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Car Rental at Tirana Airport: Pickup, Deposits and Durrës

Tirana International Airport is where most visitors pick up a rental car for the city. It is also known as Nënë Tereza and as Rinas, and it lies about 11 km northwest of the city centre. The airport’s own website does not say where rental desks are, so the pickup point depends on the company you book with. This guide covers where pickup happens, what deposits and documents to expect, and how to get from the airport to Tirana and on to Durrës by car. For the wider picture, read our Albania car rental guide, and for companies in the city see the Tirana local companies guide.

Where pickup happens

Three patterns show up on the companies’ own websites:

  • A desk at the airport. Rent a Car Tirana Airport gives its address as CP97+JC Rinas, Tirana. Tirana Airport Rental Car lists an office on Rruga e Aeroportit. Auto Activity Rinas says it is based at the airport and has staff there around the clock.
  • Meet and greet at arrivals. Eurocar Rentals Tirana runs a desk in the arrivals hall at the Rinas terminal, open 24/7 with meet and greet. Auto Activity Rinas offers an “Airport VIP Pickup” where staff meet you at arrivals. Tirana Airport Rental Car asks for your landing time and says its team will bring the car to the airport parking.
  • Delivery to the airport. Albania 4×4 Car Rental says it can deliver to the airport on request. Planet Rent a Car offers airport pickup and says it will deliver and collect cars across Albania. Nika’s Rent Car Tirana lists the airport as a pickup point.

Whichever option you choose, the airport’s terminal has taxis and car rental services, according to the description of the airport on Wikipedia. The airport’s own website says it has 2,600 parking spaces, though it does not list parking rates.

Deposits and payment

Deposit rules differ a lot between companies, so read them before you book. This is what each site says:

  • Rent a Car Tirana Airport: no cash damage deposit, but a 20% prepayment reserves the car.
  • Tirana Airport Rental Car: no deposit if you choose its standard or premium protection It accepts cash.
  • Auto B. Brahimi, TIC Rent Car and Tezaku Rent Car: each says no deposit is required.
  • Auto Edi Rent Car Tirana: no cash damage deposit, with a 20% prepayment to reserve.

International brands usually place a deposit hold on your credit card. Ask each company how any hold is taken, how much it is, and when it is released. [

Documents to bring

Auto Edi’s site says you need a valid driving licence and a passport or ID card, and that an International Driving Permit is not needed in Albania. The sites we reviewed do not state a minimum driver age or how long you must have held your licence, so ask the company before you travel.

Taking the car out of Albania

If your route leaves Albania, the rental company must agree in writing, and you will need a Green Card, which is proof of third-party insurance abroad. A travel guide we checked lists Green Card fees of roughly €20 to €50 depending on the company, and one rental operator quoted about €30 per country for the cross-border authorisation. Not every company allows it. Tirana Airport Rental Car allows trips to Montenegro, Kosovo and North Macedonia for an extra fee, and Auto B. Brahimi requires advance notice, approval and a fee. The Tirana to Ohrid guide explains the process in more detail.

From the airport into Tirana

Central Tirana is 20 to 25 minutes away by road, according to Wikipedia. The airport connects to the national road network via SH60, which meets the SH2 Durrës–Tirana highway. The airport bus runs around the clock, roughly every hour, and stops outside the arrivals terminal. The airport’s own website lists a GoOpti shuttle and official airport taxis with a stop a few steps from the terminal, and it calls taxis the quickest option. None of these sources gives fares.

Tirana airport to Durrës by car

Durrës is an easy drive from Tirana. The distance from Tirana to Durrës is about 36 to 38 km, and the drive takes roughly 35 to 45 minutes depending on traffic, according to Chasing the Donkey. The road is the SH2 Durrës–Tirana highway, which the airport road joins. We did not source the airport-to-Durrës distance or time, so check a map before you set out.

If you would rather not drive, the same 2024 guide gives a taxi from Tirana to Durrës at 2,000 to 2,500 lek, taking about 45 minutes, and a bus at about 130 lek, leaving every half hour. Some companies also offer Durrës pickups. Nika’s lists Durrës as a pickup point, and Tirana Airport Rental Car lists delivery to Durrës for €20. An electric rail line linking Tirana, Durrës and the airport is under development, with trains planned to start in early 2027, according to Wikipedia. Check that before relying on it.

Before you leave the car park

  • Photograph the car all round, and check the fuel gauge against the contract. Auto Edi’s site says cars are handed over with a full tank and must be returned full.
  • Ask the company how to reach them if you land late.
  • Keep the contract, any deposit receipt and the company’s phone number on your phone.

Once you have picked up the car, our guide to driving and parking in Tirana covers the first drive into the city. Book directly with the company you choose, using its own website or phone.

Want prices from local companies in Tirana? Send us your dates and we will ask two or three local rental companies for offers. Free for you, no obligation.

Want prices from local companies in Tirana? Send us your dates and we will ask two or three local rental companies for offers. Free for you, no obligation.

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Car Rental in Tirana: Local Companies vs. the Airport Desks

Tirana is where most of Albania’s small car rental companies are based, and it is the easiest place in the country to pick up a car. Some have an office on a main road, some run a desk at the airport, and several do both. This guide covers the companies whose own websites confirm they rent in Tirana, how a local rental differs from the airport desks, and what to check before you send a message. For the wider picture of driving in Albania and booking direct, read our Albania car rental guide.

How we chose these companies

Each company below was checked on its own website. We kept it only where the site confirms that it rents cars in Tirana, at Tirana International Airport (TIA, also known as Rinas), or both. The list is alphabetical and is not a ranking. Where we quote a price, it is the one shown on the company’s site when we checked. Prices and fleets change, so confirm the total in writing before you pay.

Local companies in Tirana

  • Auto Rental Albania (ARA) has its base at Rinas, next to the airport. Its site lists small and economy cars, SUVs and 8-seat vans, with rates starting from €11 a day.
  • Albania 4×4 Car Rental has a Tirana office on Rr. Pavarsia, which its site lists as open 24 hours a day. It offers airport pickup and drop-off, and says it can deliver to the airport on request. It specialises in 4x4s and SUVs, from €70 a day for the cheapest listed model. The site does not state a deposit amount.
  • Auto Activity Rinas is based at Tirana airport. Its site says staff are at the airport around the clock to meet arriving travellers, and it offers an “Airport VIP Pickup” at arrivals. Every listed car comes with unlimited kilometres. The site says many rentals need no deposit, but the wording is inconsistent, so ask. Listed models start at €20 a day.
  • Auto B. Brahimi describes itself as a car rental and sales business in Tirana, operating since 2000. It offers city delivery and airport pickup and return. The site says no deposit is required and that a second registered driver is included at no extra cost. Cross-border trips need advance notice, approval and a fee. Starting prices are €32 a day for a Chevrolet Spark, €50 for an Audi A4 and €55 for a BMW X3.
  • Auto Edi Rent Car Tirana offers free airport pickup and drop-off and free delivery to a hotel. About 25 models are listed at €25 to €40 a day. The site says there is no cash damage deposit, but a 20% prepayment reserves the car. It mixes “Auto Edi” and “Rent a Car Tirana Airport” in its branding, so confirm the business name and phone number before you pay.
  • Eurocar Rentals Tirana describes itself as a premium car rental company in Albania. Its Tirana city centre office is at Rruga e Durrësit 202, open 08:00 to 20:00. Its airport desk is in the arrivals hall at the Rinas terminal, open 24/7 with meet and greet. Complimentary airport pickup and drop-off, unlimited mileage within Albania and free cancellation up to 24 hours before pickup are all stated on the site. Prices appear only after a search, so ask for the total.
  • Nika’s Rent Car Tirana offers pickup and drop-off at the airport, in the city and in Durrës. Starting rates on the site run from €20 a day for a Toyota Auris to €35 a day for a Kia Sportage or Nissan X-Trail. The site does not state a deposit policy, so ask before you book.
  • Planet Rent a Car has pickup and return at Tirana airport and says it will deliver and collect cars anywhere in Albania. Its site describes a fleet of 90 vehicles, and the company says it started in 2016 with four. Prices are not shown. Its booking form also lists Podgorica and Tivat airports as return points, so ask about cross-border terms if you plan that trip.
  • Rent a Car Tirana Airport gives its address as CP97+JC Rinas, Tirana. It offers free airport pickup and drop-off and free delivery to an address in Tirana. The site says there is no cash damage deposit but requires a 20% prepayment to reserve. Its FAQ sets a minimum rental of five days. Rates on the site start from €40 a day. Several businesses use this name, so check the web address before you pay.
  • Tezaku Rent Car has a Tirana office on Bulevardi Gjergj Fishta and an office at Tirana airport. The site says there is no deposit and no hidden fees, and it offers airport pickup and return. The fleet is mostly vans and people carriers, such as a 2019 VW Caravelle at €100 a day. Bookings are made by phone, WhatsApp or Instagram rather than through an online checkout.
  • TIC Rent Car has pickup points at Tirana downtown, Tirana airport, Vlorë and Sarandë. Each listed car is marked “No Deposit Required” and “Unlimited KM”. Listed prices start from €18 to €23, but the site does not say whether those are per day.The current listings are compact cars, although the site describes a range up to SUVs.
  • Tirana Airport Rental Car describes itself as a locally owned company serving Tirana airport since 2018. Its office is on Rruga e Aeroportit, and pickup at the airport is free. Delivery to a Tirana address, or to Durrës, is listed at €20. The site says there is no deposit if you choose its standard or premium protection. It accepts cash, and cancellation is free up to 48 hours before pickup. Trips to Montenegro, Kosovo and North Macedonia are allowed for an extra fee.

Local companies compared with the airport chains

The international brands at Tirana airport work fine, but they usually come with international prices and a deposit hold on your credit card. The local companies above often run leaner. Several accept cash, several state that no deposit is needed, and many will meet you at arrivals or bring the car to your hotel. The trade-off is a smaller business, so read the terms carefully before you book.

What to check before you book

  • The total price, dates, pickup point and what is included (insurance level, mileage, second driver), confirmed in writing. A WhatsApp thread counts.
  • How the deposit is taken and when it is released, whether in cash or as a hold on a card.
  • Whether the car can leave Albania, and what permission and Green Card cost if it can. Our Tirana to Ohrid guide covers the cross-border details.
  • Whether delivery to your hotel is free, and whether the company will wait for you if your flight is late.
  • The fuel rule. Auto Edi’s site says cars are handed over with a full tank and must be returned full, otherwise a refuelling charge applies. Ask every company which rule applies.
  • Photograph the car all round at pickup, and again at return.

Before you go

For the airport pickup and the trip into town, read our guide to car rental at Tirana airport. For parking and city traffic, see driving and parking in Tirana. Once you have chosen a company, book directly through its own website or by phone. Our Albania car rental guide covers the rest of the country.

Want prices from local companies in Tirana? Send us your dates and we will ask two or three local rental companies for offers. Free for you, no obligation.

Want prices from local companies in Tirana? Send us your dates and we will ask two or three local rental companies for offers. Free for you, no obligation.

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Tivat Day Trips by Car: Kotor, Lovćen, Luštica and Budva

Tivat makes a good base for a car trip. The airport is minutes from Kotor and about half an hour from Budva, so you can spend your evenings on the coast and still reach the mountains and the far side of the bay before lunch. Most of what follows is a day drive from Tivat, arranged roughly by direction. Times are approximate, and the sections that depend on current road or opening conditions say so.

Want prices from local companies in Tivat? Send us your dates and we will ask two or three local rental companies for offers. Free for you, no obligation.

Kotor and the Lovćen road

Kotor is 10 to 15 minutes from Tivat Airport by car, so it is the easiest day out. Park outside the old town walls and walk in, which keeps the car out of the narrow streets. From the old town, the serpentine road climbs toward Lovćen National Park. One description puts it at about 8 km with around 25 bends, and says it is narrow in places but well maintained. Take it slowly and pull in at the viewpoints for the view back over the bay.

At the top, the park entrance costs €2 per person and is charged soon after you drive in. The Njegoš mausoleum costs another €3 per person at its own entrance. Neither can be bought online in advance, so bring cash or check the gate’s current card options. Opening hours are shorter in winter, and the roads can close with ice and snow, so check conditions before you go in the cooler months.

Lovćen also pairs well with a drop down to Cetinje, the old royal capital, if you want the rest of the day.

Luštica peninsula

Luštica is the long finger of land on the western side of the bay, reached from the main coastal road between Budva and Tivat. A route description from the Budva–Tivat roundabout says to turn left toward Luštica, then follow the paved road through Radovići, Bjelila and Krašići to the village of Rose at the very end of the peninsula. Rose has a parking area on the left of the road.

From Rose you can continue along the other side of the peninsula to the beaches at Žanjić and Mirište, through olive groves and small villages. The roads here are narrow, so take your time, especially in summer traffic.

Luštica is quieter than the Budva coast, and the drive itself is part of the day. Bring water and food, as there is not much in the way of shops once you leave the main road.

The Budva coast

Budva is about 30 to 40 minutes from the airport on the main coastal road. The beaches south of Budva, and Sveti Stefan, make an easy half-day from Tivat. In July and August the single coastal road through Budva backs up badly, so the morning is the time to drive it. The hub guide for Montenegro suggests the same loop, so you can follow it in reverse if you want to leave the coast later in the week.

If you want to go further south, Ulcinj has a long sand beach near the Albanian border. That is a longer drive, and it is better as a full day than a stop on the way back.

Herceg Novi and the Dubrovnik side

Going west, Herceg Novi is the main town on the way, and you can reach it either by the road around the inner bay or by the Kamenari–Lepetane ferry, which runs from just north of Tivat. The ferry costs €5 for a car. The ferry usually saves time, but queues at peak times can cancel out the gain. For the crossing details, see Tivat Airport Car Pickup and Drive to Kotor or Budva.

Dubrovnik is a longer and more demanding day. Transfer operators give the drive from Tivat at around 68 to 76 km, with the Debeli Brijeg border crossing typically 5 to 15 minutes and longer on summer weekends. Check the rental company’s written permission for the crossing before you go.

Longer day trips

Lake Skadar, the Ostrog monastery and the Durmitor mountains are better done from a base further north, or as long days from Tivat if you are willing to drive. Ostrog is a cliff-face monastery that is an easy half-day from Podgorica, according to the hub guide for the country.

Practical tips for day drives from Tivat

  • Start early in summer. The coastal road and the ferry queues build up from mid-morning, especially in July and August.
  • Carry water and cash. The Lovćen park entrance and mausoleum tickets are paid at the gate, so have the euros ready.
  • Check the weather from November. Winter tyres are mandatory in winter conditions, and chains are worth carrying on the northern mountain roads from November to March.
  • Keep the rental company’s number saved. If you plan to cross a border or leave the country’s main roads, let them know first.

For the rental side, including the local companies in Tivat and what to check before you book, read Car Rental in Tivat: Local Companies and What to Check. For the airport pickup and the drive out from the airport, read Tivat Airport Car Pickup and Drive to Kotor or Budva. The wider country guide, with a one-week route across Montenegro, is at milatos.com.

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Tivat Airport Car Pickup and Drive to Kotor or Budva

Tivat Airport is small, and that makes picking up a car there simple, but it is worth knowing how the handover works before your flight lands. This guide covers the pickup itself: meet-and-greet versus a rental desk, deposits, the documents to carry, and crossing into a neighbouring country. It then gives the drive from the airport to Kotor and Budva, including the Kamenari–Lepetane ferry as an option. The airport is run by Airports of Montenegro, and its information line is +382 32 670 930 (see montenegroairports.com).

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Meet-and-greet or a desk?

There are two common setups. In a meet-and-greet, a representative from the company meets you in the arrivals area and walks you to the car. Some local operators work this way; Costa Car Rental says its team meets renters at Tivat arrivals, and DAX Rent a Car advertises a fast pickup at the airport. Meet-and-greet is usually quicker, and it means you do not need to find a counter after a long flight.

In the other setup, you collect the car from a rental desk or a pickup point, and the confirmation tells you where to go. One airport guide advises checking your confirmation email for where to meet the agent or find the desk, and saving those contact details to your phone before you land. Whichever setup you have, ask the company when you book which one applies and what the exact meeting point is.

Deposits and card holds

Many international chains freeze a sizeable deposit on your card for the length of the rental. Both companies named above state that no deposit is required, and Costa’s page says you pay when you arrive. Treat that as the start of the conversation, not the end. Ask whether any amount is pre-authorised on your card, how long it stays on hold, and what the excess is if the car is damaged.

Documents to carry

Bring the following to the pickup:

  • Your booking confirmation, with the reservation number and the company’s phone number.
  • Your national driving licence. Both Costa and DAX say it is accepted, so an international permit is not normally needed for these companies. Check the rules for any other company you book.
  • Your passport, which one airport-transfer guide lists alongside the licence and a credit card for pickup.
  • A credit card in your own name, if the company asks for one for the booking or a hold.
  • Proof of insurance if you plan to decline the company’s cover and rely on your own. Some companies require proof of full coverage before they accept that.

Crossing into Croatia or Albania

Crossing a border with a rental car needs an explicit yes from the company. Costa’s site mentions “border crossing included” in its list of extras, but it does not name the countries covered. DAX lists a green card for cross-border travel as part of every rental. Neither page gives an extra fee or a list of permitted countries, so put your route in writing and ask for the answer by email or WhatsApp before you travel.

The most common crossing is to Dubrovnik, through the Debeli Brijeg checkpoint. Transfer operators put the drive from Tivat at roughly 68 to 76 km and about an hour and a half, though one source gives nearly two hours. Border waits are usually short but can be longer on summer weekends. For Albania, rules and extra fees differ by company, so check the rental terms before you plan that trip.

From the airport to Kotor

Kotor is the quickest drive. The airport is about 8 km from the town, roughly 10 to 15 minutes by car. Parking in Kotor is a separate subject and is covered in a separate guide, so we will not go into it here.

From the airport to Budva

Budva is about 30 to 40 minutes by car along the main coastal road. You do not need the ferry for this trip; the direct road is the shortest option. Allow more time in July and August, when the coastal road can back up badly, and check the route on a live map before you set off.

The Kamenari–Lepetane ferry

The ferry crosses the narrow mouth of the Bay of Kotor between Lepetane, which is just north of Tivat, and Kamenari, on the western side near Herceg Novi. It is most useful when you are heading west, toward Herceg Novi or the Croatian border, because it saves the long way round the inner bay.

  • Fare. The car fare is €5, according to the crossing guide at thoroughlytravel.com. The operator’s own site, trajekt.me, lists a €3 fare for residents of Tivat and Herceg Novi. Check the operator’s current price PDF before you go, as the official list was not in the text we could read.
  • Tickets. You can buy online through trajekt.me or at the terminal booth, by cash or card. The guide advises against buying a return ticket, as the ferry’s rules do not allow it.
  • Timetable. The ferry runs frequently through the day, with fewer sailings at night. Check the operator’s current timetable if you are crossing late.
  • Crossing time. The crossing itself is about 5 to 10 minutes, but queues in summer can add 10 to 20 minutes or more at busy times.

Read the full list of car day trips, including the Lovćen and Luštica roads, in Tivat Day Trips by Car: Kotor, Lovćen, Luštica and Budva. For a first look at the local rental companies and what to check before you book, see Car Rental in Tivat: Local Companies and What to Check. For the country-wide picture, read the Montenegro car rental guide.

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Car Rental in Tivat: Local Companies and What to Check

Most people who rent a car for the Bay of Kotor and Budva fly into Tivat (TIV), which sits right on the coast and is the closest airport to both towns. That makes Tivat a sensible place to look for a car, but it also means you will see two kinds of rental company when you search: the international chains with desks at the airport, and smaller Montenegrin operators that are based in Tivat or nearby. This guide is about the second group, and about what to check before you book with either.

Want prices from local companies in Tivat? Send us your dates and we will ask two or three local rental companies for offers. Free for you, no obligation.

Chains and local operators: the practical difference

The international chains work fine. You get a familiar booking process, a large fleet and a desk in the arrivals area. The trade-off is usually price and the card hold. Chains commonly freeze a substantial deposit on your credit card for the length of the rental, and the daily rate can be noticeably higher than what you find by contacting a local company directly.

Local operators tend to work differently. Many are family-run, often tied to a garage or a tourism business, and they are more likely to meet you at the airport or deliver the car to your apartment. Several of the ones we checked waive or reduce the deposit, and you usually talk to a real person by email or WhatsApp. The catch is that a local company may not have a big online presence, so you need to read its own website carefully and ask about anything that is not stated there.

Local companies we could verify in Tivat

We only list a company here when we could open its own website and confirm that it rents cars at Tivat. Nothing on this list is a ranking, and the order is alphabetical.

  • Costa Car Rental Tivat Airport (carrentaltivat.com). The site lists Tivat Airport (TIV) and Podgorica Airport (TGD) as pickup and return points, and says its team meets renters at the Tivat arrivals area. It states “No deposit required” and says you pay when you arrive. The fleet runs from small manual and automatic cars to SUVs and a family minivan, with unlimited mileage, basic insurance and free cancellation up to 48 hours before pickup. The site showed a Skoda Fabia from 22 euros a day when we checked.
  • DAX Rent a Car (dax.co.me). The company gives an office address at Kalimanj in Tivat and lists locations at Tivat, Tivat Airport, Porto Montenegro, Podgorica Airport, Kotor, Herceg Novi, Budva and Bar. It advertises free airport delivery and says no deposit is required. Its listed cars run from economy models such as the Sandero and Citroën C3, at around 41 to 42 euros a day, up to premium models. The page also mentions a green card for cross-border travel and third-party insurance included in the rental.

Not every name you find online made the list. Some operators have no website of their own, only a free email address, so we could not confirm what they offer. Others run a domain that is parked, or a booking platform that lists cars from several companies. Those are not the same thing as a local operator you can book with directly, so we left them out.

What to check before you book

Whichever company you choose, get the terms in writing before you pay. A short email or WhatsApp message is enough, as long as it covers the following:

  • The total price, including any airport or delivery fee, and the exact pickup and return times.
  • The deposit. A “no deposit” price can still come with a card pre-authorisation, so ask whether anything is held on your card and for how long.
  • Insurance and excess. Ask what the excess is if there is damage and whether the basic cover is included.
  • Cross-border rules. If you plan to drive to Croatia or Albania, ask which countries are covered, whether a green card is included and whether there is a fee. Do not assume a border crossing is included just because a site mentions it.
  • Documents. Both companies above say a national driving licence is accepted. Carry your passport and the booking confirmation anyway.
  • Fuel and mileage policy. Find out whether the car comes with a full tank and what happens if it comes back short.
  • Late arrivals. If your flight lands after the desk closes, ask in advance what happens.

Keep the operator’s phone number saved for the whole trip, and photograph the car from all sides at handover, noting any existing damage on the contract.

For the airport pickup process itself, including meet-and-greet, documents and the drive to Kotor and Budva, read Tivat Airport Car Pickup and Drive to Kotor or Budva. If you are planning what to do once you have the car, Tivat Day Trips by Car: Kotor, Lovćen, Luštica and Budva covers day drives from Tivat. For the wider picture across Montenegro, including Podgorica, Bar and the north, read our Montenegro car rental guide.

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Tirana to Ohrid by Car: Route, Border and Rental Rules

Lake Ohrid is one of the classic trips from Tirana, and the drive is about 130 km. The lake is shared by Albania and North Macedonia, and the town of Ohrid sits on the North Macedonian shore. Driving it in a rental car is straightforward, but only if your company allows it, so the paperwork matters as much as the road. This guide covers the route, the border crossing, what your rental company must provide and what to plan for on the way. For the wider picture, read our Albania car rental guide.

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The route

A transfer operator describes the usual route as running over the Krrabë pass to Elbasan, along the Shkumbin valley to Pogradec on the Albanian shore of Lake Ohrid, and then across the Qafë Thanë border to Ohrid town. The distance is about 130 km. The same operator gives a drive time of about 2 hours 15 minutes, door to door. Allow more if you stop on the way or meet traffic in Elbasan.

The road itself is a mix of valley and mountain driving, climbing over the pass and then following the river valley down to the lake, so it rewards a relaxed pace. Allow extra time at the border. Waiting times change with the day and the season, and summer weekends are usually the busiest.

Stops on the way

Elbasan is the town you reach after the Krrabë pass, and it makes a sensible first stop if you want a break from the road. Pogradec sits on the Albanian shore of the lake and is the last stop before the border, so it is the natural place to rest, eat and check your papers before you cross.

The border at Qafë Thanë

The crossing is called Qafë Thanë on the Albanian side and Kjafasan on the North Macedonian side. Wikipedia places the pass close to the border between Albania and North Macedonia, on the E852 road. If you plan to cross late at night or on a public holiday, check the current status of the crossing before you set off.

Carry your passport, your driving licence, the rental agreement and the Green Card in the car, where you can reach them quickly at the checkpoint.

What your rental company must allow

Taking an Albanian rental car into North Macedonia needs two things, and both should be agreed in writing:

  • Written permission from the rental company that names North Macedonia. Some companies do not allow cross-border travel at all, so ask before you book.
  • A Green Card, the international proof of third-party motor insurance. Fees vary by company, so ask for the cross-border fee in writing when you book.

Companies differ on the details. Tirana Airport Rental Car’s site allows trips to Montenegro, Kosovo and North Macedonia for an extra fee. Auto B. Brahimi says cross-border travel needs advance notice, approval and a fee. Ask for the total in writing, including the Green Card and the authorisation, and make sure the permission appears in the agreement.

What to check before you cross

  • Confirm that the Green Card names North Macedonia and covers the dates of your trip.
  • Ask the company what the rental insurance covers in North Macedonia. A Green Card is third-party liability cover, which does not pay for damage to the rental car itself.
  • Keep the Green Card and the permission with the car for the whole trip, including the return.
  • Ask whether the company’s emergency number works from North Macedonia.

If your company says no

Some companies will not allow a car to leave Albania, and that is a reasonable answer. If that is the case with the company you prefer, look at another company in the city that allows cross-border travel, or consider a private transfer. Several operators run private transfers from Tirana to Ohrid, and you can compare prices before you decide.

Whichever way you travel, make the decision before you book the car. A rental agreement that does not mention North Macedonia will not cover the border, and changing it at the desk at pickup is harder than arranging it in advance.

Coming back

If you return the car in Albania, you cross the border again, so keep the paperwork with you in both directions. If you plan to drop the car at Tirana airport when you finish, our guide to car rental at Tirana airport covers the drop-off options. For the companies in the city, see the Tirana local companies guide, and for the city streets, the driving and parking guide.

Book directly with a company that allows cross-border travel, using its own website or phone. Read the country guide before you go for the rest of the Albanian route.

Want prices from local companies in Tirana? Send us your dates and we will ask two or three local rental companies for offers. Free for you, no obligation.