Serbia on a Canadian Licence 2026: 90 Days, 0.02 Ceiling
Canada
Serbia
Yes, bring an International Driving Permit: Global Affairs Canada says a Canadian licence covers 90 days in Serbia and should be carried with an IDP from CAA. Traffic keeps right as at home, but the alcohol limit falls to 0.02%.
Do you need an international driving permit in Serbia? Global Affairs Canada says yes, you should carry one. A Canadian licence is valid there for up to 90 days, and the IDP from CAA goes alongside it. Serbia keeps to the right, like Canada. The real change is alcohol: Serbia’s limit is 0.02%, a quarter of the 80 mg per 100 ml in Canada’s Criminal Code.
Licence, permit and proof of your stay
Order the permit from CAA well ahead of departure; it is only issued at home. In Serbia, carry three things together: the provincial licence, the IDP and your passport. Serbian law lets temporary visitors drive on a foreign licence during their stay, but it also expects them to be able to show how long they have been in the country, so keep the passport with its entry stamp in the car rather than in the hotel safe. After 90 days, the Canadian licence no longer covers you. Check neighbouring countries with the Driving Permit Checker.
At the rental counter, ask to see the compulsory kit listed further down before you sign, and if it is November or later, look at the tyres yourself. Photograph the car on all sides, then ask whether the contract allows trips outside Serbia.
The alcohol line sits very low
At 0.02%, one drink can be enough to put you over. Canadians used to the 0.08 criminal threshold have nothing that low at home. Serbian hospitality often involves rakija; enjoy it on days without the car.
Main roads, side roads and one road to avoid
Global Affairs Canada warns that conditions vary widely across the country and that secondary roads are often narrow and poorly maintained. It singles out State Road 22, the route from Belgrade towards the Montenegrin border known as the Ibarska Magistrala, as dangerous because of its poor condition. If you are heading south-west, check whether a motorway section can replace part of it, and drive it in daylight.
Limits under Serbia’s road traffic safety law:
- 50 km/h in towns
- 80 km/h on ordinary roads outside them
- 100 km/h on expressways
- 130 km/h on motorways, faster than any Canadian freeway
What it costs to get it wrong
| Offence | Fine |
|---|---|
| Up to 10 km/h over | RSD 3,000 fixed |
| Higher speeding band | RSD 10,000-40,000 and 3 points |
| Far over the limit | RSD 20,000-100,000, 6 points and suspension |
| Phone at the wheel | RSD 10,000-20,000 and 2 points |
| Red light | RSD 10,000-40,000 and 3 points |
| No seatbelt | RSD 5,000-10,000 |
Winter, 1 November to 1 April
Drivers must carry and use winter equipment as prescribed by the ministry when roads are wintry during this period, and police can stop a car without it from going further. Canadians know winter driving well; the difference is that the rule is enforced by date as well as weather. Confirm the hire car is fitted if you are travelling in that window.
The kit in the boot
Global Affairs Canada lists what must be in the car: a first-aid kit, a warning triangle, a tow rope, a working spare tyre and a reflective vest. Put the vest on as soon as you step out after a breakdown or crash.
Crossing borders in a Serbian-plated car
Planning to continue to neighbouring countries in a car hired in Serbia? Global Affairs Canada warns that Serbian licence plates can attract tension on the roads and at border crossings in Kosovo, Bosnia and Herzegovina, Croatia and Albania. Stay aware of your surroundings, and check the rental contract for cross-border permission before you set off.
Emergency numbers
Serbia uses separate lines: police 192, fire 193, ambulance 194, and roadside assistance 987. Save them along with your rental company’s number. The Serbia driving guide covers tolls and border crossings in more detail.
Sources
- Global Affairs Canada, Serbia travel advice (licence 90 days; carry an IDP; equipment; 192/193/194; 987; State Road 22; Serbian plates in neighbouring countries): travel.gc.ca
- Zakon o bezbednosti saobraćaja na putevima (Road Traffic Safety Act), arts. 43-44 (speed limits), 183 (temporary visitors, proof of stay), 187 (0.02%), 291 (winter equipment), 334 (fixed fines): paragraf.rs
- Criminal Code of Canada, section 320.14, the federal blood-alcohol offence at 80 mg per 100 ml: laws-lois.justice.gc.ca
Speed limits, fines, equipment & license requirements
Your home country driving rules for reference
Renting a Car?
Compare prices from all major rental companies. Free cancellation on most bookings.
Compare Car Rental PricesSome links on this page are affiliate links. We may earn a commission at no extra cost to you. How our affiliate links work.
More Free Tools
Explore TyreMap
Winter tyres in Serbia — 2026–27 season
Winter tyres are required in Serbia whenever conditions are wintry — 1 Nov - 1 Apr.
- Legal winter tread minimum: 4 mm — not the 1.6 mm figure most guides quote, which is the year-round minimum.
- Accepted marking: M+S (min 4 mm tread)
- Studded tyres: banned
- Penalty: RSD 5,000 (RSD 6,000-18,000 if it endangers others or causes a crash)
In Serbian the rule is zimske gume, and snow chains are lanci za sneg — that is the wording on signs, in hire-car paperwork and on any penalty notice.
Checked against national legislation, 20 Oct 2026 · Full Serbia tyre law · Compare all countries
Frequently Asked Questions
Yes. Global Affairs Canada says a Canadian licence can be used in Serbia for up to 90 days and that you should carry an international driving permit with it. CAA issues the permit; get it before you leave.
0.02% under Serbia's road traffic safety law, against the 80 mg per 100 ml in Canada's Criminal Code. One beer can be enough to break the Serbian limit, so plan on none.
The law obliges drivers to carry and use winter equipment as the ministry prescribes, and the rules apply from 1 November to 1 April when roads are wintry; police can stop a car without it from continuing. A hire car booked for that period should come fitted.
Up to 10 km/h over the limit is a fixed RSD 3,000. A phone at the wheel costs RSD 10,000-20,000 plus 2 penalty points, a red light RSD 10,000-40,000 plus 3 points, and no seatbelt RSD 5,000-10,000.