Albania on a South Korean Licence — Same Side, but a 0.01 Limit & Rough Roads

For a South Korean driver, Albania removes two of the usual stressors before you even start. You stay on the right, exactly as at home, and the motorway limit is the same 110 km/h you are used to — so the side and the top speed both feel familiar. That leaves two real adjustments, and the first one is alcohol.

South Korea’s limit sits at 0.03; Albania goes down to 0.01, which is effectively zero tolerance. There is no allowance for a single drink with a meal, and on the coast through summer the enforcement is genuine — penalties run to on-the-spot fines and licence confiscation. The simple rule is that if you are driving later, you don’t drink at all.

The second adjustment is the road itself rather than any rule. Albania rates at the challenging end: the newer motorways are good, but rural roads are uneven, lane markings fade, and you will meet unpredictable overtaking, livestock and the occasional unlit vehicle after dark. The rural limit is 80 km/h and towns a strict 40, but the surface frequently can’t support the posted number, so read the road rather than the sign. A 10-over fine is about ALL 5,000 (≈ €45), paid roadside — carry cash or a card, and you can estimate one with the Speeding Fine Calculator.

On paperwork, an International Driving Permit is recommended. It is not always demanded by law, but rental desks and police expect to see one with your South Korean licence and passport. Arrange it at home before you fly, since you cannot get one in Albania; your licence covers stays of up to 12 months.

Your car must carry a warning triangle, reflective vest, first-aid kit and fire extinguisher. Fuel is roughly $1.52/litre, cheapest at supermarket stations, and the emergency number is 112. Download offline maps, as rural signal is patchy. The full rules are on our Albania driving guide, and you can confirm your permit status with the Driving Permit Checker before collecting the car.