Renting a Car in Albania – ULTIMATE Guide

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The Albanian Riviera is the perfect place to take a road trip. The roads curve along most of the coastline, through some of the most beautiful places in Albania, making it a ridiculously scenic place to cruise with your own set of wheels!

There are loads of off-the-beaten-track spots that you can only really get to with your own set of wheels. In the south of Albania, the roads are mostly pretty well-maintained. If you stick to the popular routes, you should be dandy!

However, the same cannot be said about the rugged north. The roads are MUCH rougher and ready; you’ll want to hire a 4×4 if you plan to drive to many of the popular mountain spots. Some car rental companies won’t rent to you if you are planning to drive to certain areas, so be mindful of this.

When my partner, Harv, and I travelled to Albania, we used public and shared transport to explore the north and then hired a car in Tirana to travel the south. I would highly recommend doing this 🙂

Driving in Albania can be magical but also wildly chaotic. Trying to get out of Tirana was like playing Tetris in a sea of cars – lanes did not exist, and the roundabouts seemed to have a set of “rules” that I’m still not completely clear about.

Once you get out of the big city, life starts to calm down a little, traffic disperses, and the impressive views could soften even the most aggressive road rage. However, you’re still not completely safe from the unique operations of the Albanian roads. You can expect a few wild animals roaming the roads and some rather unsafe corners over-taken by locals in a rush.

Even after all of the above, I asked Harv (who was doubling as my chauffeur during this trip) whether he would do it again, and he said hell-yeah! If you take it slow and expect the unexpected, you’ll be grand.

Driver’s License and ID

You will need a full driving licence before being allowed to rent a car in Albania.

Although technically you “should” have an international driver’s permit, MOST companies do not ask you for this. Well, not in my experience anyway. This is especially true if you have an EU or UK driver’s licence.

I rented a car through Discover Cars and found them to be a great tool to find the best deal to find a rental car in Albania. I’ve written a legit Discover Cars review on all the pros and cons of using Discover Cars for your car rental.

If you are travelling from further afield, then it may make things smoother to get an IDP. You will also need to show them your passport. Most rental companies will also only rent to drivers over the age of 21, and many will have an additional “fee” or a more expensive insurance option for young drivers under 25.

Roads and Driving Standards

I can’t brush past the fact that Albanian driving is a little on the wild side, especially if you’re like Harv and me and are used to the roads in the UK and New Zealand. As I mentioned earlier, driving in cities like Tirana can be chaotic to say the least. Expect minimal lane usage, mildly aggressive overtaking and some rather creative interpretations of a red light.

If you want to travel off the beaten track, the rural roads vary a lot. Some are newly paved (we like these ones!), others are gravel with a few sneaky potholes along the way. If you venture into the mountains, the roads can be steep, windy and often extremely scenic!

The signage in Albania is improving, but it is not top-tier. I’d recommend using Google Maps (or your GPS of choice) and using offline maps when travelling to more remote areas. You never know when your signal might fail you!

Oh, and watch out for wild stock on the roads like this cheeky herd of goats…

Parking

When staying in Tirana, you’ll find that the parking is often limited and informal. You can find places with paid street parking, but it’s not always marked clearly. We use a private parking lot, which only costs about 5 euros per day, as was recommended by our hotel as the best and safest option.

If you’re heading along the coast, parking can be tight in popular summer beach towns. I’d recommend finding a hotel or accommodation with free (or paid) parking available. And once you’re away from the busy spots, parking is super chill. You’ll find locals just chuck their hazard lines on and call it a park.

So, now I’ve simultaneously warned and convinced you that renting a car in Albania IS a good idea. Let’s get on to some of the details about car rentals in Albania:

How Much Does it Cost to Rent a Car in Albania?

If, like us, you enjoy travelling on shoulder and low season for low prices, car rentals in Albania are no different. In Albania, this is from September – May. 

During the “off” season, you can expect to pay €10-20/day for a compact car. During high season, you can expect to pay €30-60/day, and even upward of this for SUVs or automatic cars.

GPS, child seats, cross-border fees, and additional drivers usually cost between €5-10/day each. You can also expect your car rental company to hold approximately €200–€500 on your credit card as a deposit.

Get Insured BEFORE you visit Albania

Unfortunately, things can go wrong when you least expect them. This is why good travel insurance is essential before you head on your trip to Albania.

ALWAYS sort out your backpacker insurance before your trip. There’s plenty to choose from in that department, but a good place to start is Safety Wing.

They offer month-to-month payments, no lock-in contracts, and require absolutely no itineraries: that’s the exact kind of insurance long-term travellers and digital nomads need.

SafetyWing is cheap, easy, and admin-free: just sign up lickety-split so you can get back to it!

Click the button below to learn more about SafetyWing’s setup or read our insider review for the full tasty scoop.

Navigation in Albania

Google Maps is my go-to for navigation in literally all parts of the world. But in Albanian, you can expect a few occasional quirks, especially in more remote locations. Offline Map functions can be really helpful and a smart backpack if your signal gets patchy. They have saved us from getting lost on multiple occasions!

The signage is improving in Albania, but if you’re unsure, you can check with locals who, after a few hand gestures, minimal English and a few attempts at Google Translate, should be able to show you the way.

Pick up/drop off location

There are a couple of key places that you can expect to pick up and drop off your rental car in Albania, these are:

• Tirana Airport (TIA): Most convenient and popular. Their office is open late, and they have a wide selection of cars available.
• City centre: Good if you’re staying in Tirana first, or, like us, you are picking up your car rental after travelling in the north.
• Sarande: Handy if arriving by ferry from Corfu. Fewer options available, but very convenient.

One-way rentals (e.g., pick up in Tirana and drop off in Sarandë) are usually possible but often incur extra fees.

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Petrol

Petrol in Albania is easy to find in cities and towns, but harder in the mountains. Most rental cars use either petrol or diesel, so check the label near the fuel cap before filling up or confirm before you leave the car rental shop. You DO NOT want to put the wrong fuel in your car! It will not end well for you. Prices are usually between €1.50 and €1.80 per litre (at the time of writing). 

In big towns, you can pay with a card, but in small places, cash is preferred. If you’re driving far or into remote areas, fill up early so you don’t get stuck without fuel (not a lesson I’ve learned from experience or anything…)

Insurance Coverage

Most rentals include basic insurance, but you still have to pay a big excess fee if there’s damage – often €500 or more. You can pay extra for full insurance, which covers more things and lowers the excess fee. 

It usually costs €5 to €15 per day, which can sometimes nearly double the cost of your rental. But if you’re anything like me, there is nothing like paying for peace of mind on a road trip. If you decide to play with fire and not get it… Don’t say I didn’t warn ya!

Some people buy insurance online before their trip, but make sure your rental company accepts it. Read the rules carefully – things like flat tyres, broken glass, or off-road driving might not be covered. They can be cheeky like that sometimes, so read the fine print before handing over your cash.

Checking Damage

Always check the car for damage before you drive away. Many a traveller has been burned in the past by NOT doing this. Walk around the car and take pictures of any scratches, dents, or broken parts. Don’t forget the tyres, windows, and the inside of the car.

Make sure the rental company writes down any damage you find. When you return the car, try to be there during the check. Ask for a note that says everything is okay. This helps avoid surprise charges later. You’re welcome 🙂

The short answer is: Yes.

However, it’s not as simple as just zooming across the border to Greece, North Macedonia, Kosovo or Montenegro, no questions asked. Although if you follow the right processes, it’s nearly that easy 🙂

Most rental companies allow cross-border travel to nearby countries like the ones I mentioned above, but you’ll need to request permission in advance. This usually involves paying a cross-border fee (about €50) and getting a “green card” from your rental company: AKA an international insurance document that proves the car is covered outside of Albania.

Not all companies allow travel to every country, and some may restrict entry into places like Bosnia or Serbia. Always check the fine print and confirm your route before booking. If you’re planning a one-way trip (e.g., pick up in Tirana, drop off in Montenegro), expect an extra fee.

Harvey and I drove over to visit Montengero and back again. We’re SO glad we mentioned this when picking up the car, as they did ask for our documents at the border. Because we had them, it was easy breezy to drive on through.

Ok, so there is no easy one-size-fits-all simple answer as to which is the best car rental company in Albania. They all fulfil basically the same function, they offer similar vehicles, and the prices tend to be pretty close together too (with some wild outliers who are taking the absolute piss).

We made our first booking through Discover Cars and found their website, prices and booking process to be good. You can search through various cars, companies and dive into each’s reviews before making your decision. It’s WAY easier than having to search through each of the car rental companies themselves.

If you are not planning to hire a car in Albania, however, I’m not sure why you’d be this far through an article about renting a car in Albania if you weren’t… buuuut I’ll give you some insight anyway.

Albania is notoriously known for bad public transport, but truthfully, it really isn’t THAT bad; you just have to understand your options and know how to go around it all. These are your options:

• Renting a car/van (of course)
• Public buses
• Furgoens (aka, local minivans)
• Boats
• Trains (but not really)
• Bikes
• Hitchiking 

Here are the questions that I get asked most commonly about renting a car in Albania:

Overall, I’d highly recommend renting a car to explore Albania – especially if you plan to explore the Riviera. It gives you the flexibility and freedom to travel where and when you want. However, there are a few things to keep in mind when driving in Albania: keep your wits about ya, drive slowly and drive on the right side of the road!!

Check your insurance policy before driving out of the shop, and make sure you’re comfortable with it and take a few snaps of the damage. And last but not least, HAVE A F*CKING GOOD TIME!! Albania is one of the favourite countries in the world, and I’m so excited that you get to explore it 🙂

Oh, and don’t forget to jump onto Discover Cars to search through the best car rental options.