Destinations / Albania
Driving in Albania as a visitor
Usually yes. Albania expects visiting drivers to carry an International Driving Permit alongside their national licence, and rental desks ask for one. It matters most when your licence is not printed in the Latin alphabet.
Standard delivery included. Need it sooner? Express lands by for $25 more.
Reviewed July 2026 · A translation of your own licence, carried with it. Not a government permit.
What Albania expects
| Permit needed | Expected |
|---|---|
| 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 | Expected. Hand it over with the licence, never instead of it. |
| 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?
Usually yes. Albania expects visiting drivers to carry an International Driving Permit alongside their national licence, and rental desks ask for one. It matters most when your licence is not printed in the Latin alphabet.
Which IDP format does Albania accept?
Albania recognises the 1968 Vienna format. Your permit is prepared in that format.
Will a rental desk in Albania ask for one?
Tirana airport desks ask for an IDP alongside a non-EU licence.
How fast can you get one?
Express orders are emailed within 5 minutes. The exact delivery moment is quoted before you pay and the order is refundable for 30 days.