In late May 2024, the Family of Lochi visited on a memorable eight-day journey through Albania. This article reflects on our experience of renting a car and the incredible driving adventures we had in this beautiful country.

Is it worth to rent a car in Albania?

First, let’s take a look at the public transport system in Albania. The public transport system is undergoing development and has its limitations, but it can still be a fun and adventurous way to explore the country.

However, in our opinion, if you plan to explore most parts of the country or if you are less flexible and time-constrained, public transport can be a challenge and if you are travelling with children or seeking a more comfortable travel experience, we highly recommend renting a car in Albania. We firmly believe that by renting a car in Albania, you can make the most of your Albanian exploration.

Is Driving Safe in Albania?

That is the most important question. Driving in Albania can be quite challenging, especially in Tirana but rest assured, it is doable. We managed it and returned home safely without any damage to ourselves or our vehicle.

Remember this: when you’re driving in a different country, you’re not in your usual driving environment. It will take some time to adjust to the driving style of that country. Trust us, after a few hours of driving, you will get used to it. Also, keep in mind that in Albania, you drive on the right-hand side of the road.

And the roads are narrow, so be cautious and patient, and enjoy your drive while taking in the beautiful landscapes. Recommending a defensive driving style.

How about the Road Conditions?

The road conditions in Albania vary depending on the location. Main highways are generally in good condition and well-maintained. However, in rural areas, roads can be narrow and winding, especially in mountainous regions. In some areas, you may encounter unpaved roads.

In places like Tirana, road construction is ongoing, so be prepared for possible delays.

Keep in mind that certain roads may be unsuitable for small cars, but manageable for vehicles with 4-wheel drive.

With a little planning and awareness, you can navigate the roads. We could complete our itinerary with a small car. We took suggestions from social media travel groups about the road conditions, and it helped us a lot. So, try to take some advice from Albanian travel groups.

Tips for renting a car in Albania.

1. What are the driver’s requirements?

The legal driving age is 18, but most rental companies require you to be at least 21 years old with a valid driver’s license. Make sure to carefully read the requirements or confirm with the rental company before making your reservation, as some companies may require a valid driver’s license held for at least 2 years.

2. What documents are required?

Please remember to bring the following documents,

• Your driver’s license, and if any extra drivers, their driver’s license.
• Passport or national ID
• Credit card.

3. Do you need an insurance?

It is optional to purchase car insurance for your rental car, but we believe it is better to have one due to the challenging driving style. Based on the renting agency’s explanation, this is how insurance works, if there is any damage, the renting company will charge you that amount, but that will be refunded to you by your insurance company.

4. Additional Drivers

Some car rental companies charge an additional fee for an extra driver.

5. Security Deposits

You must provide a security deposit, which will be held on your credit card. Be cautious about the deposit amount when making reservations because some security deposits are really high.

6. Fuel Policy

Some companies hand over the car with a full tank of fuel, while others provide it with only a few litres, which you can use to reach a fuel station. When handing over the vehicle, please ensure that the fuel level is the same as when received.

7. Take a video of the vehicle

It is advisable and strongly recommended to take a full video of the vehicle before taking it over. Especially capture any previous damage to the vehicle and the fuel meter. This way, you can show them in any case when you are handing the vehicle back to the rental company.

8. Mileage

Most rental companies provide vehicles with unlimited mileage, but some rental agreements may have mileage limitations, so pay special attention to that.

9. Finding a Rental Location

Once you’ve landed in Tirana, finding a rental location will be your next challenge. We recommend contacting a rental agency a couple of days before your arrival to clarify the location and how to get there. Most of the agencies are on the airport premises, but the car parking yards are a couple of hundred meters away from the airport.

10. Contact the renting Agency before your Arrival.

We highly recommend contacting the rental agency a couple of days before your arrival to confirm the location and inform them of your arrival time and flight details, so that everyone has visibility.

11. Off-road Driving

If you’re not renting an off-road car, avoid driving on off-road routes. Many companies use GPS trackers, and they will contact you if you’re driving off-road in a non-compliant vehicle and there will be a fine.

12. Cross-border Driving

If your itinerary includes border crossings, please inform the rental agency. Most companies have additional charges for border crossings.

13. Mechanical Failures

If you experience any mechanical issues, please contact the rental agency and inform them. Most rental agencies have mechanics available in many areas, and they will guide you accordingly. If the issue takes time to fix, they will provide a replacement vehicle.

Even for small notifications on the dashboard, inform the agency. Once, we had a check engine light come on in the car, and we promptly informed the rental company. They directed us to a mechanic in Shkoder, and fortunately, it turned out to be a minor issue. The rental company handled the situation well without causing any inconvenience to us.

14. Fueling

You will come across numerous fuel stations throughout the country, and you will always find an attendant available for refuelling. We suggest filling up your tank completely initially and then topping up as needed during your travels. In rural areas, you may encounter fewer fuel stations.

15. Car seats/ Baby Seats

Many rental agencies offer car seats or baby seats for an additional cost.

16. Cleaning the Car

Most rental agencies provide you with a fully cleaned vehicle, both interior and exterior. When returning the vehicle, the rental agencies expect it to be in the same clean condition. If not, you may have to pay a penalty fee of around 5 EUR. In our trip, we cover the penalty fee to save you from the hassle of finding a service station.

17. How to Hand over the vehicle?

Handing over the vehicle: You can discuss and agree to hand over the vehicle from another location, but this may be associated with additional costs.

Looking for a reliable car rental agency in Albania?

There are plenty of options on the internet, such as KAYAK.com, Rentalcars.com, SIXT, and Europcar. In our case, we preferred to choose a reputable company and thus used the Rentalcars.com website, which is managed by Booking.com (no promotions)

Remember to check recent reviews on the rental site about the rental agency, focusing on car pickup speed, car condition, drop-off speed, helpfulness, ease of finding the agency location, and value. We highly recommend choosing a rental agency with a review score of 8 or higher.

We’ve put together a comprehensive guide on how to rent a car in Albania. We hope this info helps you plan your family trip to this beautiful country. Wishing you a safe and enjoyable trip in Albania!

If you want to see our family travel stories, follow us on Instagram

If you’re interested in our travel tips, click here.