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Road Tolls in Albania 2026: A Carrier’s Guide

Road tolls in Albania 2026: A complete guide to toll systems. Check how to pay for motorways and optimize your TSL company budget.

Road Tolls in Albania 2026: A Carrier’s Guide

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In Albania, the road toll system in 2026 is “evolving.” For years, this country was associated with a total lack of tolls, but with the modernization of transport corridors, specific toll collection points are appearing. There is no single nationwide vignette; instead, there are specific “booths” on key sections.

Here is the full summary of fees for heavy transport in Albania for 2026.

In Albania, you pay for specific motorway sections managed by concessionaires. The most important and expensive point is the A1 motorway (Rruga e Kombit), connecting the port of Durrës with the Kosovo border. In 2026, newer sections in the central part of the country have also been added to the list.

Vehicle Classification in Albania

The classification system is based on the number of axles and the height of the vehicle over the front axle.

  • Category 2: Small delivery vehicles (2 axles, height 1.9m - 2.7m).
  • Category 3: Medium trucks and buses (3 axles or height above 2.7m).
  • Category 4: Heavy transport sets (4 axles and more - standard TIR).

A1 Motorway: Rruga e Kombit (Milot - Morinë Section)

This is the “backbone” of Albanian transport. The toll collection point is located at the Kalimash tunnel (the longest tunnel in the country, approx. 5.5 km). The fee is paid once for the passage of the entire section.

Vehicle CategoryRate in Euro (EUR)Rate in Lek (ALL)
Category 2 (Vans)11.25 €approx. 1,350 ALL
Category 3 (3 axles)16.25 €approx. 1,950 ALL
Category 4 (4+ axle sets)22.50 €approx. 2,700 ALL

New Section: Thumanë - Kashar (A1/SH1)

Opened in full toll standard in 2024/2025, this 21-kilometer section is a key shortcut bypassing the traffic jams around Tirana and leading towards the airport and the port of Durrës.

Vehicle CategoryEstimated 2026 Rate (EUR)
Category 1 (Passenger)2.10 €
Category 4 (Trucks 4+ axles)approx. 8.50 € - 10.00 €

Note: Rates on this section are indexed to the inflation rate; the above values are the current baseline data for 2026.

Payment Methods and Currency

Albania is very flexible regarding payments at the toll gates, which is good news for drivers who do not have local currency.

  1. Cash (EUR / ALL): You can pay in Euro at every booth. Importantly—the conversion rate at the booths in Albania is usually fair, and change can be given in EUR or ALL.
  2. Payment Cards: All major cards (Visa, MasterCard) are accepted. Contactless systems are operating efficiently in 2026.
  3. No Nationwide Vignette: If you do not enter the above motorway sections, traveling on national roads (SH) is free for trucks (except for the standard fuel tax included in the price of diesel).

What’s in the Plans? (Milot - Fier)

It is worth keeping an eye on the Adriatic-Ionian corridor. The Milot - Fier section is in the process of introducing a toll system. In 2026, test booths may appear there. The travel cost is expected to fluctuate around 0.04 € per kilometer for passenger cars, which for trucks will mean a rate of approximately 0.15 € - 0.20 € / km.

Route Planning Without Surprises: Meet Our Route Calculator

Driving through Albania is a logistical adventure. While the A1 motorway is modern, turning onto lower-category roads with a 40-ton set can end in getting stuck on narrow serpentines. Our calculator will help you avoid this.

Why Is It Worth It?

  • Precise Point Costs: You don’t have to remember how much the tunnel costs or the new section near Tirana. The calculator automatically adds these amounts to the freight cost estimate.
  • Road Parameter Verification: The system will warn you if the chosen alternative route (free) leads through sections with too steep a slope or too tight turns for a 16.5 m set.
  • Currency Integration: We convert ALL to your local currency according to the latest rates, so you know exactly how much cash the driver must have.
  • Fuel Savings: Sometimes paying 22.50 € for the tunnel saves fuel worth 60 € and 4 hours of driver’s work that would be lost on the old road through the mountains. Our system will show you this difference clearly.

Test It for Free and Without Obligation

Configure your fleet in our tool and see how quickly you can prepare an offer for a route to Durrës or Vlorë. We offer a free trial period so you can check the quality of our maps and the precision of the calculations yourself.

Want to be sure your margins in Albania are safe? Contact us—we will prepare your account in a few moments.

About the author

Marta Lewandowska

TSL Expert

Supports transport companies in optimizing routes, costs, and operational compliance in European markets.

FAQ

What does the road toll system in Albania look like for trucks in 2026?

Albania does not have a single nationwide vignette for trucks; tolls are point-based and apply to specific concession sections. For the carrier, it is crucial to check in advance whether the route includes the toll sections of the A1 and new sections around Tirana.

How much does it cost to travel with a 4+ axle set through the A1 Milot-Morine section?

The article states a rate of approximately 22.50 EUR for the section with the Kalimash tunnel for category 4 (4+ axle sets). This is a basic cost that should always be included when calculating transit on the Kosovo-Albania route.

What additional costs may appear besides the main A1 fee?

There may be fees on new sections, such as Thumane-Kashar, as well as costs resulting from detours and driver working time. In practice, the road toll is only part of the budget, which must be calculated along with fuel and travel time.

Is it better to pay with cash or a card at the toll booths in Albania?

Both methods are accepted and operate stably, but it is worth having a backup plan and local currency for smaller fees. The most important thing is to keep payment receipts, as this facilitates course settlement and cost control.

How to avoid mistakes when planning a truck route through Albania?

You must verify the vehicle category, toll sections, and alternative road parameters, especially in mountainous terrain. A seemingly cheaper detour can increase fuel consumption and extend time by several hours, which lowers the margin.

When is traveling through a toll tunnel more profitable than a free route?

When it shortens time and reduces fuel consumption compared to a local road with poorer parameters. The article indicates that in Albania, the decision must be made based on the full cost of the trip, not just the toll at the gate.

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