Privacy Policy

1. Introduction and Scope

This Privacy Policy explains how Podgorica Drive ("we", "us", "our"), a car rental operator based in Podgorica, Podgorica Municipality, Montenegro, collects, processes, stores, and protects personal data provided by users of this website and through our booking services.

This policy applies to all visitors to podgoricadrive.com, all customers who make or enquire about a reservation, and anyone who contacts us by email, phone, or web form. It covers data collected online, during the booking process, and at the vehicle pickup counter - whether at Podgorica Airport (TGD), our downtown Podgorica office, or at any hotel delivery location within Montenegro.

We process personal data in compliance with the Law on Personal Data Protection of Montenegro (Official Gazette of Montenegro, No. 79/08, 70/09, 44/12, and subsequent amendments) and, where applicable, the principles of the European Union General Data Protection Regulation (GDPR) as adopted by reference in Montenegrin law.

By using our website or submitting a booking, you acknowledge that you have read and understood this policy.

2. Data Controller

The data controller responsible for your personal information is:

Podgorica Drive
Podgorica, Podgorica Municipality, Montenegro
Email: [email protected]
Phone: +1 (564) 716-1223

For any privacy-related queries, you may contact us directly at the email above. We aim to respond to all data-related requests within 30 days.

3. Information We Collect

Depending on how you interact with our services, we may collect the following categories of personal data:

3.1 Personal Identification Data

When you make or enquire about a car rental booking, we collect your full name, email address, phone number, date of birth, and - where required for vehicle handover - a copy or details of your driving licence and passport or national identity card. This information is necessary to verify your eligibility to rent a vehicle under Montenegrin traffic and rental regulations.

3.2 Booking and Rental Data

We record details of your reservation including pickup and return dates, selected vehicle category, pickup location (e.g. Podgorica Airport, downtown Podgorica, hotel address), any optional extras (child seats, GPS, insurance upgrades), and the total rental cost. We also log any one-way drop-off destination, such as Tivat, Kotor, Budva, or Bar.

3.3 Payment Information

We do not store full payment card details on our own servers. Payment transactions are processed exclusively by PCI-DSS compliant third-party payment processors. We may retain a transaction reference number, payment status, and the last four digits of a card for record-keeping and dispute resolution purposes. Our no-deposit booking model means that in many cases no card hold or upfront charge is made at the time of booking.

3.4 Browsing and Technical Data

When you visit our website, we automatically collect certain technical information including your IP address, browser type and version, operating system, referring URL, pages visited, time spent on pages, and device identifiers. This data is collected via server logs and cookies. Please refer to our Cookies Policy for full details on how cookies are used.

3.5 Location Data

If you use our website on a mobile device and grant location permissions, we may access approximate geolocation data to suggest the nearest pickup point in Podgorica or Montenegro. This data is not stored beyond the active session unless you explicitly save a preferred location.

3.6 Communications Data

If you contact us by email, phone, or web form, we retain the content of that correspondence along with your contact details and the date and time of contact. This includes support queries, complaints, and booking modification requests.

4. How We Use Your Data

We process your personal data for the following purposes:

4.1 Processing and Managing Bookings

The primary purpose of collecting your data is to facilitate your car rental reservation - confirming availability, issuing a booking voucher, arranging vehicle pickup at Podgorica Airport or other agreed locations, and managing the return process. This processing is necessary for the performance of a contract with you.

4.2 Customer Support and Communication

We use your contact details to send booking confirmations, reminders, modification notices, and to respond to support enquiries. Our English-language support team operates around the clock and may contact you regarding your rental, particularly for late arrivals into Podgorica Airport (TGD) or unexpected changes.

4.3 Service Improvement and Analytics

Aggregated and anonymised browsing data helps us understand how visitors use our website, which vehicle categories are most searched, and where users drop off in the booking flow. This allows us to improve the user experience and ensure our pricing remains competitive across economy, SUV, and automatic transmission categories.

4.4 Marketing Communications

With your explicit consent, we may send you promotional emails about car rental deals in Podgorica, seasonal offers, and travel inspiration for Montenegro. You may withdraw consent at any time by clicking the unsubscribe link in any marketing email or by contacting us directly. We will never sell your data to third-party marketers.

4.5 Legal and Regulatory Compliance

We may process and retain your data where required by Montenegrin law, including obligations related to traffic incidents, vehicle damage disputes, tax record-keeping, and responses to lawful requests from public authorities such as the Montenegrin Ministry of Interior or courts of competent jurisdiction.

4.6 Fraud Prevention and Security

We use booking and technical data to detect and prevent fraudulent reservations, identity misrepresentation, and misuse of our rental vehicles. This is a legitimate interest we pursue while balancing your privacy rights.

5. Data Sharing with Third Parties

We do not sell your personal data. We share data only with trusted partners where necessary to deliver our service:

5.1 Payment Processors

Your payment details are transmitted securely to our third-party payment gateway providers operating under PCI-DSS standards. These processors act as independent data controllers for the payment transaction itself.

5.2 Insurance Providers

Basic insurance is included in all our rental rates. In the event of a claim, relevant data (driver details, dates, vehicle information, incident report) will be shared with our insurance underwriter as required by the policy terms and Montenegrin insurance law.

5.3 Booking Integration Partners

Where a reservation originates through a third-party booking platform or comparison engine, that platform may share your reservation details with us. The privacy policy of that platform also applies to the data they collect directly from you.

5.4 Vehicle Regulatory Authorities

In cases of traffic violations, tolls, or incidents recorded during a rental period on Montenegrin roads - including routes near the Moraca canyon, the Podgorica-Niksic highway, or the coastal road to Budva - we may be required to disclose driver information to the relevant public authority.

5.5 Service Providers

We work with carefully vetted service providers for website hosting, email delivery, analytics, and customer relationship management. These providers process data only on our instructions and are bound by data processing agreements.

6. Data Retention

We retain personal data only for as long as necessary for the purposes described in this policy:

• Booking records: 7 years from the date of rental completion, in line with Montenegrin accounting and tax obligations.
• Driving licence and identity verification copies: Deleted or securely destroyed within 30 days of rental completion, unless a dispute or legal matter is open.
• Customer support correspondence: 3 years from the date of the interaction.
• Marketing consent records: Until consent is withdrawn, plus 1 year thereafter for audit purposes.
• Website analytics data: Up to 26 months in anonymised or aggregated form.
• Fraud prevention records: Up to 5 years where a confirmed or suspected fraudulent incident occurred.

7. Your Data Protection Rights

Under Montenegrin data protection law and the principles of the GDPR, you have the following rights regarding your personal data:

7.1 Right of Access

You may request a copy of the personal data we hold about you, along with information about how it is being processed. We will provide this within 30 days of a verified request.

7.2 Right to Rectification

If any personal data we hold is inaccurate or incomplete, you have the right to request correction. This is particularly relevant for driver licence details or contact information used in an active booking.

7.3 Right to Erasure

You may request that we delete your personal data where it is no longer necessary for the purpose it was collected, where you have withdrawn consent, or where processing was unlawful. This right is subject to overriding legal retention obligations.

7.4 Right to Data Portability

Where processing is based on consent or contract and carried out by automated means, you may request your data in a structured, commonly used, machine-readable format, and have it transferred to another controller where technically feasible.

7.5 Right to Object

You have the right to object to processing based on legitimate interests, including direct marketing. Where you object to marketing, we will stop processing your data for that purpose immediately.

7.6 Right to Restriction

You may request that we restrict processing of your data in certain circumstances - for example, while a dispute about accuracy is resolved, or where processing is unlawful but you do not wish erasure.

7.7 Exercising Your Rights

To exercise any of the rights above, contact us at [email protected] with "Data Rights Request" in the subject line. We may ask you to verify your identity before acting on a request. You also have the right to lodge a complaint with the Agency for Personal Data Protection and Free Access to Information of Montenegro (AZLP) if you believe your rights have been infringed.

8. Data Security

We implement appropriate technical and organisational security measures to protect your personal data against unauthorised access, accidental loss, alteration, or disclosure. These measures include:

• TLS/SSL encryption for all data transmitted between your browser and our servers
• Access controls limiting data access to authorised staff only, on a need-to-know basis
• Regular security assessments and software updates
• Secure deletion procedures for physical and digital records at end of retention period
• Staff training on data handling and privacy obligations

While we take all reasonable steps to protect your data, no internet transmission is completely secure. We encourage you to use strong, unique passwords and to contact us immediately if you suspect any unauthorised use of your account or booking details.

9. International Data Transfers

Our primary operations and data storage are based in Montenegro. In some cases, data may be processed by service providers located within the European Economic Area or in countries recognised by the European Commission as providing adequate data protection. Where transfers occur outside these regions, we ensure appropriate safeguards are in place, such as standard contractual clauses approved by relevant data protection authorities.

10. Updates to This Policy

We may update this Privacy Policy from time to time to reflect changes in our practices, technology, legal requirements, or business operations. When we make material changes, we will update the effective date at the top of this page and, where appropriate, notify registered customers by email.

We encourage you to review this policy periodically. Continued use of our website or services after an update constitutes acceptance of the revised policy.

Last updated: June 2025

11. Contact Us About Privacy

If you have any questions, concerns, or requests relating to this Privacy Policy or our data practices, please reach out to us:

Podgorica Drive - Privacy Enquiries
Podgorica, Podgorica Municipality, Montenegro
Email: [email protected]
Phone: +1 (564) 716-1223

We are committed to resolving privacy concerns promptly and transparently. All correspondence is treated confidentially.