Pickup
Return
🎁 Use code WELCOME3 during checkout to get discount on your first booking with us. Enjoy! ☀️
Albania is a country where distances trick you. On the map, Tirana and Saranda look like neighbours — on the road, they sit four hours apart.
Where to rent a car in Albania
Albania is a country where distances trick you. On the map, Tirana and Saranda look like neighbours — on the road, they sit four hours apart. Public transport outside the capital runs to its own logic: buses are infrequent, routes opaque, tickets sold by the driver in cash.
Without a car, most of the country stays out of reach. The Albanian Riviera, the mountains of Theth, Lake Komani, the small villages around Berat and Gjirokastra — every postcard depends on having your own wheels.
Albania is a country where the car decides everything. With one, our customers see more in five days than most see in a month without. That's why nine in ten of our travellers come for the freedom to move on their own time.
Prices are among the lowest in Europe. Economy cars start at €18–35 a day in the off-season and €50–90 in July and August. Deposits with our local partners begin at €100, and zero-deposit options are widely available. Any debit or credit card works for the online prepayment; on the road in Albania itself you'll need cash regardless, since most local suppliers and petrol stations still prefer it.
We know Tirana airport inside out. Our manager meets you by flight number at the arrivals exit, and the contract is signed at the car within fifteen minutes. No shuttle bus, no global counter to queue at.
Travellers come from every angle — couples, groups of friends, families, retirees. The questions repeat: can I drive into the mountains, what's parking like, how do deposits work, are there toll roads. What follows is an honest answer to each, without the brochure language.
Most tourists in Albania start their trip here
How much it costs and when to come
Economy cars in the off-season (October–April) start at €18–35/day. In July–August the same car runs €50–90: the country's roughly five hundred rental vehicles can't cover summer demand from hundreds of thousands of visitors, and the first two weeks of August book out first. Weekly rentals come with a discount, and the average lands at €20–25/day.
The sweet spot is May or September. The sea is warm, the ferry queues at Durres aren't ten cars deep, and rates run 30–40% below August. Booking three to six weeks ahead saves another 15–25%, especially with the verified local partners.
If your trip is in July or August, book the car the same day you book your flights. The two peak weeks clear out our economy fleet first — and economy is by far the most popular class for Albania.
The right car for Albania is small and usually diesel. The streets of Berat and Gjirokastra were not built for estate cars, the hairpin bends to Theth pull diesel happily, and parking in high season is sized for the compact class. A five-metre crossover for two travellers is a common mistake — neither parks nor manoeuvres well here.
Diesel is the default in Albania. It's cheaper at the pump, pulls better on the mountain passes, and stations carrying diesel are everywhere. Petrol is fine for a beach week around Durres, but for the mountains, take diesel.
Mercedes-Benz B-Class in Albania
That was good. It was only difficult when returning it, as he wanted us to leave it in a different place than where we picked it up. So it got a little complicated and stressful, but otherwise it was super good.
Dacia Sandero Stepway in Albania
everything went very well with the car, we had no problems during the rental. The only confusing part was that we thought we had booked full insurance, but at the office they explained that this was not the case. Other than that, everything was perfect.
Volkswagen Golf 6 in Albania
In general was ok I like the service we offer as web!!
Volkswagen Polo in Albania
Ordered a car through the site at night, quickly confirmed. The next day at the specified hour the car was brought under the house, quick paperwork. The car itself was great, clean inside and out. the running gear was also good. I returned the car at the airport. For me it was a wonderful experience renting a car, everything is very fast, convenient and inexpensive) thank you.
Volkswagen Golf 6 in Albania
Everything was perfect!
Mercedes-Benz B-Class in Albania
I rented it, but got different car because the owner said the Mercedes clutch broken down. Everything was good, only the check out was difficult because of language
Volkswagen Eos in Albania
Everything was fine.
Toyota Yaris in Albania
I ended up getting a Ford Fiesta, it was still okay.... Other than that, it was okay.
Ford Fiesta in Albania
We had a good experience. The communication went very well via whatsapp. Fast response time even in the evening. They have a great drop-off and pick-up service. We used different locations. Everything was possible, even if it was a three hour drive form there office. Unfortunately our car broke down after a week. The customer service responded quickly and immediately sent a new car while we went for lunch. Thing like this can happen. More important is how it is solved. They solved it nicely. In short, I recommend this company because of the good service, car and decent prices.
Hyundai i20 in Albania
On the first day, I am contacted by Aldi and told that the red i20 (pictured) has an air conditioning problem and so they will give me a Fiat Panda as a replacement. The Fiat Panda is on reserve. I take the Panda, supply it with 2000 lek and head to the hotel. The Fiat Panda in question is not capable of traveling long distances, so I stay at the hotel until the next day, waiting for a red Yiunday i20. It should be emphasized that the contact was not in Albania, but in Italy, so I had to communicate with people who did not even speak English. - On the second day, the staff assigned by Aldi delivered the red i20 to my hotel and I immediately noted that 4 very worn tires were installed, which are not suitable for a rental car. So Aldi from Italy promises me that someone will come the next day and change the tires. So for the second day I can't get it out of the hotel In the evening of the second day I also notice the lights off like in the photo At this point I get very angry and ask Aldi to be more serious about service because I wasted my vacation at the hotel. On the third day, which was even more serious, only the two front tires were replaced. I immediately called Aldi to get an explanation as to why the staff in Albania could not be contacted. I tell him I want a refund for the rental, even if only partially, but he refuses, apologizing for the inconvenience. As for the car's headlight, only the low beam has been replaced today. In fact, on the fourth day I drove over 500 km without high beam headlights. The only proper thing your partner in Aldi did was to refund me the 2000 lek of gasoline spent on the panda returned on the second day. I now ask your company in charge of Aldi to report this as soon as possible and get a refund, even a partial refund. The service was not suitable as road safety was not guaranteed. In addition, I paid full insurance to avoid this inconvenience. I paid 434€ for a non-guaranteed service I REQUEST a refund, even a partial refund, otherwise I will be forced to take legal action as provided for by the legislation in force.
Dacia Sandero Stepway in Albania
Do not recommend this company. Very bad experience. We arrived at the airport, but nobody was there to meet us, even though pickup was supposed to be included. I had to call them several times — they didn’t answer right away. When they finally did, they told us to walk with our luggage somewhere outside the airport and wait on the street. We waited about 30 minutes before someone showed up. When they finally picked us up, they said the car we had booked (a Dacia crossover) was not available. Instead, they offered a Fiat Tipo — not a crossover, but a regular sedan. They claimed it was “even better,” but it clearly wasn’t. There were no other options — either take it or get nothing. When returning the car, they accused us of not taking photos of some minor damage that we hadn’t even noticed when picking up the car. We had full insurance, yet they still tried to charge us extra for it. They also tried to make us pay for interior cleaning, even though it was already included in the price. The staff were rude, unhelpful, and tried to blame us for everything. It felt like they were constantly looking for ways to charge more money. Avoid this company at all costs. Terrible service and attitude.
Mercedes-Benz ML250 in Albania
Everything was okay, we didn't recieve the rental car but the car we recieved was good. The communication was super and easy.. So all good and nice.
SEAT Ibiza in Albania
I am very happy with my rental company, the service kept costs down which meant I didn't have to cover the cost of traveling abroad and I also got a child seat at no extra cost. The car was 100% prepared. The service was very good and everything went very smoothly. I am very satisfied and will definitely use this rental company when I return to Albania.
How to pay and what the deposit looks like
Albania still runs on cash. At the counter, 99% of suppliers accept the rental balance and deposit in euros or Albanian lek. Cards work intermittently around the country and ATMs aren't on every corner — keep €200–500 in cash on hand at all times. The 15–20% online prepayment on TakeCars takes any debit or credit card, including most European-issued ones. The remainder is settled at pickup. We tell every customer the same thing: prepayment online by card, balance in cash on arrival. That's how Albania works — it's the country, not us. Deposits at local partners run €100–300, often in cash. International chains require €250–1,500 blocked on a credit card in the main driver's name. Zero-deposit cars are widely available — usually economy class with full CDW already built into the rate.
How to pay and what the deposit looks like
Albania still runs on cash. At the counter, 99% of suppliers accept the rental balance and deposit in euros or Albanian lek. Cards work intermittently around the country and ATMs aren't on every corner — keep €200–500 in cash on hand at all times. The 15–20% online prepayment on TakeCars takes any debit or credit card, including most European-issued ones. The remainder is settled at pickup. We tell every customer the same thing: prepayment online by card, balance in cash on arrival. That's how Albania works — it's the country, not us. Deposits at local partners run €100–300, often in cash. International chains require €250–1,500 blocked on a credit card in the main driver's name. Zero-deposit cars are widely available — usually economy class with full CDW already built into the rate.
-
Real reviews on every car
The average rental fleet in Albania is eight to twelve years old, and condition is the one thing customers actually flag. Every car on TakeCars carries reviews from the people who hired it last — no anonymous five-star ratings, only first-hand experience.
-
Any debit or credit card
Online prepayment goes through with any Visa or Mastercard, debit included. The balance and deposit are settled in cash at pickup — that's how Albanian suppliers prefer to work, and there's no card-decline drama at the counter.
-
Meet & greet at TIA
Your manager waits at the arrivals exit of Tirana airport with a sign, knowing your flight number. Paperwork is signed at the car itself, on the partner car park, in about fifteen minutes. No shuttles, no queues at a desk.
Roads, rules and parking in Albania
What the roads are actually like
Between the major towns, the asphalt is European-grade. The Tirana–Durres motorway is one of the best-maintained in the country. Mountain villages — Theth, Valbona, Shala — are reached by hairpin roads that look intimidating on the map; after the 2020–2023 resurfacing programme, almost any saloon makes the climb. Real off-road tracks survive only in remote villages and don't lead to the standard tourist sights.
The road to Lake Komani is only frightening on paper: it's sealed and the markings are fresh. Any car gets you there — just take it slowly and give space when you meet a local on a blind bend.
Speed, headlights and alcohol
Urban areas: 40 km/h. Rural and expressway: 80 km/h. A1 motorway: 110 km/h. Dipped headlights must stay on 24/7 year-round (law since 2023, fine €20–40). The alcohol limit is 0.01% BAC — effectively zero. Drink-driving costs €250–400, brings a licence suspension and, in serious cases, vehicle confiscation. Albania doesn't bend on this.
The classic tourist mistake is a glass of wine in Dhermi and "just five minutes back to the hotel". Nothing alcoholic if you're driving — Albania doesn't forgive it, and police park near the resorts on purpose.
A1 motorway (Kalimash) toll
Albania has exactly one toll road: the A1 "Rruga e Kombit", running from Tirana towards the Kosovo border. The toll gate sits at the Kalimash tunnel — €5 per car, paid in cash (euros or lek) or by card. There are no vignettes anywhere in Albania; every other road is free. If you're not driving to Kosovo, you can ignore A1.
Parking in Tirana and elsewhere
The capital'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, which is no use to a tourist — 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. If you're booking car hire in Tirana for a week or more, choose a hotel with its own parking — central kerb space runs out fast in summer. Outside the capital — Berat, Gjirokastra, Shkodra, the smaller towns — parking is chaotic but mostly free. Paid summer zones appear in Saranda, Vlora, Himarë and Ksamil at €1–3 per hour.
Never park under a red "P" with a cross. Tirana's tow trucks are quick, and the fine plus retrieval runs €40–100 minimum. Squeezing onto the kerb in the centre under a CCTV camera is also a bad idea.
Police and fines
Albanian traffic police are friendlier to foreign drivers than to locals, but radar traps and sudden speed-limit drops are favourite spots for stopping rental plates. Keep documents to hand, stay polite, and never offer money — that's a serious crime here. Pay any fine within 15 days at a bank, post office or rental company for a 50% discount. Anything left unpaid is deducted from your deposit, plus a service fee.
If a fine arrives, don't ignore it. Standard story: customer returns the car, two weeks later the supplier deducts €60 for the offence and €20 service charge. Paying at the bank on time costs half as much.
What basic cover includes
TPL (third-party liability) is included by Albanian law on every rental. CDW is included with most suppliers too, but with an excess of €500–1,500. Tyres, alloys, glass, undercarriage, interior, mirrors and keys are usually outside basic cover — and on Albanian roads, those are the most common damages.
When to take Super CDW (Full Cover)
Albanian roads have gravel everywhere — along the coast, on every mountain pass. Super CDW takes the risk off the wheels, the windscreen and the underside. €10–25 a day against a €500–1,500 excess is straightforward maths, especially on a family rental.
Super CDW (sometimes called Full Cover) zeroes the excess and adds the parts left out by basic cover. It costs €10–25 a day. For a flat trip Tirana–Durres you can skip it; for a mountain run or the Riviera, take it without thinking.
What to do after an accident
126 is traffic police, 112 is the general emergency line. A police report is mandatory — without one, the insurer rejects every claim, even a single scratch on a car park. Don't sign anything you can't read; photograph the scene from every angle; notify the supplier within the first 24 hours.
The dangerous move is shaking hands at the scene and driving off. Without a police report, the insurer refuses the claim and the repair lands on the driver. Ninety minutes of paperwork saves hundreds of euros.
Documents and age
EU, UK, US, Australian, NZ and most other Latin-script licences are accepted in Albania. An International Driving Permit isn't legally required for these — but if your home licence isn't in Latin script, the IDP is mandatory. Bring the physical card plus your passport. The minimum age is 21 with one to two years of licence; under 25 add €3–10/day. Most EU/UK/US/AU/NZ travellers enter Albania visa-free for up to 90 days.
Where to drive on your hire car
The classic 5–7 day loop: Tirana — Berat — Vlora — Dhermi — Himarë — Saranda — Gjirokastra. Hiring a car in Vlora suits travellers who want to start on the Riviera, skipping the capital. For a quick swim, car hire in Durres works — the closest beach to Tirana, 35 minutes from the airport. The north is another world: the Komani serpentine, Theth, Valbona. Cross-border driving is allowed to Montenegro, Kosovo and North Macedonia; Greece is blocked by almost every supplier.
Below — the average daily rental price in Albania by month.
- January
- February
- March
- April
- May
- June
- July
- August
- September
- October
- November
- December
- Jan
- Feb
- Mar
- Apr
- May
- Jun
- Jul
- Aug
- Sep
- Oct
- Nov
- Dec
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.