Car hire for Vlora and the Riviera

Do you need a car?

• No, if you are staying on or near the Lungomare and mainly want beaches, the old town and the promenade — walk, and take the odd taxi.
• Yes, if you want the Riviera beaches beyond the Llogara Pass, Orikum, the Narta Lagoon and Zvërnec, Kanina, or day trips inland. Public transport to these places is limited.

Documents

• Your driving licence, plus — according to UK advice for UK licence holders — a 1968 international driving permit (the 1949 version is no longer accepted) and a green card as proof of insurance.
• Other nationalities: check your own government’s advice and ask the rental company what it requires before you book.
• Rental companies usually want a credit card in the main driver’s name for the deposit.

Roads and driving

• UK advice describes driving in Albania as hazardous: aggressive overtaking, poor surfaces on rural roads, unlit main roads, unmarked roadworks and vehicles without lights at night.
• After any accident, even a minor one, stay at the scene until the police arrive.
• The Llogara Pass climbs to 1,027 m in tight bends between Orikum and the Riviera. Drive it in daylight, take it slowly and expect cyclists, buses and livestock.
• Parking in Vlora: the municipality is still setting paid-parking zones — follow the street signs. See Parking.

Where to rent

Rental desks operate at Tirana airport, which is usually the simplest pick-up if you fly in; local agencies also rent cars in Vlora. A comparison site shows airport and city offers side by side — read what the excess, fuel policy and cross-border rules are before you pay.