Best Rental Car for Your Bosnia Trip: Every Car Type Explained
A small hatchback is perfect for Sarajevo and Mostar, a family of six needs a 7-seater, and a group of friends fits in a 9-seat van. Here's how to choose, with the best trips for each car type.
Photo: @ab_rent_car
The right car makes a Bosnia trip easier and cheaper. The wrong one means suitcases on your lap, a struggle to park in the old town, or paying for space you never use. Bosnia has narrow city streets, winding mountain roads and long scenic drives, so it's worth thinking about what kind of trip you're planning before you choose.
This guide explains every type of car in our fleet, who it suits and which trips it's best for. It's written by the AB Rent a Car team in Sarajevo, based on what our customers actually drive and where.
In this guide
- Quick answer: which car for which trip?
- Hatchback: best for the city and short trips
- Small SUV: the all-rounder
- SUV: long road trips, winter and comfort
- 7-seat SUV and minivan: families
- 9-seat van: groups and two families together
- Sedan and estate: motorway comfort with a big boot
- Premium: business, weddings and special occasions
- Petrol or diesel?
- Winter: which car is best in snow?
- What no car is allowed to do
- Frequently asked questions
Quick answer: which car for which trip?
| Your trip | Best choice | Examples from our fleet |
|---|---|---|
| City break in Sarajevo, 1–2 people | Hatchback | Hyundai i20, Škoda Scala, VW Golf |
| Day trips and Mostar, 2–4 people | Hatchback or small SUV | Škoda Kamiq, Seat Arona, Toyota Yaris Cross |
| Mountains and ski trips | Small SUV or SUV | Škoda Kamiq, VW Tiguan, Hyundai Tucson |
| Long road trip or cross-border | SUV, sedan or estate | VW Tiguan, Škoda Octavia, Peugeot 308 estate |
| Family with children, 5–7 people | 7-seat minivan or SUV | VW Touran, Ford Galaxy, Škoda Kodiaq |
| Group of 8–9 people | 9-seat van | Peugeot Traveller |
| Business, wedding, VIP | Premium sedan | BMW 520d, Mercedes-Benz S-Class |
Good to know: every car in our fleet has an automatic gearbox, full insurance, unlimited kilometres in Bosnia and Herzegovina, and Apple CarPlay or Android Auto. So you only need to choose the size and type. If you've never driven an automatic, read our manual vs automatic guide.
Hatchback: best for the city and short trips
Our cars: Hyundai i20, Škoda Scala, VW Golf 7.5
Seats and luggage: 5 seats; best for 2 adults with 2 large suitcases, or up to 4 people with light bags
Price: from €30 per day in winter and €55–60 in summer
A hatchback is the smartest choice if you're staying mostly in Sarajevo. The streets around Baščaršija and the hills above the old town are narrow and steep, and parking spaces are small. A compact car is easier to park, uses little fuel and is the cheapest option.
Ideal trips:
- Sarajevo city and the viewpoints above it (Yellow Fortress, Trebević)
- Vrelo Bosne and Ilidža
- Day trips to Mostar, Konjic, Visoko or Travnik
- Couples' road trips on main roads
For ideas, see our 8 places worth the drive in Sarajevo.
Small SUV: the all-rounder
Our cars: Škoda Kamiq, Seat Arona, Toyota Yaris Cross, Peugeot 2008, Mercedes GLA
Seats and luggage: 5 seats; 2–4 people with medium luggage
Price: from €30–40 per day in winter and €60–70 in summer
A small SUV is about the same size as a hatchback, so it's still easy to park, but you sit higher and have more ground clearance. That makes a difference on mountain roads, uneven village roads and in snow. It's our most popular choice for couples and small families doing a mix of city and countryside.
Ideal trips:
- Jahorina, Bjelašnica and Igman, in summer and winter
- Kravice Waterfalls, Blagaj and Počitelj
- The road through the Neretva canyon to Mostar
- Travnik, Jajce and the Pliva lakes
See the routes in our 10 best day trips from Sarajevo and Sarajevo to Mostar by car.
SUV: long road trips, winter and comfort
Our cars: Hyundai Tucson, VW Tiguan, BMW X4, Mercedes GLC
Seats and luggage: 5 seats; 4 adults with large suitcases
Price: from €50–110 per day in winter and €75–135 in summer
A full-size SUV is the most comfortable choice for long distances. There's room for four adults and their luggage, the ride is smooth on mountain roads, and it feels confident in winter conditions. For trips of several hours, or for crossing into Croatia and Montenegro, the extra comfort is worth it.
Ideal trips:
- A full Bosnia road trip: Sarajevo, Mostar, Jajce, Una National Park
- Sarajevo to Dubrovnik or Kotor (read our cross-border guide)
- Ski holidays with skis, boots and winter luggage
- Sutjeska National Park and the mountain roads of eastern Bosnia
7-seat SUV and minivan: families
Our cars: Škoda Kodiaq and Chery Tiggo 8 Pro (7-seat SUVs), VW Touran and Ford Galaxy (7-seat minivans)
Seats and luggage: 7 seats; with all seats in use, luggage space is limited, so for 6–7 people with big suitcases we recommend the 9-seat van
Price: minivans from €45 per day in winter and €60–85 in summer; 7-seat SUVs from €70 in winter and €110–120 in summer
These are our most requested cars in summer, especially by families from the Gulf and by the diaspora visiting home. A minivan (Touran, Galaxy) has easy access, a flat floor and lots of space for children, buggies and shopping. A 7-seat SUV (Kodiaq, Tiggo 8 Pro) gives you the same seats with a higher driving position and more comfort on mountain roads.
Child seats are available for €4 (7.82 KM) per day. Tell us the age of your children when you book.
Ideal trips:
- Family summer holidays: Sarajevo, Mostar, Kravice, Blagaj
- Vrelo Bosne, Trebević and the parks around Sarajevo
- Airport pickup for a family with lots of luggage
- Long stays: see our long-term rental guide for 14+ and 30+ day discounts
9-seat van: groups and two families together
Our car: Peugeot Traveller
Seats and luggage: 9 seats including the driver, with space for luggage behind the last row
Price: from €85 per day in winter and €150 in summer
If you're travelling as a group of friends or two families together, one van is usually cheaper and much easier than two cars: one driver, one parking space, one fuel bill and everyone together. It's a normal driving licence (category B) vehicle, so no special licence is needed.
Ideal trips:
- Mostar, Kravice and Blagaj in one day
- Group tours around Sarajevo and the Olympic mountains
- Airport transfers for big groups with luggage
Sedan and estate: motorway comfort with a big boot
Our cars: Škoda Octavia (sedan), Peugeot 308 (estate)
Seats and luggage: 5 seats; a very large boot for the price
Price: from €30–35 per day in winter and €55–60 in summer
If you need a lot of luggage space but don't need an SUV, an Octavia or a 308 estate is great value. Both are diesel, economical on long drives and comfortable on the motorway. A good choice for business travellers, diaspora visits with lots of bags and long cross-border trips.
Premium: business, weddings and special occasions
Our cars: BMW 520d, Mercedes-Benz S-Class
Price: On request
For business trips, weddings, VIP guests or simply a special occasion, our premium sedans offer the highest comfort. They also work well for an airport pickup when first impressions matter.
Petrol or diesel?
Our fleet has both. As a simple rule:
- Diesel (Golf, Octavia, 308, Tiguan, Kodiaq, Touran, Galaxy, Traveller, GLA, GLC, X4, BMW, Mercedes) is cheaper to run on long distances and motorway trips.
- Petrol (i20, Scala, Kamiq, Arona, 2008, Tucson, Tiggo 8 Pro) is ideal for city driving and shorter trips. The Toyota Yaris Cross is especially economical in the city.
Every rental includes a HIFA card that gives you a discount on fuel at HIFA petrol stations. If it isn't in the car, ask our team at pickup.
Winter: which car is best in snow?
All our cars have winter tyres from 15 November to 15 April, so every car is legal and safe for winter driving. For ski trips and mountain roads, a small SUV or SUV is more comfortable thanks to the extra ground clearance. Read more in our Bosnia in winter guide.
What no car is allowed to do
An SUV is not an off-road vehicle. None of our cars, including the SUVs, may be driven off-road or on rough gravel roads that can damage the car and tyres. A well-known example is the last part of the road to Lukomir, the highest village in Bosnia: it's rough gravel full of potholes. Visit Lukomir with an off-road or quad tour instead.
Other rules that apply to every car: no smoking inside, and you need our authorisation and green card documents to cross the border (ask when you book).
Frequently asked questions
Are all your cars automatic?
Yes, every car in our fleet has an automatic gearbox.
How many suitcases fit in a hatchback?
Usually two large suitcases plus small bags. If you have more luggage, choose a small SUV, an estate or a minivan.
Do I need a special licence for the 9-seat van?
No, a normal category B driving licence is enough.
Which car is best for a family of five with luggage?
A 7-seat minivan like the VW Touran, with the third row folded down for extra luggage space, or a Škoda Kodiaq.
Can I choose a specific model?
Yes. You choose the car on our website when you book. See all available cars on our rent a car Sarajevo page.
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