Renting a car in Albania: the complete guide

A car is the easiest way to see Albania: the Riviera beaches, Berat, Gjirokastër and the northern Alps are hard to combine by public transport. This guide covers what you need to rent a car in Albania, what it costs and how to avoid surprises at pickup.

By the rentalbania.al team · Updated 12 October 2026

Key facts

The minimum age is usually 21, with at least one year of driving experience; larger and premium cars often require 23 to 28.
A valid licence in the Latin alphabet is accepted for visits of up to 12 months. Carry an International Driving Permit if your licence uses another alphabet.
Expect a refundable deposit, taken by the owner at pickup. The amount is shown on every car.
Third-party liability insurance is mandatory in Albania and included in the rental; extra cover lowers the excess.
Prices peak in July and August and are lowest from November to March.
Driving to Montenegro, Kosovo, North Macedonia or Greece needs the owner's permission and a green card.
On rentalbania.al you book online without paying: you pay the owner when you collect the car.

What you need to rent a car

To rent a car in Albania you need a valid driving licence, a passport or ID card, and to meet the minimum age set for the car.

Driving licence. Licences printed in the Latin alphabet (EU, UK, US, Canada, Australia and most others) are accepted for visits of up to 12 months. If your licence uses another alphabet, such as Arabic, Chinese or Cyrillic, bring an International Driving Permit as well.
Age and experience. Most cars are rented from age 21 with at least one year of driving experience. Larger and premium cars often ask for 23, 25 or more, and younger drivers may pay a young-driver fee per day.
Identity document. A passport or national ID card — the document you entered Albania with.
Money for the rental and the deposit. Many local owners prefer cash in euros; cars that accept cards are marked.

On rentalbania.al every car page lists its own minimum age, licence requirement, deposit and accepted payment methods, so you know them before you book.

How much it costs

The daily price depends on the type of car, the season and the length of the rental. The table shows today's daily rates on rentalbania.al.

Source: live listings on rentalbania.al, 26 October 2026. Today's daily rates before extras; the total depends on your dates.
Car type	Cars listed	From, per day	Median, per day
Economy	3	€25	€26
Compact	2	€35	€39
SUV	3	€45	€48
Sedan	1	€75	€75
Minivan	1	€95	€95

Season. July and August are the most expensive months; June and September cost less; November to March is the cheapest period.
Length. Many owners give a discount for a week or more, and some add a surcharge for rentals of one or two days.
Extras. Child seats, an additional driver, GPS or a handover outside working hours are priced per car.
Delivery. Pickup at the owner's base is usually free. Delivery to an airport, port or hotel may carry a fee, often waived for longer rentals.

Search with your exact dates to see the full price of the trip, including delivery and the extras you choose.

Deposit and payment

Almost every rental in Albania involves a refundable deposit. The owner takes it at pickup, in cash or as a hold on a card, and returns it when the car comes back in the same condition. The amount depends on the car and is shown on its page; a higher insurance package often reduces it.

Bookings on rentalbania.al are made without online payment: you pay the rental to the owner when the car is handed over. There is no booking fee for travellers.

Insurance

Every car registered in Albania must carry third-party liability insurance (TPL), which covers damage you cause to other people and their property. It does not cover damage to the rental car itself.

For the car, owners offer one or more packages: usually collision damage cover with an excess (the part of a claim you still pay), and fuller packages that add theft, glass and tyres, the underbody or roadside assistance and bring the excess down, sometimes to zero. Compare the excess and the deposit of each package, not only the daily price.

Common exclusions are driving under the influence of alcohol, driving on unpaved roads where the owner forbids it, and taking the car abroad without permission.

Where to pick up the car

Most visitors arrive at Tirana International Airport (TIA, "Nënë Tereza"), about 17 km north-west of the centre of Tirana, and collect the car there. Owners also hand over cars in Tirana, Durrës, Vlorë, Sarandë, Ksamil and Shkodër, and at ports and hotels.

Source: live listings on rentalbania.al, 26 October 2026. Today's daily rates before extras; the total depends on your dates.
Pickup place	Cars listed	From, per day	Median, per day
Tirana Airport (TIA)	8	€25	€47
Tirana	6	€25	€56
Durres	2	€35	€39
Vlore	3	€28	€45
Saranda	2	€28	€37
Ksamil	1	€45	€45
Shkodra	3	€26	€48
Lezha	2	€26	€37
Golem	1	€35	€35
Podgorica Airport (TGD)	2	€26	€37

One-way rentals — for example pickup in Tirana and return in Sarandë — are possible when the owner delivers to both places. Search with a different return place to see those cars.

Driving to neighbouring countries

Taking a rental car out of Albania needs the owner's written permission and a green card (international motor insurance certificate) that is valid for the country you enter. Owners who allow it usually charge a fee per rental.

The usual destinations are Montenegro, Kosovo, North Macedonia and Greece. Ask the owner about Kosovo in particular: where the car's green card is not valid there, short-term insurance is bought at the border.

Crossing a border without permission normally voids the insurance. On rentalbania.al, the "Drive to" filter shows only the cars allowed into the country you plan to visit, with the fee.

At pickup and return

Walk around the car with the owner and photograph every side, the wheels, the windscreen, the interior and the fuel gauge.
Check the fuel policy. The most common is full-to-full: you receive the car with a full tank and return it full.
Check the daily kilometre limit, if there is one, and the price per extra kilometre.
Confirm the time and place of the return. A late return can be charged as an extra day.
Keep the owner's phone number. On rentalbania.al you can also message the owner from your booking.

How booking works on rentalbania.al

Search by pickup place and dates. Only cars that are really free for those dates are shown.
Compare the full price, the deposit, the insurance packages and the reviews. No account is needed to see prices.
Book. Instant Book cars are confirmed immediately; for the others the owner answers within 24 hours.
Receive a voucher with your booking code and the handover details.
Pay the owner at pickup. You can cancel from your booking page at any time before the pickup time.

Questions and answers

Can I rent a car in Albania without a credit card?

Yes. Many local owners accept cash for both the rental and the deposit. On rentalbania.al no card is needed to book, and each car shows whether it accepts cash, cards or both.

Do I need an International Driving Permit in Albania?

Not if your licence is printed in the Latin alphabet and you stay less than 12 months. If your licence uses another alphabet, you need an International Driving Permit together with it.

Is it worth renting a car in Albania?

For most trips, yes. The beaches of the Riviera, mountain valleys such as Theth and Valbona, and towns like Berat and Gjirokastër are far easier to combine by car than by bus.

What kind of car do I need in Albania?

A small economy car is enough for cities, the coast and the main roads. Choose an SUV for mountain villages, unpaved beach roads or winter trips in the north and east.

Ready to choose a car?

See the cars that are free for your dates, with the full price upfront.

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