Korean Drivers in Albania 2026: Faster Motorways, Zero BAC

For a South Korean driver, Albania removes the usual first-day stress: you stay on the right, exactly as at home, and the motorway limit is 130 km/h, above the 120 km/h WHO lists as Korea’s highest motorway limit. What does change is the drinking rule, and the permit deserves a short check.

The permit question

Korea is a party to the 1949 Geneva convention; it signed the 1968 Vienna convention in 1969 but has not ratified it, so the permit issued at home is the 1949 model. On that model, two governments’ travel pages differ. The U.S. State Department’s Albania page says “All international driving permits (IDP) issued under the 1949 Geneva Convention are accepted”, each for one year, after which an Albanian licence is needed. UK government advice, written for British licence holders, calls a 1968 permit useful and says the 1949 one is no longer accepted. Carry the Korean permit with your licence and passport, and confirm with the hire firm before you book what it will accept.

From 0.03 to zero

Korea’s limit is 0.03. Albania’s Road Code, article 184, bans driving after drinking altogether. A reading up to 0.3 g/l already costs ALL 5,000-15,000, and from 0.3 g/l the licence is suspended too. If you are driving later, do not drink.

Read the road, not the sign

Article 140 sets 40 km/h in built-up areas, 80 km/h on secondary interurban roads, 90 km/h on main interurban roads and 130 km/h on motorways. The newer motorways are good; elsewhere UK advice warns of poor rural surfaces, potholes, unmarked roadworks and unlit vehicles at night. Up to 10 km/h over costs ALL 1,000-3,000, and 10-30 km/h over ALL 2,000-4,000; the Speeding Fine Calculator shows the bands.

Kit and emergencies

Article 72 requires a warning triangle and a first-aid kit; check the hire car has both. After any accident, stay at the scene until the police arrive. Dial 112 for emergencies, 129 for police, 127 for an ambulance and 128 for the fire service. Download offline maps for the mountains. The full rules are on the Albania driving guide, and the Driving Permit Checker covers other countries.

Sources

• U.S. Department of State, Country Information, Albania (“All international driving permits (IDP) issued under the 1949 Geneva Convention are accepted”), last updated August 27, 2026: cadataapi.state.gov
• Road Code of the Republic of Albania, law no. 8378/1998, consolidated text including Law 58/2026, articles 72, 140, 184: qbz.gov.al
• GOV.UK foreign travel advice, Albania (1968 IDP for British drivers; 1949 IDP no longer accepted; accidents; road conditions): gov.uk
• Global Affairs Canada, Albania travel advice (112, 129, 127, 128): travel.gc.ca
• UN Treaty Collection, 1949 Convention on Road Traffic (Republic of Korea, 1971) and 1968 Convention (Republic of Korea signed 1969, not ratified): treaties.un.org
• WHO Global status report on road safety 2023, Republic of Korea country profile (BAC 0.03 g/dl; motorway maximum 120 km/h): who.int