Vlorë’s port sits at the edge of the city, and the Old Town is only 3 km away. That makes it one of the easier places on this coast to step off a boat and drive away in a hired car the same afternoon — provided you have arranged the handover in advance and know what the crossing involves.
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This page covers the ferry routes that use Vlorë, the paperwork to have ready, how collection at the port usually works, and the choice between shipping your own car across and renting one when you land.
Crossings from Vlorë
The crossing from Vlorë goes to Brindisi in Italy, and it runs year-round. Star Lines operates 4 to 7 crossings a week depending on the season, with up to 3 departures a day in summer. The crossing takes between 5 and 7.5 hours, and tickets start at €25. The two ports are roughly 91 nautical miles apart, about 169 km.
Schedules shift with the season and with the weather, so confirm times and days directly with the operator when you book. If you are travelling in July or August, book the crossing itself early — the summer departures are the ones that fill up.
Documents to have ready
Ferry operators want identification and a booking reference before you board, and rental companies want a driving licence and a payment card. Keep all of it in your hand luggage rather than in a suitcase in the hold.
- Passport or ID card, plus your booking confirmation for the crossing.
- Your driving licence. Check with the rental company whether your licence is accepted as it is, or whether they ask for an international driving permit.
- A credit card in the driver’s name — many companies take cards, and some require one for the deposit. Ask when you book whether cash is accepted.
- Your rental booking, with the company’s phone number and, if they use it, a WhatsApp contact.
Expect to complete and sign a rental agreement before the keys are handed over. Read it at the desk rather than in the car park, and ask what the insurance excess is and what it does not cover.
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Collecting your car at the port
Several Vlorë companies are set up for port arrivals. AutoValona, for example, gives its address as Pranë Portit, Pallati i Kulturës — by the port, at the Palace of Culture. Others will meet you at the terminal or deliver the car to your accommodation, sometimes at no extra charge, so it is worth asking.
Confirm three things in writing before you travel: the exact meeting point, the name and phone number of the person handing over the car, and what happens if the ferry is late. Send your arrival time the day before, and again when you dock if you have data. A five-minute message can save an hour of standing next to a barrier.
When the car arrives, walk around it slowly. Photograph every panel, the wheels, the windscreen and the fuel gauge, and make sure any existing scratches are written on the form before you sign. Check that the spare wheel, jack and warning triangle are there, and that the lights and indicators work. Then note the fuel level and the return address.
From the port it is 3 km to the Old Town, an easy taxi ride or a short drive if you collect the car first. Allow a few minutes to get clear of the port area before you join the road south.
Bringing your own car, or renting here?
Every ferry on the Brindisi route has car decks, so bringing your own vehicle is straightforward in principle. Car tickets usually start at €65, and motorcycles from €45. You also need to arrive at the port at least 1.5 hours before departure in summer, because the port gets crowded and the queues build.
Renting locally avoids the car ticket, the queue and the wear on your own vehicle. It also means that if something goes wrong on the coast road, help comes from Vlorë rather than from another country. On the other hand, your own car is familiar, and on a longer tour of the Balkans it may work out cheaper than renting for several weeks.
Whichever you choose, check that your insurance covers the countries you plan to visit, and ask the rental company in advance if you intend to take a hired car across a border or onto a ferry.
Timing your arrival
Ferries arrive at different hours, and not every rental office is staffed late at night. If your crossing lands after dark, arrange the handover in advance and confirm it again on the day. In summer, allow extra time at the port on departure, and keep the 1.5-hour check-in guidance in mind when you plan the drive north or south afterwards. Details like these change, so check when you book.
More for your Vlorë trip
- Local car rental companies based in Vlorë
- Day trips by car from Vlorë
- Renting a car in Albania: the full guide
Want prices from local companies in Vlorë? Send us your dates and we will ask two or three local rental companies for offers. Free for you, no obligation.