Driving in Albania vs. North Macedonia: Key Differences

When navigating the roads of Albania and North Macedonia, travelers will encounter distinct regulations that shape their driving experience. Key disparities include speed limits, lane usage, and traffic signal protocols. Understanding these variations is essential for ensuring a secure journey and avoiding potential pitfalls on your adventures in these neighboring countries.

albanianorth macedonia

RIGHT

Driving Side

The driving side in albania is the Right Side of the road

Driving Safety Score

The driving Driving Safety Score in albania is 68

1.804 $

Gas Price in USD

The driving Driving Safety Score for albania is 1.804 US Dollars

While the driving side of a country remains the same, the driving safety score is updated annually based on each countries car accident fatality rate. Lastly, the gas price is only an estimate. Due to frequent fluctuations, it serves as a general reference rather than an exact figure for each country.

Lanes

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	Albania	North macedonia
Overtaking: On Right	Allowed on multi-lane roads or when the vehicle ahead is turning left.	Not typically allowed in North Macedonia.
Bus Lanes: Presence	No	Yes
Bus Lanes: Usage	N/A	Reserved for buses and sometimes taxis.
Bus Lanes: Markings	N/A	Labeled 'BUS' or with road signs.
Cycle Lanes: Markings	Bicycle symbols and colored pavement.	Bicycle symbols and marked paths.
High- Occupancy Lanes: Requirements	N/A	N/A
Variable Speed Limits: Indications	N/A	N/A

Overtaking: On Right

albania:

Allowed on multi-lane roads or when the vehicle ahead is turning left.

north macedonia:

Not typically allowed in North Macedonia.

Bus Lanes: Presence

albania:

north macedonia:

Yes

Bus Lanes: Usage

albania:

N/A

north macedonia:

Reserved for buses and sometimes taxis.

Bus Lanes: Markings

albania:

N/A

north macedonia:

Labeled 'BUS' or with road signs.

Cycle Lanes: Markings

albania:

Bicycle symbols and colored pavement.

north macedonia:

Bicycle symbols and marked paths.

High- Occupancy Lanes: Requirements

albania:

N/A

north macedonia:

N/A

Variable Speed Limits: Indications

albania:

N/A

north macedonia:

N/A

Speeds Limits

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	Albania	North macedonia
Urban Areas: Standard	40 km/h	50 km/h
Rural Areas: Buses And Vans	70 km/h	80 km/h
Highways: Cars And Motorcycles	110 km/h	120 km/h
Highways: Buses And Vans	90 km/h	100 km/h
Highways: Trucks And Trailers	90 km/h	80 km/h
Variable Speed Limits: Indications	N/A	N/A
Enforcement: On-the- Spot Fines	Yes; fines can be paid at the scene.	Yes

Urban Areas: Standard

albania:

40 km/h

north macedonia:

50 km/h

Rural Areas: Buses And Vans

albania:

70 km/h

north macedonia:

80 km/h

Highways: Cars And Motorcycles

albania:

110 km/h

north macedonia:

120 km/h

Highways: Buses And Vans

albania:

90 km/h

north macedonia:

100 km/h

Highways: Trucks And Trailers

albania:

90 km/h

north macedonia:

80 km/h

Variable Speed Limits: Indications

albania:

N/A

north macedonia:

N/A

Enforcement: On-the- Spot Fines

albania:

Yes; fines can be paid at the scene.

north macedonia:

Yes

Signals

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	Albania	North macedonia
Traffic Lights: Flashing Amber	Proceed with caution, yield to pedestrians and other vehicles	Proceed with caution, yield to pedestrians
Traffic Lights: Red And Amber Together	Not used in Albania	Prepare to go
Horn Usage: Prohibited Times	Unnecessary use discouraged; local ordinances may apply	Prohibited in urban areas at night
Headlight Flash: Usage	To warn other drivers of your presence or to indicate overtaking	To warn other drivers of your presence
Headlight Flash: Prohibited Usage	Not to be used to signal other messages	Not to signal other messages
Traffic Signs: Language	Symbols are standard; local signs in Albanian	Macedonian; standard symbols
Traffic Signs: Warning	Triangle-shaped with a red border	Triangle-shaped with red border

Traffic Lights: Flashing Amber

albania:

Proceed with caution, yield to pedestrians and other vehicles

north macedonia:

Proceed with caution, yield to pedestrians

Traffic Lights: Red And Amber Together

albania:

Not used in Albania

north macedonia:

Prepare to go

Horn Usage: Prohibited Times

albania:

Unnecessary use discouraged; local ordinances may apply

north macedonia:

Prohibited in urban areas at night

Headlight Flash: Usage

albania:

To warn other drivers of your presence or to indicate overtaking

north macedonia:

To warn other drivers of your presence

Headlight Flash: Prohibited Usage

albania:

Not to be used to signal other messages

north macedonia:

Not to signal other messages

Traffic Signs: Language

albania:

Symbols are standard; local signs in Albanian

north macedonia:

Macedonian; standard symbols

Traffic Signs: Warning

albania:

Triangle-shaped with a red border

north macedonia:

Triangle-shaped with red border

Turns

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	Albania		North macedonia
Right Turn On Red	Not allowed unless explicitly permitted by a sign		Prohibited unless specified by a sign
U- Turns Allowed	Varies by locality; check for signs		Allowed when not prohibited by signs

Right Turn On Red

albania:

Not allowed unless explicitly permitted by a sign

north macedonia:

Prohibited unless specified by a sign

U- Turns Allowed

albania:

Varies by locality; check for signs

north macedonia:

Allowed when not prohibited by signs

Documentation

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	Albania	North macedonia
Driver's License: Foreign: E U/ E E A	Accepted for visits less than one year; International Driving Permit recommended	Accepted for short visits; International Driving Permit recommended
Driver's License: Foreign: Non- E U	Accepted for visits less than a year; International Driving Permit recommended	International Driving Permit required
Vehicle Inspection: Requirement	Mandatory; proof required	Annual inspection required
Vehicle Inspection: Sticker	Displayed on windshield	Displayed on the windshield

Driver's License: Foreign: E U/ E E A

albania:

Accepted for visits less than one year; International Driving Permit recommended

north macedonia:

Accepted for short visits; International Driving Permit recommended

Driver's License: Foreign: Non- E U

albania:

Accepted for visits less than a year; International Driving Permit recommended

north macedonia:

International Driving Permit required

Vehicle Inspection: Requirement

albania:

Mandatory; proof required

north macedonia:

Annual inspection required

Vehicle Inspection: Sticker

albania:

Displayed on windshield

north macedonia:

Displayed on the windshield

Road Etiquette

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	Albania		North macedonia
Flashing Lights: Usage	To warn of hazards or indicate intention to overtake		To warn of hazards or signal intention to overtake
Lane Courtesy: Allowing Merging	Common practice, especially in heavy traffic		Common practice

Flashing Lights: Usage

albania:

To warn of hazards or indicate intention to overtake

north macedonia:

To warn of hazards or signal intention to overtake

Lane Courtesy: Allowing Merging

albania:

Common practice, especially in heavy traffic

north macedonia:

Common practice

Alcohol

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	Albania	North macedonia
Limits: General Drivers	0.01%	0.05%
Limits: Underage Drivers	0.00%; zero tolerance	0.00%
Enforcement: Random Checks	Common, especially during holidays	Conducted at checkpoints
Enforcement: Fines	Substantial fines for violations	Can be substantial

Limits: General Drivers

albania:

0.01%

north macedonia:

0.05%

Limits: Underage Drivers

albania:

0.00%; zero tolerance

north macedonia:

0.00%

Enforcement: Random Checks

albania:

Common, especially during holidays

north macedonia:

Conducted at checkpoints

Enforcement: Fines

albania:

Substantial fines for violations

north macedonia:

Can be substantial

Emergency Services

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	Albania		North macedonia
Contact: Traffic Police	129		192
Contact: Roadside Assistance	Check with your insurance provider		Contact local service providers

Contact: Traffic Police

albania:

129

north macedonia:

192

Contact: Roadside Assistance

albania:

Check with your insurance provider

north macedonia:

Contact local service providers

Penalties And Fines

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	Albania	North macedonia
Common Fines: Speeding	Varies; fines can range from 5,000 to 20,000 ALL	Varies; 30 to 300 EUR, points on license
Common Fines: Seat Belts	Fines over 1,000 ALL	50 EUR
Common Fines: Phone Use	Varies; potential fines and penalties	40 EUR
Common Fines: Traffic Light Violation	Fines over 5,000 ALL	250 EUR, points on license
Payment: On The Spot	Yes; fines can often be paid at the scene	Yes, often required
Payment: Deadline	Varies; typically 15 to 30 days to pay	Varies; typically within 15 days to pay

Common Fines: Speeding

albania:

Varies; fines can range from 5,000 to 20,000 ALL

north macedonia:

Varies; 30 to 300 EUR, points on license

Common Fines: Seat Belts

albania:

Fines over 1,000 ALL

north macedonia:

50 EUR

Common Fines: Phone Use

albania:

Varies; potential fines and penalties

north macedonia:

40 EUR

Common Fines: Traffic Light Violation

albania:

Fines over 5,000 ALL

north macedonia:

250 EUR, points on license

Payment: On The Spot

albania:

Yes; fines can often be paid at the scene

north macedonia:

Yes, often required

Payment: Deadline

albania:

Varies; typically 15 to 30 days to pay

north macedonia:

Varies; typically within 15 days to pay