Albania car rental guide
Driving Rules and Speed Limits in Albania
The rules themselves aren't unusual for the region, but the alcohol limit is stricter than many visitors expect, and speed cameras have become common enough around towns that it's worth taking the posted limits seriously.
Speed limits at a glance
| Road type | Limit |
|---|---|
| Built-up areas | 40 km/h |
| Outside built-up areas | 80 km/h |
| Expressways | 90 km/h |
| Motorways | 110 km/h (up to 130 km/h on some A1 sections) |
The 40 km/h urban limit is lower than in many neighbouring countries, and it's enforced with fixed cameras in cities and an increasing number of mobile units on approach roads into towns.
Alcohol: treat it as zero tolerance
The blood alcohol limit for private drivers is 0.01%, which in practice means no alcohol at all. Even a small drink can put you over the line, so plan around a designated driver or skip alcohol entirely on days you're behind the wheel.
Seatbelts and basics
Seatbelts are required for the driver and front passenger, and strongly recommended for everyone in the car regardless of seat. Driving on the right is standard, matching most of continental Europe, so the adjustment for most visitors is minor — the bigger shift is usually the road surface and mountain sections rather than which side to drive on.
Where the roads actually get demanding
Coastal and mountain roads, particularly heading south toward Sarandë or through the interior near Gjirokastër, involve more bends and narrower sections than the speed limit table alone suggests. Slower, more attentive driving on those stretches matters more than the posted limit — the limit is a ceiling, not a target.
FAQ
What is the speed limit in Albanian towns?
40 km/h in built-up areas, enforced by fixed and mobile cameras.
What is the alcohol limit for driving in Albania?
0.01% for private drivers — close enough to zero that it's safest to plan on not drinking at all before driving.
Does Albania drive on the left or the right?
The right, the same as continental Europe and the US.
Are seatbelts required in the back seat?
They're required in front and strongly recommended everywhere, even where enforcement in the back is less strict.
The speed limits are straightforward once you know them — the alcohol limit is the one rule worth taking more seriously than you might elsewhere.