But if you’re planning a road trip to Albania, it’s essential you’re fully prepared ahead of time as driving there has many differences to the UK. 

To make your trip to the Continent as safe and effortless as possible, we’ve put together a guide to everything you need to know before you go, from required documents to rules of the road.  

Driving a rented vehicle? Jump to the advice for driving a hire car in Albania section.

RAC European Breakdown Cover (Basic and Comprehensive) provides a wide range of benefits should you breakdown in Albania to ensure you stay safe. 

To supplement this, RAC also offers travel insurance. Cover will include medical expenses, baggage, personal money and belongings, among many other benefits.

If you're driving in Albania your checklist requirements are:

• A valid, full UK driving licence
• A GB sticker – all temporarily imported vehicles must bear the distinguishing sign of their country of registration
• Your motor insurance certificate
• V5 registration document or hire car paperwork

You must also have:

• Headlamp converters (stickers for your headlights when driving on the right, so your lights don't dazzle motorists coming the other way)
• A warning triangle (compulsory to carry in vehicles in case of a breakdown)
• A first aid kit (compulsory in all vehicles)
• A reflective jacket
• Snow chains (compulsory to carry if you're driving between 1 November to 30 April)
• Drive on the right, overtake on the left
• Be 18 or over
• Make sure everyone in the car wears a seatbelt at all times
• Wear a crash helmet if you're riding a motorcycle
• Ensure your car is covered by third-party insurance recognised in Albania. This is the legal minimum cover for residents and visitors, so check with your provider before you travel

It's also a good idea to have:

• Spare bulbs for your car's external lights
• A fire extinguisher (compulsory on coaches and lorries)
• A Green Card (this is no longer a requirement but it could be useful to back-up your insurance documents and show you've got the minimum legal level of cover. To find out more, contact your insurance company)
• An International Driving Permit (again, not compulsory but it could provide extra peace of mind if you have one)

• Not all insurers cover driving in Albania so check before you go and make sure you’re covered
• You must register your identity with officials by email before driving your vehicle into Albania. Border officials will then stamp your passport, indicating the temporary import of the vehicle into the country
• In Albania, you drive on the right and overtake on the left. Vehicles from the right and emergency vehicles have priority.
• Horns should only be used in an emergency or overtaking on rural roads 
• The standard of roads in Albania is poor, particularly in rural areas. Urban roads are often intermittently lit and even on major routes there is often little street lighting. If you drive at night, watch out for unmarked roadworks, potholes, and unlit vehicles on the roads
• Driving in Albania is often erratic and aggressive, with deaths from road collisions amongst the highest in Europe. Avoid confrontation with other motorists as this could escalate quickly
• If you’re involved in any sort of collision, you should wait until the police arrive
• International transit roads are generally the best and visitors are advised to stick to these routes wherever possible, although even these routes can be poorly maintained in places
• There are no toll roads in Albania
• Unleaded petrol and diesel are readily available, as is LPG. Payment is generally made in cash, although some will accept credit cards
• If you're caught committing a driving offence while driving through Albania, you could be given an on-the-spot fine of up to 200,000 ALL (around £1,450)
• Seat belts should be worn in all seats where a belt is available
• Children under the age of 12 must use an appropriate restraint in the front seat. Children under the age of 4 must also use a restraint in the rear seat
• The drink-drive limit for all drivers is 0.01%. Police can test any driver suspected of being over the limit, and refusing to take a test could see you fined up to 20,000 ALL (around £145)
• Parking can be limited in built-up areas, with restricted zones signposted. Wheel clamps aren’t used in Albania, but in Tirana vehicles parked illegally will be towed
• Political protests can be common in Tirana. They are usually peaceful but can escalate into violence. Check Government advice for travelling in Albania for the latest information

Speed limits vary across Albania, so always check the signposts for maximum speeds. In urban areas, the limit is usually 40km/h unless otherwise signposted and 80km/h – 90km/h outside these areas. On the motorway, the limit is 110km/h.

In an emergency

112 - Here's a really important bit of knowledge; you can dial 112 from anywhere in Europe and an operator will connect you to an emergency service in the country you're visiting. Operators can answer your call in their native language, English or French. 

Useful guides and maps

Download a copy of our full Driving Abroad report.

Breaking down in Albania

RAC offers great-value, flexible RAC European breakdown cover tailored to meet your needs. We also offer comprehensive travel insurance, including cover for medical expenses, baggage, personal money and belongings.

Not all of the information in the guide above will be relevant to those looking to rent a hire car in Albania.

Though it might be a good idea to read through everything anyway, here are the most important things to know for drivers of rental vehicles:

Rental information

• The minimum age to hire a car is 18 to 23, depending on provider and type of vehicle
• You need a full, valid UK driving licence and usually a second proof of ID (passport)
• The minimum term you must have held your licence is 1 year
• Most companies require you to use a credit card for deposit
• You may not be able to drive outside of Albania unless planned in advance - check with your hire company first
• Make sure you get car hire excess insurance before your trip to protect yourself from unexpected costs. It's almost always cheaper to do this with a separate insurer and in advance

Hire car driving tips

Albanians drive on the right and overtake on the left - the opposite to the UK
The national speed limit on Albanian motorways is between 110km/h (68mph). On a main road outside a built-up area it's 80 km/h to 90km/h. For built-up areas it’s 40km/h
Dial 112 in an emergency
It’s compulsory to wear seat belts in the front and rear seats
The blood alcohol content limit for drivers of private vehicles is 0.01%. That's lower than the 0.08% in England Wales and Northern Ireland, and the 0.05% of Scotland.

UK Government travel advice

Click here to see up-to-date travel advice