Driving / Cars

Driving in Sarajevo definitely isn’t for the faint of heart. Surrounded by mountains, the roads here can be incredibly narrow—sometimes too narrow for two cars to pass side by side. This is often due to cars parked along one lane or simply because the streets were never meant for modern traffic.

Honestly, having a blue license plate has been my saving grace. It seems like locals spot it and think, “It’ll be quicker and easier if we reverse on this steep mountain road,” and they usually do—graciously and with impressive skill. And for that, I’m genuinely grateful. Thank you, Sarajevo drivers!

As of late 2024 and into early 2025, there’s quite a bit of roadwork happening in the city center. While chatting with a taxi driver—who was clearly frustrated with the situation—he made a joke that stuck with me: “Can you believe it? This village has only two streets, and they decided to work on both at the same time! Brilliant, right?” His humor made the traffic a little easier to bear.

In Sarajevo-and really, throughout the rest of Bosnia and Herzegovina—it sometimes feels like your GPS is playing tricks on you. It doesn’t quite register that there are steep mountains and narrow roads everywhere, and it loves sending you on adventures that end in someone’s driveway! I’ve learned to outsmart it a little by always making my way down to the main road first before heading back up the next hill. It’s not always the shortest route, but definitely the sanest one!

Buying a car

“The moment we decided to buy a new car in Sarajevo we contacted many dealers via email or phone. Few replied to our emails, it’s better to visit them in person and discuss on site. Not all of them have offers for diplomats, i.e. without taxes. Often the new cars are not available in stock with small exceptions. Waiting time for ordering a new car is 4 to 6 months. At the same time, secondhand cars are offered by the dealers available for purchase right away’”

Renting a car

If you’re planning to visit Bosnia and Herzegovina during the high season, especially in summer, we recommend arranging your car rental well in advance—cars tend to get booked up quickly that time of year. There are several ways to go about it: your landlord might be able to help or even rent you a car directly, or you might find a friend-of-a-friend who’s in the car rental business. Of course, you can also check with well-known rental companies for offers and availability, such as:

• Sixt – Sixt has two popular rental locations in Sarajevo. The Downtown branch is open Monday to Friday from 8:00 AM to 5:00 PM, and on Saturdays and public holidays from 8:00 AM to 1:00 PM. It’s closed on Sundays. The Airport location, on the other hand, offers more flexibility and is open daily from 8:00 AM to 11:00 PM.
• Europcar – Europcar also has two convenient locations in Sarajevo. The Downtown office is open Monday to Friday from 8:00 AM to 4:30 PM, and on Saturdays from 8:00 AM to 2:00 PM. It’s closed on Sundays. The Airport branch has longer hours, open Monday to Friday from 7:30 AM to 10:30 PM, and on Saturdays and Sundays from 7:30 AM to 9:30 PM.

Car service

Getting a tire fixed / new tyres / winter & summer tires

Just a heads-up: between November and April, winter tires are required by law in Bosnia and Herzegovina. And trust us—you really don’t want to be navigating Sarajevo’s steep hills in winter without them!

BIHAMK / Local AAA – 24/7 Roadside Assistance

BIHAMK (Bosanskohercegovački auto‑moto klub) is Bosnia and Herzegovina’s main automobile association; think of it as the local version of AAA or the AA. BIHAMK offers 24/7 roadside assistance, real-time traffic updates, international driving permits, and publishes helpful maps and travel guides.

Importing Vehicles: You can find the information here.

Car Registration

Registering a car in Bosnia can feel a bit like solving a mystery – but luckily, we’ve been able to manage it by submitting documents through ap.ks.gov.ba/administrativni-postupak/produzenje-vaznosti-registracije.

Just a heads-up: car registration must be renewed annually, and a technical inspection is required as part of the process.