Destinations / Albania
Driving in Albania as a visitor
Often required, depending on where your licence was issued. Albania drives on the right and signs the 1968 Vienna Convention, but desks expect non-EU visitors to pair an IDP with their home licence given mountainous, fast-changing roads.
Reviewed July 2026 · A translation of your own licence, carried with it. Not a government permit.
What Albania expects
| Driving document | Depends on licence issuer, script and rental policy |
|---|---|
| Convention format | 1968 Vienna |
| Valid for | Up to 3 years |
| Drives on the | Right |
| Emergency number | 112 |
| Top speed limit | 110 km/h motorways |
What the rental desk will ask you for
| Your own licence | The original card. A photo of it, or a photocopy, gets turned away. |
|---|---|
| Licence translation | Check the desk policy for your issuing country and licence script. A translation accompanies the licence and never replaces an official permit. |
| Booklet format they know | 1968 Vienna |
| Minimum age | 18. Under 25 usually pays a young-driver surcharge. |
| Deposit | A credit card in the driver's name. The hold is taken in ALL. |
Rules that catch visitors out
| Lights | Headlights on at all times, day and night. |
|---|---|
| Alcohol | 0.01% alcohol limit: effectively zero tolerance. |
| Seatbelts | Seatbelts mandatory for all occupants. |
On the road in Albania
At the pump
Petrol and diesel are sold at attended stations across the country (roughly USD 1.4-1.5/litre); cards are accepted in towns, but carry lek cash for rural stops and tolls.
After a crash
Call 112 (general emergency) or 129 for police and 127 for ambulance; do not move vehicles after an injury crash until police attend, and get a police report for any insurance claim.
Sources: rac.co.uk · tyremap.com · internationaldrivingpermit.org · lovinalbania.com
Common questions
Do you need an International Driving Permit in Albania?
Often required, depending on where your licence was issued. Albania drives on the right and signs the 1968 Vienna Convention, but desks expect non-EU visitors to pair an IDP with their home licence given mountainous, fast-changing roads.
Which translation format is used for Albania?
Albania uses the 1968 Vienna convention format. A Vialy translation is prepared in that format but is not a government-issued permit.
Will a rental desk in Albania ask for a translation?
Tirana airport desks ask for an IDP alongside a non-EU licence.
How fast can Vialy prepare one for Albania?
The exact delivery moment is quoted before you pay, 30 minutes as standard and 5 with Express.
Also in Europe
Driving on to another country on the same trip? Each page states what that destination expects.