Traveling through Albania by car means freedom, beauty, and a touch of adrenaline. In this article, we’ll talk about roads, fuel prices, parking, speed limits, fines, driving under the influence, and potential roadside scams. Everything a road-tripper needs to know before exploring Albania by car!
🚗 Car Rental in Albania
Want to see the real Albania? Then a car is a must. You can bring your own or rent one. We’ve used this service multiple times — in Cyprus, Thailand, Georgia, Spain, and across the Balkans. Everything is smooth and reliable.
💸 Are Albanian Roads Toll-Free?
Good news to lift your spirits — all roads in Albania are free! No tolls or vignettes. That’s despite the country having over 18,000 km of roads, with around 13,000 km of them paved. Construction is ongoing, so the numbers are approximate.
📄 Don’t Forget Your Insurance!
Green Card — mandatory! It’s checked at the border. We buy ours online via Hotline Finance UA, print it out — and off we go.
Medical Insurance — not technically required, but you know it can save your trip if something goes wrong. We always get ours on HotlineFinanceUA too.
⛽️ Gas Stations and Fuel Prices
Even though Albania is considered a budget-friendly country, fuel prices are almost on par with Montenegro, and slightly cheaper than Croatia (€1.40) and Greece (€1.50). Regular 95-octane petrol costs about 270 lek (~€1.29).
🔧 Fuel quality isn’t great everywhere. Locals recommend filling up at big brand stations like Kastrati or ELDA. We tried them — the car ran fine.
Most stations sell only 95-octane petrol. If you’re using diesel — choose Eurodiesel.
💳 In theory, you can pay by card (you’ll even see Visa/Mastercard stickers), but in reality — cash is king almost everywhere. And if you pay in euros, they might inflate the exchange rate.
💡 Tip: exchange a bit of euros into local lek — it’s more cost-effective, or just bring cash with you.
🛣 Road Quality in Albania
On a 10-point scale, Albanian roads score a solid 8. In the south (where all the beauty is) — even better. For instance, the mountain road from Vlorë to Sarandë has reflectors — driving there at night is a joy.
🚦 Albania is a mountainous country, so expect lots of twists and turns. Some roads curve almost 360°! There’s even a tunnel on the Tirana–Elbasan route.
🛠 Most roads are in good condition. In the mountains, we saw many under repair or being newly built. But! Be prepared: 100 km can take 2–3 hours, especially if you’re heading south of Tirana.
🛣 The only true highway is between Durrës and Shkodër. After mountain switchbacks, it feels like a vacation for the driver.
🚦 Driving Style in Albania
The local driving habits are… unique. It’s kind of like Georgia or Kyiv, but without the aggression. Drivers may just stop in the middle of the road to chat with a friend — and that’s totally normal. No one honks; everyone waits. Turn signals? Who needs ‘em.
🚙 Most cars are used BMWs, Audis, and Mercedes-Benz. These are status symbols for locals. Rumor has it, many have a “shady” past.
🚓 Police in Albania
Police are present, but pretty chill. If everyone’s doing +20 km/h over the limit — no one gets pulled over. But if you do something truly dangerous — like making a U-turn over a double line or driving aggressively — you could get fined.
📌We never stopped. Our car had Kyiv plates — no attention at all.
🅿️ Parking in Albania
Parking is straightforward — the rules are the same as in Schengen countries. In Tirana, there are many underground garages, and in smaller towns or beach spots — parking is often free!
There’s usually enough space. We even parked in residential courtyards next to locals — nobody touched the car, and we left stuff in the trunk. In Dhermi, the hotel had free parking — another bonus point.
🛑 Speed Limits and Traffic Rules in Albania
Speed limits in Albania are as follows:
• 🏘 In urban areas — 40 km/h
• 🛣️ Outside urban areas — 80 km/h
• 🚗 On highways — 90 km/h
• 🛤 On expressways — 110 km/h
🍷 Driving Under the Influence
The legal blood alcohol limit is 0.1‰. Go over that — and you’ll face a fine from 2,500 to 10,000 lek. Police won’t stop you without a reason, but better not to risk it.
💡 Other Road Rules and Details
- 🔦 Low-beam headlights are required only at night
• 👶 Kids under 12 or shorter than 150 cm — must use a car seat
• ⛓ Seatbelts — mandatory for all passengers
• 📱 Phones while driving — hands-free only. Fines for violations are 250 lek
Fines for minor violations — 500–1000 lek (e.g., lane infractions, illegal parking, crossing solid lines). We didn’t experience any personally, but it’s good to know.
🏗️ Road Infrastructure
Infrastructure includes signs, markings, gas stations, rest stops, roadside hotels and cafés — and in Albania, all of it is at a decent level, especially considering that tourism development only started recently.
⛽️ Gas stations are common in cities, but in the mountains, they can disappear for 100 km — fill your tank before heading out!
🗺️ Road signs are plentiful enough to navigate without GPS — tested by a self-proclaimed geographic “dummy”
🍽 Plenty of roadside cafés, not just in tourist spots. And the food is all-natural — no weird chemicals!
🏨 Tons of hotels and guesthouses too. In the off-season, you can find places on the spot, but when traveling between countries, it’s best to book in advance on Booking.
Mountain passes often have scenic viewpoints with stunning views of the Ionian and Adriatic Seas. The only downside — trash and graffiti on some ruins. It would be awesome if someone cleaned that up!
🕵️ Roadside Scams
Many people worry about Albania because of stories about “scams,” aggressive Roma communities, and danger. But the reality is: Albania is safer than Barcelona. People here are friendly — especially hotel owners, café workers, and gas station attendants. We chatted with shepherds, locals in cafés, and guesthouse hosts — always positive vibes 🤝
Roma? We saw two camps — near the Greek border and in Shkodër. No problems at all. But we also didn’t hang around their camps.
⛽ Gas Station Story
Our only “scam” happened at a Kastrati gas station. The attendant took €50 and only pumped 22 liters instead of the promised 40. When I hinted at calling the police — he “magically” added 10 more liters. I recommend avoiding this brand or being extra cautious.
For comparison: I had a worse experience in so-called “civilized” Hungary — right in the center of Budapest!
🏞 The Most Beautiful Road in Albania
🚗 Llogara Pass — absolutely stunning! A mountain road that winds through the national park of the same name. I wrote all about it in the article “Vacation in Albania — the Incredible Llogara.”
There’s not much info online about this spot, which is a shame — it’s a must-visit for anyone road-tripping through Albania.
📞 Useful Numbers
- ☎️ General emergency — 112
• 👮 Police — 129
• 🚑 Ambulance — 127
• 🚒 Fire department — 128
• 🚓 Traffic police — 126
🔧 Mandatory Items in the Car
- ⚠️ Warning triangle
• 👷♂️ Reflective safety vest
🧳 Can You Bring Food and Alcohol Into Albania?
Yes — for personal use, no problem. Unless there’s a quarantine restriction (sometimes there are bans on pork, for example), you’re good to go. I’ve taken over 120 road trips across Europe and Asia — never once had my trunk searched.
Alcohol? Same story — as long as it’s within reasonable limits. No one ever checked how many bottles of wine I had. Just don’t abuse the border guards’ trust.
🌍 Useful Travel Planning Services:
✈️ Aviasales — budget flight deals
🏨 Booking.com — accommodation for every taste
🚘 LocalRent — car rentals (with free cancellation)
