Car rental in Albania: frequently asked questions
Short, direct answers about renting a car in Albania and about how rentalbania.al works.
Booking and payment
What is rentalbania.al?
rentalbania.al is an online car rental marketplace for Albania. Local rental agencies and private owners list their cars; travellers compare them, see real availability and the full price for their dates, and book online.
How do I book a car?
Choose a pickup place and your dates, compare the cars that are free, and press Book on the one you want. You only need an account at the moment you book. Instant Book cars are confirmed immediately; for the others the owner replies within 24 hours. You then receive a voucher with your booking code.
Do I have to pay online or have a credit card?
No. Bookings are made without online payment and without a card. You pay the rental to the owner when the car is handed over. Each car shows whether the owner accepts cash, cards or both.
Does rentalbania.al charge a booking fee?
No. Travellers pay no booking or service fee. The price you see is what you pay the owner.
What is the difference between Instant Book and On Request?
An Instant Book car is confirmed the moment you book, because its calendar is kept up to date. An On Request booking is sent to the owner, who accepts or declines within 24 hours; if there is no answer in that time the request expires and the dates are released.
Can I cancel a booking?
Yes. You can cancel from your booking page at any time before the pickup time. Nothing has been paid online, so there is nothing to refund.
Is the price I see the final price?
The search and the car page show the full price for your dates: the rental, the delivery fee for the place you chose, the insurance package and the extras you selected. The refundable deposit is shown separately. Fuel, tolls and fines are not part of the price.
Do I need an account to see prices?
No. Availability and the full price are visible to everyone. You sign in only when you book or message an owner.
Documents and age
What documents do I need to rent a car in Albania?
A valid driving licence and a passport or ID card. Licences in the Latin alphabet are accepted for visits of up to 12 months; if your licence uses another alphabet, bring an International Driving Permit as well.
What is the minimum age to rent a car in Albania?
Usually 21, with at least one year of driving experience. Each car sets its own minimum age — larger and premium cars often require 23, 25 or more — and younger drivers may pay a young-driver fee per day. The search has a driver-age filter.
Can someone else drive the car?
Only drivers named in the rental agreement may drive. Many owners offer an additional driver as an extra; it is listed on the car page with its price.
Insurance and deposit
Is insurance included?
The mandatory third-party liability insurance is included with every car. For damage to the rental car itself, each owner offers one or more packages; the car page compares what each package covers, its excess and its deposit.
How does the deposit work?
Most owners take a refundable deposit when they hand over the car, in cash or as a hold on a card, and return it when the car comes back in the same condition. The amount is shown on every car and can be lower with a fuller insurance package. The search has a maximum-deposit filter.
What does "excess" mean?
The excess is the part of a damage claim that the renter still pays. A package with a zero excess means you pay nothing for covered damage. The search can show only cars that offer a zero-excess package.
Pickup, delivery and return
Can I pick up a car at Tirana Airport?
Yes. Tirana International Airport (TIA) is the most common pickup place: some owners are based there and others deliver to the terminal. Any delivery fee is included in the price shown for your search.
Can the car be delivered to my hotel or another city?
Many owners deliver to hotels, ports and other cities. Each car lists the places it can be delivered to and the fee for each, which is often waived for longer rentals.
Can I return the car in a different place?
Yes, when the owner accepts returns in that place. Search with a different return place to see the cars that allow it and the cost.
Is there a kilometre limit?
It depends on the car. Some have unlimited kilometres; others include a daily allowance and charge per extra kilometre. Both are shown on the car page, and the search can show only unlimited-kilometre cars.
What is the fuel policy?
Most cars are full-to-full: you receive the car with a full tank and return it full. The policy of each car is shown on its page.
Driving abroad
Can I drive a rental car from Albania to Montenegro, Kosovo, North Macedonia or Greece?
Yes, with cars whose owner allows it. You need the owner's permission and a green card valid for that country, and there is usually a fee per rental. Use the "Drive to" filter to see only the cars allowed into the country you plan to visit.
On the road
Do I need an SUV or 4x4 in Albania?
Not for cities, the coast and the main roads, which are paved. An SUV is the better choice for mountain villages, unpaved beach roads and winter trips in the north and east.
What are the speed limits in Albania?
For cars: 40 km/h in built-up areas, 80 km/h outside them, 90 km/h on main intercity roads and 110 km/h on motorways.
What happens if I get a fine or have an accident?
Traffic fines during the rental are the driver's responsibility. After an accident, call the police (129, or 112) and the owner straight away: the insurance normally requires a police report.
Reviews, owners and support
Who are the owners on rentalbania.al?
Local car rental agencies and private owners in Albania. Every listing is reviewed by rentalbania.al before it is published.
Are the reviews real?
Yes. A review can only be written by a traveller who completed a booking for that car on rentalbania.al. Traveller and owner review each other without seeing the other's review first.
Can I contact the owner before booking?
Yes. Use "Ask the owner" on the car page to send a message; the conversation stays in your rentalbania.al inbox.
What if I cannot find the car I need?
Send an offer request: describe your trip — places, dates, the type of car and your budget — and owners with a matching car that is free answer with an offer you can book.
For car owners
How do I list my car on rentalbania.al?
Create a host profile, then add your car in a few steps: details, photos, prices and seasons, rules, insurance and delivery places. The listing is published after it has been reviewed.
How do I avoid double bookings?
Your calendar on rentalbania.al is the source of truth: a car cannot be booked twice for the same dates. You can block dates yourself and connect calendars from other platforms through iCal, in both directions.
Ready to choose a car?
See the cars that are free for your dates, with the full price upfront.
Keep reading
- Renting a car in Albania: the complete guideEverything you need to rent a car in Albania: documents, minimum age, prices, deposits, insurance, airport pickup and driving to neighbouring countries.
- Driving in Albania: rules, roads, tolls and tipsSpeed limits, the alcohol limit, tolls, road conditions, driving times, parking, fuel and emergency numbers — what to know before driving in Albania.
- Car rental prices in AlbaniaLive car rental prices in Albania by car type and pickup place, from the cars listed on rentalbania.al, with what the price includes and how to pay less.