Driving in Albania: the rules to know
Speed limits, alcohol, fines, licences and what to do after an accident, taken from the Albanian Road Code.
At a glance
- Driving side
- Drive on the right, overtake on the left.
- Speed limits
- 40 km/h in towns, 90 km/h on main roads, up to 130 km/h on motorways where signed.
- Alcohol
- Zero tolerance: driving after drinking any alcohol is prohibited.
- Headlights
- Dipped headlights on at all times outside towns, and everywhere at night.
- Seatbelts
- Compulsory in every seat, front and back.
- Phone
- Hands-free only.
- Children
- A child seat up to age 3; no front seat below 1.50 m.
- Fines
- Halved if paid within 15 days.
Speed limits
- Towns and villages 40 km/h
- Secondary and local roads outside towns 80 km/h
- Main roads between towns 90 km/h
- Motorways up to 130 km/h, as signed
Road owners can sign lower limits on any stretch, and the sign always applies. Limits drop sharply as you enter a town, often with little warning.
If you got your car licence less than 2 years ago, the Road Code caps you at 90 km/h on motorways and main roads and 80 km/h on other roads outside towns. Breaking these caps costs 5,000–15,000 lek and a 1-month licence suspension.
Traffic fines
Fines are set in lek as a range; the officer decides the amount within it.
- Lower fines
- Higher fines
- Highest fines or a licence suspension
| Offence | Fine | In EUR | Licence suspension |
|---|---|---|---|
| Speeding, dangerous driving and red lights | |||
| Speeding by up to 10 km/h | 1,000–3,000 ALL €11–€33 | €11–€33 | None |
| Speeding by 10 to 30 km/h | 2,000–4,000 ALL €22–€44 | €22–€44 | None |
| Speeding by 30 to 50 km/h outside towns, or 20 to 40 km/h in towns | 5,000–15,000 ALL €55–€165 | €55–€165 | 1–3 months |
| Speeding by more than 50 km/h outside towns, or more than 40 km/h in towns | 10,000–20,000 ALL €110–€220 | €110–€220 | 3–6 months |
| Racing or aggressive driving, or not slowing down on bends, near schools or in poor visibility | 20,000–60,000 ALL €220–€661 | €220–€661 | None |
| Running a red light | 20,000–30,000 ALL €220–€331 | €220–€331 | None |
| Alcohol | |||
| Alcohol up to 0.3 g/l | 5,000–15,000 ALL €55–€165 | €55–€165 | None |
| Alcohol over 0.3 and up to 0.5 g/l | 10,000–20,000 ALL €110–€220 | €110–€220 | 3–6 months |
| Alcohol from 0.5 to 0.8 g/l | 10,000–20,000 ALL €110–€220 | €110–€220 | 12–24 months |
| Alcohol over 0.8 and up to 1.5 g/l | 20,000–40,000 ALL €220–€441 | €220–€441 | 12–24 months |
| Seatbelts and children | |||
| Not wearing a seatbelt | 5,000–15,000 ALL €55–€165 | €55–€165 | None |
| A passenger not wearing a seatbelt (the driver is fined) | 1,000–3,000 ALL €11–€33 | €11–€33 | None |
| A child without a seatbelt or child seat (the driver is responsible) | 5,000–15,000 ALL €55–€165 | €55–€165 | 6–12 months |
| Phone and headlights | |||
| Using a phone without hands-free | 5,000–15,000 ALL €55–€165 | €55–€165 | None |
| Driving without the required lights | 1,000–3,000 ALL €11–€33 | €11–€33 | None |
| Parking and accidents | |||
| Stopping or parking where it is not allowed | 1,000–3,000 ALL €11–€33 | €11–€33 | None |
| Not stopping after an accident | 10,000–15,000 ALL €110–€165 | €110–€165 | None |
- Paying within 15 days of the fine being registered halves it.
- Alcohol fines rise by a third to two thirds between 22:00 and 07:00.
- Above 0.5 g/l, the case is also sent to prosecutors as a criminal matter.
- A driver already penalised for alcohol who is caught again above 0.5 g/l loses their licence for good.
- Drivers who have held their licence for less than 3 years also lose it for 3–6 months at the lowest alcohol level.
- Using a phone without hands-free twice in the same year also suspends the licence for 3 months.
Amounts in EUR are approximate, at the exchange rate of October 21, 2026.
Licence and documents
- A licence issued abroad is valid in Albania as long as you have not lived in Albania for more than a year.
- A licence that does not follow an international model must be carried with an official Albanian translation or an equivalent document.
- Rental companies may ask for an International Driving Permit (1968 convention); carry one if your licence isn't in the Latin alphabet or an EU/international format.
Carry these whenever you drive
- Your driving licence
- Your passport or ID card
- The car's registration certificate
- The car's roadworthiness certificate
- The car's insurance certificate
Check the car's papers are in the car before you drive off.
Roundabouts, equipment and child seats
Roundabouts and priority
- Traffic already on a roundabout has priority over cars entering it.
- Elsewhere, give way to traffic coming from your right unless signs say otherwise.
Equipment in the car
- The law requires a warning triangle and a first-aid kit in every car.
- Check the rental company supplied the required kit before you leave.
Child seats
- Children up to age 3 must travel in a child restraint suited to their weight.
- Older children may not sit in front until they are taller than 1.50 m.
- A booster seat beyond age 3 isn't required by law, but it is safer; ask for one when you book.
If you have an accident
- 1 Stop, switch on your hazard lights and set up the warning triangle.
- 2 Help anyone hurt and call 112 for an ambulance.
- 3 If only cars are damaged, take photos of the scene, then move the cars out of the way of traffic if it is safe.
- 4 Exchange names, licence and insurance details with the other driver.
- 5 Call the rental company and the police on 129. The law allows a friendly accident report for damage-only accidents, but rental insurance usually needs a police report.
Leaving the scene of an accident is an offence.
Emergency numbers
112 reaches every emergency service.
Frequently asked questions
Your own licence is valid while you are a visitor. If it does not follow an international model, Albanian law requires an official Albanian translation or an equivalent document, and an International Driving Permit (1968 convention) covers that. Rental companies may ask for one too, so carry it if your licence isn't in the Latin alphabet or an EU/international format.
40 km/h in towns, 80 km/h on secondary roads outside towns, 90 km/h on main roads between towns and up to 130 km/h on motorways where signed. Signs can set lower limits, and they always apply.
No. Albanian law prohibits driving after drinking alcohol. Fines start at 5,000 lek and reach 40,000 lek with a licence suspension. Above 0.5 g/l the case is also sent to prosecutors, and a driver caught again above that level after an earlier alcohol penalty loses their licence for good.
Yes, outside towns: dipped headlights are compulsory at all times on motorways and roads between towns. In towns you need them at night, in tunnels and in poor visibility. Driving without them costs 1,000 to 3,000 lek.
A camera fine goes to the car's owner, the rental company, which may pass it on to you as your rental agreement allows. Any fine paid within 15 days is halved.
Stop, make the scene safe and help anyone hurt; call 112 in an emergency. Then call the rental company and the police on 129: the law allows a friendly report for damage-only accidents, but rental insurance usually needs a police report. Leaving the scene is an offence.
Checked against the Albanian Road Code on October 11, 2026.
