Do I need a Green Card to drive the M17 and cross into Croatia? Is the M17 safe for a rental car from Mostar Airport? Which rental companies are commonly used for Mostar and Sarajevo transfers? Can I use the same insurance for Sarajevo, Mostar, and Dubrovnik? What should I check if I want to visit Stari Most, Blagaj Tekija, or Kravice Waterfalls by car? The M17 is the main overland route between Sarajevo and Mostar, and most rental-car drivers use it for the same reasons: it is direct, scenic, and governed by clear national rules. The route is about 130 km, follows the Neretva canyon, and passes through Herzegovina before reaching Mostar Centar and Stari Grad. Bosnia and Herzegovina uses road-type speed limits rather than a single nationwide motorway rule, and the M17 is mostly an 80 km/h open-road corridor with local settlement limits that drop to 50 km/h. The A1 motorway sections near Sarajevo-Tarčin and Mostar-Bijača are the main exception, with 130 km/h posted where the motorway is fully open. BIHAMK, the Bosanskohercegovački auto-moto klub, publishes roadside conditions and police-warning updates for Bosnia; dispatch 1282 is the number most drivers save before entering the canyon. Speeding fines in Bosnia are tied to the amount over the limit, and the penalty structure became especially relevant after the 2023 legal updates in Službeni glasnik BiH 88/23. Small violations can still cost 30 KM for up to 10 km/h over the limit, while more serious speeding can reach 400-1,000 KM, two penalty points, and a two- to six-month driving ban for the highest categories. If a rental company such as rent.ba (CityRent), Carrus, Nur Rent A Car, MANDI Rent A Car, or Sixt BiH takes a card pre-authorisation, the hold can reduce available credit even when the final rental price is lower, so confirm the deductible and excess before you leave the desk. Bosnia and Herzegovina applies a very low alcohol limit for general drivers and zero tolerance for several higher-risk categories. For most drivers, the legal BAC limit is 0.03% (0.3‰), while drivers under 21, drivers with less than three years of licence experience, and professional drivers are subject to 0.0% zero tolerance. The practical point is that any measurable alcohol creates major insurance risk in a rental car, especially when the rental contract references CDW, SCDW, or full coverage with or without Zero Excess. On 2024-10-04, a U.S. Embassy Sarajevo security alert described a major M17 landslide disruption near Donja Jablanica, and local insurers and roadside operators continued treating that corridor as a higher-risk zone during recovery work. A BAC-related breach can void third-party liability support from the rental chain and expose the driver to the full deductible, even where the rental included collision damage waiver wording. A Bosnia rental car should carry the legal minimum equipment before you leave Sarajevo Airport (SJJ), Mostar Airport (OMO), Dubrovnik Airport (DBV), or any city depot in Mostar Centar. Under Bosnia’s road-safety framework, the key issue is not only what the car contains but also whether the driver’s documents match the trip, the border, and the licence class. Low-beam headlights are required day and night, all year round, on all public roads in Bosnia and Herzegovina. International Driving Permit (IDP): An IDP is required for many non-EU/EEA visitors, including most travellers from the USA, Canada, Australia, and the UK, unless a specific bilateral recognition rule applies. Mandatory equipment: Carry a warning triangle, reflective vest, first-aid kit, spare bulbs, and a tow rope where the rental contract or local law requires them. Illegal devices: Radar detectors and radar-detection dashcam features are prohibited, and police enforcement can include confiscation and fines. For licence and vehicle administration, Bosnia also relies on IDDEEA and the License Plate Subsystem for registration controls, while inspection and enforcement issues may involve the Federation MUP, MUP KS, or the Federalna Uprava za Inspekcijske Poslove depending on where the stop occurs. If you plan to cross from Bosnia into Croatia through Doljani, Bijača, Hum, or Karasovići, ask the rental desk whether the car includes a Green Card and written cross-border permission before departure; this matters even more if your route continues toward the Pelješac Bridge. The M17 is not uniformly difficult, but several named sections demand slower driving and more planning.