Can I use my phone while driving in Albania?
Only without holding it in your hand, and only if you keep full control of the vehicle. Holding or using a phone by hand while driving is fined 5,000–15,000 lekë, and after 3 offences within the same year the licence is suspended for 3 months. A built-in or hands-free system is allowed only when it needs no hands and you stay in full control. The myth: “at a red light I can check it”. No — the vehicle is still part of traffic, and waiting is not parking. Mind the currency too: 15,000 new lek is the same fine people describe as “150 thousand lekë” in old lek. Note too that DPSHTRR's general offences page still displays 500–1,500 lekë: it looks out of date.
📋 The rules
- Holding or using a phone by hand while driving is fined 5,000–15,000 lekë.
- After 3 such offences within the same year, the driving licence is suspended for 3 months.
- A built-in or hands-free system is allowed only when it requires no use of the hands and the driver keeps full control of the vehicle.
- Stopping at a light or in a queue does not turn you into someone outside traffic: handheld use remains dangerous and punishable.
- For navigation, set the destination before you set off or mount the phone; repeatedly touching the screen can be treated as using it while driving.
🔓 Exceptions
- A call through voice commands or the car's own system is allowed, but only if it does not distract the driver.
- Handheld use is legally safe only once the vehicle is parked in a permitted place and is no longer taking part in traffic.
- An emergency does not create a general licence to text or call on the move: stop safely, or ask a passenger to make the call.
⚠️ Penalties & fines
A single 5,000–15,000 lekë fine already stings, but the real cost comes with repetition: 3 offences within one year bring a 3-month licence suspension — three months off the road. This page makes no claim about an “automatic deduction of 10 points”: that claim had no official backing and was dropped. Note as well that DPSHTRR's general “Offences & Measures” page still displays 500–1,500 lekë: it appears not to have been updated against the dedicated official page on phone use.
📎 Official sources
- DPSHTRR · official site (its notice on phone use at the wheel) →
- QBZ · the official legislation register, where the Road Code is published →
- State Police · official site (Traffic Police) →
❓ Frequently asked
Can I check my phone while stopped at a red light?
No. Your vehicle is still part of traffic, and waiting at a light is not the same as parking. Handheld use remains punishable even when the wheels are not turning.
Is a mounted phone allowed for navigation?
Yes, if it is fixed in a mount and the destination is set before you set off, because you are not holding it. Repeatedly touching the screen while moving can be treated as using the phone while driving.
Why do some pages still say 500–1,500 lekë?
DPSHTRR's general “Offences & Measures” page still displays that figure, while the dedicated official page and police enforcement give 5,000–15,000 lekë. We use the specific, newer figure; the summary page looks out of date.
How many times before I lose my licence?
After three phone offences within the same year, the licence is suspended for 3 months. The suspension is an additional measure, so it comes on top of the fine for each offence.
Does the June 2026 law change this?
The 5,000–15,000 lekë measure and the suspension after 3 offences were published by DPSHTRR on 7 December 2021 and still stand. The amendments passed on 17 June 2026 had not been published in the Official Gazette as of 12 July 2026.
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