights on in the daytime Set them for driving on the right
- Winter equipment from 1 November to 1 April
🛂 Neum: leaving and re-entering the EU
Croatia is in the EU and the Schengen area. Bosnia and Herzegovina isn't. Driving through Neum means leaving Schengen and then entering it again about 9 km later, so expect passport checks both ways and an EU Entry/Exit System (EES) record when you return to Croatia. GOV.UK advises making sure your passport is stamped when you enter and leave Bosnia and Herzegovina, or you may be fined. Bosnia's passport rule differs from Croatia's: valid for at least 90 days after you leave.
Check your passport for Bosnia and Herzegovina →Avoid the border: the Pelješac Bridge
The old coast road to Dubrovnik crosses about 9 km of Bosnia and Herzegovina at Neum, with a border check on each side. Since 2022, the Pelješac Bridge and its link roads let you stay in Croatia the whole way, with no border checks.
Speed limits in Bosnia and Herzegovina
| Road | Limit |
|---|---|
| Motorways | 130 km/h≈ 81 mph |
| Expressways | 100 km/h≈ 62 mph |
| Other roads | 80 km/h≈ 50 mph |
| Towns and villages | 50 km/h≈ 31 mph |
Since 27 May 2026, driving 40 km/h or more over the limit in towns, or 60 km/h or more outside towns, counts as reckless driving: a fine of 2,000 to 3,000 KM and a 6-month driving ban.
Rules that catch UK drivers out
🍷 Drink-drive limit
0.3 g/kg, and zero for drivers under 21 or with less than 3 years' experience.
💡 Lights in the daytime
Dipped headlights or daytime running lights must be on whenever you drive in daylight.
📵 No handheld phones
Using a phone without hands-free is a 200 to 400 KM fine, and so is not wearing a seatbelt or using a radar detector.
🚗 After an accident
Stay at the scene and don't move the car until the police arrive. Police can fine you on the spot.
💣 Landmines
Mines remain from the 1992 to 1995 war. Don't step off roads or paved areas without a guide, and take care at road edges and on unmade roads.
❄️ Winter equipment 1 Nov – 1 Apr
From 1 November to 1 April, cars must have winter tyres on all wheels, or winter tyres on the driving wheels plus snow chains, or summer tyres with at least 4 mm of tread plus chains. Police can stop the car if it isn't equipped.
GOV.UK advises tyres marked M+S with the snowflake symbol and at least 4 mm of tread, and carrying chains, between November and April.
Money and tolls
The currency is the convertible mark (KM or BAM), fixed at about 1.96 KM to the euro. Some motorways in Bosnia and Herzegovina charge tolls, and some lanes take cards only. The Neum road isn't tolled.
Breakdowns and emergencies
- Call 122 for the police, 124 for an ambulance or 123 for fire.
- Put on your hi-vis vest before you get out, and place the warning triangle behind the car if it's safe to.
- Don't leave the road surface to walk onto verges or into fields: landmines remain in some areas.
Hiring a car in Bosnia and Herzegovina instead
- If you hire a car in Croatia, you need the hire company's permission to take it into Bosnia and Herzegovina, including Neum. Ask for it in writing: there's often a fee.
- A car hired outside Bosnia only needs your UK licence. If you hire or borrow a car inside Bosnia, you also need an international driving permit, which you can only buy in the UK.
FAQs
Do I have to drive through Bosnia to get to Dubrovnik?
No, not any more. The old coast road crosses about 9 km of Bosnia and Herzegovina at Neum, with a border check on each side. The Pelješac Bridge, opened in 2022, and its link roads let you stay in Croatia all the way to Dubrovnik without any border checks.
What happens at the Neum border?
Leaving Croatia into Neum means leaving the EU and Schengen area, and coming back means entering it again, so expect passport checks both ways. GOV.UK advises making sure your passport is stamped when you enter and leave Bosnia and Herzegovina.
What passport do I need for Bosnia and Herzegovina?
Your passport must have been issued less than 10 years before you arrive and be valid for at least 90 days after the day you plan to leave. You can visit without a visa for up to 90 days in 6 months.
Is my UK car insurance valid in Bosnia and Herzegovina?
Yes. UK motor insurance gives the minimum cover there, and you don't need a green card. Border police can ask for printed proof of insurance, so carry your certificate.
Do I need winter tyres in Bosnia and Herzegovina?
From 1 November to 1 April, cars must have winter equipment: winter tyres on all wheels, or winter tyres on the driving wheels plus chains, or summer tyres with at least 4 mm of tread plus chains. GOV.UK advises winter tyres and carrying chains between November and April.
What is the drink-drive limit in Bosnia and Herzegovina?
0.3 g/kg, and zero for drivers under 21 or with less than 3 years' experience.
More for your trip
Sources
Checked on 8 November 2026. Rules change, so check the official sources before you travel.
- GOV.UK: Bosnia and Herzegovina entry requirements · Safety and driving · Emergency numbers · Insurance abroad · International driving permits
- EU and Croatia: Pelješac Bridge (European Commission) · Entry/Exit System · Croatian Customs: traveller allowances
- Bosnia and Herzegovina: Road traffic safety law · Motorway tolls (JP Autoceste) · Currency (Central Bank) · Mine Action Centre