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Renting a car in Albania is one of the best ways to experience the country properly. The coastline from Shkodër to Ksamil, mountain villages in the north, historic Berat and the winding roads around Lake Komani — without a car, even a simple route quickly turns into a puzzle of infrequent buses and awkward connections. With your own car, the same journey becomes an easy, relaxed road trip lasting five to ten days.
The TakeCars catalogue includes 727 cars across Albania from trusted local rental companies. In the low season, prices start from €12 per day; in summer, from around €30. Albania remains one of the most affordable places in Europe to hire a car, whether you need a compact model for Tirana’s narrow streets or a crossover for the roads towards Theth and Valbona.
Albania is a country where many of the best places sit far beyond the usual bus routes. A rental car often pays for itself within a couple of days.
The local rental market is refreshingly straightforward. Most payments are still made in cash: the deposit and remaining balance are usually paid directly to the supplier in euros or lek, while cards are mainly used for the online prepayment. For travellers arriving from across Europe or the UK, the process feels simple and familiar.
We show the exact deposit amount, payment terms and real photos of the actual car before booking. No unpleasant surprises on arrival.
When to go and how much it costs to rent a car in Albania
Albania has two very distinct seasons, and prices change dramatically between them. The low season runs from October to April: roads are quieter, choice is wider and economy cars start from around €12 per day. July and August are peak season, when the same cars can easily start from €30 a day and the most popular automatics disappear weeks in advance.
The ideal months for a road trip are May and September. The sea is warm, prices are noticeably lower than in August and the country feels calmer overall. Parking in places like Durrës or Sarandë becomes far less stressful too.
In July and August we strongly recommend booking at least three weeks ahead. Popular automatic cars genuinely sell out early.
Longer rentals are significantly cheaper. A week usually reduces the daily price by 15–25%, while monthly rentals can cut costs by almost half. If you plan to explore the country properly, it is often far better value to collect the car at Tirana airport and return it elsewhere later.
Albania is one of the few countries in Europe where renting a car for two people can work out cheaper than relying on public transport for a week-long trip.
Extras that affect the final price include Super CDW, young-driver fees, one-way drop-offs and permission to cross borders. Everything is shown clearly before confirmation.
Most tourists in Albania start their trip here
What our users say
Which car to choose for Albania
Albania’s roads and cities naturally shape the type of car that makes the most sense. In the historic centres of Tirana, Berat and Gjirokastër, streets are narrow and parking is tight, so compact hatchbacks and smaller saloons remain the most practical option: VW Polo, Skoda Fabia, Hyundai i20 or Kia Picanto.
If your route includes the north — especially Theth, Valbona or Lake Komani — a crossover or SUV is worth considering. Mountain roads, steep climbs and rougher surfaces are much more comfortable with higher ground clearance and the stronger pull of a diesel engine.
Even a single day in Theth or around Lake Komani is far more comfortable with a diesel crossover. And on mountain roads, an automatic gearbox quickly feels like a luxury worth having.
Families and groups of three or four usually prefer mid-size cars such as the VW Golf, Ford Focus or Skoda Octavia. They comfortably handle luggage, beach gear and long summer drives with reliable air conditioning. Couples travelling light often choose compact models instead — easier to park and more economical overall.
Roughly one in three travellers in Albania now chooses an automatic. If you haven’t driven manual in years, narrow mountain roads are probably not where you want to relearn.
Electric vehicles are still relatively uncommon in Albania. Charging infrastructure outside Tirana remains limited, so petrol or diesel cars continue to be the most practical choice for longer trips.
Fiat 500 Cabrio in Albania
everything was fine.
Chevrolet Captiva in Albania
All was good, perfect fast service
Volkswagen Passat-CC in Albania
everything was unsurpassed
Volkswagen Jetta in Albania
Everything was ok! Thank You so much!
Volkswagen Jetta in Albania
everything was fine we are satisfied☺️👍🏻
Hyundai Accent in Albania
Everything was very good. Erald worked clearly and professionally. A nice young man. The only issue was the replacement of the car. Everything was fine with that too. No problems. Next trip to Albania we will use the services of this company and Erald. Thank you.
Baic Senova D50 in Albania
Very nice cars, everything suited us, nice owners, I recommend
Ford Fiesta in Albania
The rental was perfect, the guy who delivered it was very friendly and accommodating to us, unfortunately we had a small accident.
Dacia Sandero Stepway in Albania
It was very convenient that they picked us up from the airport right away and we already left from there by car and finished our trip in the same place). Prices are adequate, staff is nice, experience was super! Thank you
Baic Senova D50 in Albania
Everything went great.
Volkswagen Golf Plus in Albania
I have to say it went well Convenient for boarding and disembarking Serious, helpful and courteous people I recommend it
Volkswagen Golf 5 in Albania
everything was fine, there were no problems.
Nissan Micra in Albania
They met us in accordance with the arrangements at the airport, drove us to the office without any problems, processed the documents. They also helped us with refueling the car and there were no problems with returning the car at the appointed place and returning the deposit Now about the car itself, although I realize that this is probably the cheapest offer on the market and I have no claims, but in general. The car is burning a bunch of errors, the bumper was not fixed properly (fixed it myself when it began to sail strongly in the road and make an unpleasant sound). At one of the parking lots the ulems from the battery came off, the car stopped starting. There was a problem with the hood closing. And probably the most important thing - the car can be normally traveled on normal roads. We drove from Vlora to Saranda on a road that goes uphill - the car just wouldn't go. The speed uphill is 5-10 km per hour. It was a little bit exciting. But then again, as it stands, so it goes)
Local Car Hires in Albania
On TakeCars you can immediately see which local company and which manager you are renting from — including reviews, response times and real photos. It feels far more personal than a standard airport counter.
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1. Compare cars in Albania
We make it easy to compare prices and rental terms in Albania so you can rent a car more easily
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2. Secure your online booking
Reserve your vehicle with a small deposit, and we guarantee it will be waiting for you upon arrival in Albania.
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3. Share your rental experience
Help others make the right choice when renting cars on TakeCars Albania.
Documents, payment and deposit
To rent a car in Albania you will need a passport, a valid driving licence and a bank card for the online prepayment. EU and UK licences are accepted without issue. An International Driving Permit is not mandatory in most cases, though it is still sensible to carry one.
For a first visit to Albania, having an IDP simply removes one more possible complication from the trip.
Visa and entry
EU and UK citizens can enter Albania visa-free for short stays. Many other nationalities are also eligible for visa-free entry or can apply easily online through the official e-visa system.
Payment: card online, cash on collection
Albania remains a very cash-oriented country. Usually only 15–20% is paid online, while the rest — including the deposit — is settled directly with the supplier in euros or lek.
The card is mainly used to secure the booking. After that, everything is handled locally and very simply: contract, photos, keys and cash payment.
Deposit €100–300, or none at all
Local rental companies typically ask for €100–300 in cash as a deposit. International brands often block significantly larger amounts on credit cards. If you prefer not to leave a deposit, there are many no-deposit cars available in the catalogue.
Cash deposits are usually returned immediately when the car is handed back, which is often much quicker than waiting for a bank card hold to clear.
Insurance: TPL, CDW and Super CDW in Albania
Every rental car in Albania includes TPL insurance by law. It covers damage caused to other people and vehicles, but not damage to your rental car itself.
Basic CDW
Basic CDW is included in most rentals with an excess ranging from €500 to €1500. Tyres, wheels, windscreens and underbody damage are often excluded — and these are exactly the issues most commonly caused by Albania’s rougher roads and gravel sections.
The most common incidents are punctured tyres and scratched wheels from tight parking. Basic CDW rarely covers either.
Super CDW
Super CDW removes or reduces the excess and usually includes tyres, glass and underbody protection. It typically costs €10–25 per day. For coastal towns alone, standard cover is often enough. But if your route includes mountain roads or remote areas, Super CDW is genuinely worth considering.
On Albania’s mountain roads, extra cover is less about upselling and more about travelling with peace of mind.
Full cover and police reports
Some suppliers also offer full protection packages that include towing and key loss. Regardless of insurance level, any accident or damage should always be reported to the police.
Even a small scratch in a car park is worth documenting properly. A short wait for a report can save hundreds of euros later.
Roads, traffic rules, parking and crossing borders
Main roads and the Tirana–Durrës motorway are in good condition and feel comparable to much of Southern Europe. In rural areas and the mountains, however, surfaces can change quickly and local driving habits can feel unpredictable.
Speed limits, alcohol and headlights
Speed limits are 40 km/h in towns, 80 km/h outside urban areas and 110 km/h on the A1 motorway. Albania effectively has a zero-tolerance alcohol policy. Dipped headlights must remain on throughout the day and night.
One of the most common reasons tourists are stopped is forgetting to switch headlights on during the day. Many newer cars do this automatically, but it is still worth checking.
Tolls and parking
The only major toll road is the A1 route towards Kosovo, costing around €5 per car. There are no national road vignettes. In Tirana, paid parking zones operate through the T-Park app.
During summer, avoid parking near garage entrances or double yellow lines. Tow trucks in tourist areas move surprisingly quickly.
Where to begin your trip
The most popular option is car rental in Tirana directly from TIA airport. If your trip starts with the coast, car hire in Durrës is often more practical. For southern Albania, most travellers begin in Sarandë — close to Ksamil and Butrint.
From Albania, it is easy to continue into Montenegro, Greece, Kosovo or North Macedonia — just make sure cross-border permission is included in the rental agreement.
Rates in Albania vary throughout the year depending on the season and the rental length in days.
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How expensive is renting a car in Albania: average daily rates for a one-week car rental, across all car classes. Delivery across Albania not included.
Frequently asked questions
Economy cars start at €18–35 a day in the off-season (October–April) and €50–90 in July–August. Weekly rentals average €20–25/day after the standard discount. Booking three to six weeks ahead trims another 15–25%. Albania is one of Europe's cheapest markets for rentals — local suppliers run 30–50% below the international chains.
Yes. Local suppliers and TakeCars accept any debit or credit card — Visa, Mastercard, Maestro — for the 15–20% online prepayment. The balance and deposit are settled in cash on the spot, in euros or Albanian lek. International chains (Sixt, Hertz, Europcar, Avis) still require a credit card in the main driver's name at the desk.
Local suppliers ask €100–300, often in cash or blocked on a debit card. International brands charge €250–1,500 strictly on a credit card in the main driver's name. Zero-deposit cars are common in economy class — usually with full CDW already built into the daily rate, leaving only an excess on tyres and glass. Local suppliers refund deposits at hand-back; chains can take 7–30 working days.
Not legally — EU, UK, US, Australian, NZ and most other Latin-script licences are valid in Albania without an IDP. The exception is licences in Cyrillic, Arabic or other non-Latin scripts; for those an IDP is mandatory. Police occasionally ask US drivers for one anyway, so if you have it, bring it. Always carry the physical licence plus your passport.
For most travellers, no. EU/EEA, UK, US, Canadian, Australian, NZ and many other passport holders enter Albania visa-free for up to 90 days. A handful of nationalities still need a visa — apply through e-visa.al for the standard tourist permit (€30, decision in 5–10 days). Check the official list on punetejashtme.gov.al before travelling.
Montenegro: yes, with most suppliers — a Green Card is mandatory there, plus a cross-border fee of €20–50. Kosovo: yes, no Green Card needed since 2023, fee €20–40. North Macedonia: yes, Green Card bought at the border (~€20) plus a €30–50 fee. Greece: refused by 80% of suppliers; the few that allow it charge €150–230 plus extra insurance.
Yes, in most cases — it pays for itself. Basic CDW in Albania doesn't cover tyres, alloys, glass, undercarriage, interior or mirrors, and these are exactly the parts that suffer most on gravel and mountain passes. Super CDW zeroes the excess and includes those vulnerable areas, costing €10–25/day against a €500–1,500 potential excess. For families and Riviera trips, take it.
€5 per car at the Kalimash tunnel toll gate on the A1 "Rruga e Kombit" motorway. It is the only toll road in Albania — there are no vignettes anywhere in the country. Pay by card or cash (euros or lek). The toll only matters if you are driving north to Kosovo; routes to Durres, Vlora, Saranda and the Riviera don't cross any paid sections.
Urban roads: 40 km/h. Rural and expressway: 80 km/h. A1 motorway: 110 km/h. Dipped headlights must be on 24/7 year-round since 2023; the fine for switching them off is €20–40. Alcohol limit is 0.01% BAC — effectively zero, one of the strictest in Europe. Drink-driving carries a €250–400 fine, licence suspension and possible vehicle confiscation. Take it seriously.
Tirana's blue paid zones run on the T-Park app: register with a phone number and any Visa or Mastercard. SMS payment requires an Albanian SIM, so install the app on the airport Wi-Fi when you land. Underground car parks at Skanderbeg Square and the Air Albania stadium charge €1–2 per hour. Outside the centre, parking is mostly free but tight in high season.
No. The Saranda–Corfu ferry doesn't accept hire cars from Albania — it's a strict supplier rule across the country. Park in Saranda's paid car parks (€5–10/day) and cross as a foot passenger. The crossing takes 30–70 minutes, tickets €19–35 one-way. A morning crossing and an evening return makes for a comfortable day on Corfu.
Call 126 (traffic police) and 112 (general emergency). A police report is mandatory — without it, insurance won't pay even for a small scratch or a car-park dent. Photograph everything, don't sign anything in Albanian without a translation, and notify the supplier within 24 hours. Never shake hands and drive off — that voids the cover and the repair lands on you.
Yes — one-way drop-offs inside Albania are offered by almost every supplier, with a fee of €20–80 depending on distance (Tirana to Saranda or Vlora is the most common route). International one-way to Dubrovnik, Podgorica or Pristina is offered by select partners only at €300–600. Always set the drop-off in writing before pickup.
Twenty-one with one to two years of licence is the floor at most local suppliers. Premium and luxury classes start at 23–25. Drivers under 25 pay a young-driver surcharge of €3–10/day or a flat €30–50 for the rental. There's no formal upper age limit, but a few suppliers ask drivers over 70 for a doctor's certificate. ID and licence are checked at the counter.