If you’re planning a road trip to Kosovo, it’s essential you’re fully prepared ahead of time as driving there has many differences to the UK. 

To make your trip to the Balkans as safe and effortless as possible, we’ve put together a guide to everything you need to know before you go, from required documents to rules of the road.  

Driving a rented vehicle? Jump to the advice for driving a hire car in Kosovo section.

RAC European Breakdown Cover (Basic and Comprehensive) provides a wide range of benefits should you breakdown in Kosovo to ensure you stay safe. 

To supplement this, RAC also offers travel insurance. Cover will include medical expenses, baggage, personal money and belongings, among many other benefits.

• A valid, full UK driving licence (you must also be 18 or over)
• A UK sticker. Please note the GB sticker is no longer valid due to a change in UK driving rules
• Your motor insurance certificate
• The V5 registration document for your own car or the hire car paperwork for a rental
• Car insurance (Kosovo is not a member of the Green Card System, so you’ll need to purchase car insurance at the border)

Aside from the documents above, there are some legally-required items you must bring with you to drive in Kosovo.

Unless your headlights can be adjusted, it's a legal requirement to carry headlamp converters (stickers for your headlights when driving on the right, so your lights don't dazzle motorists coming the other way).

A warning triangle is also compulsory to carry in vehicles in case of a breakdown.

You must also:

• Be 18 or over
• Make sure everyone in the car wears a seat belt at all times
• Wear a crash helmet if you're riding a motorcycle

It's also recommended to have:

• Spare bulbs for your car's external lights
• A fire extinguisher 
• A first-aid kit
• A reflective jacket
• An International Driving Permit (not compulsory but it could provide extra peace of mind if you have one)

You can pick up all the car kit you need from RAC Shop.

• In Kosovo, you drive on the right and overtake on the left. Vehicles from the right, buses and emergency vehicles have priority
• If you're caught committing a motoring offence while driving through Kosovo, you will be given a ticket with details of the offence, fine imposed and how to pay it
• Seat belts should be worn in all seats where a belt is available 
• Children under the age of 12 must not travel in the front seat and should use an appropriate restraint in the back of the car
• Kosovo has a zero-tolerance policy on drink-driving, although the limit is set at 0.01% to allow for alcohol in medicines

Speed limits vary across Kosovo, so always check the signs for maximum speeds. In urban areas, the limit is usually 50km/h unless otherwise signposted and 80km/h outside these areas. On the motorway, the limit is 130km/h

• Occasionally, there are delays at border crossings from Kosovo into Macedonia, Albania and Serbia, particularly around festive periods and during the summer months 
• Green Card insurance isn’t valid in Kosovo, but you can buy temporary cover at the border
• The standard of roads in Kosovo varies. Main roads are in good condition, but those in rural areas can be poor and there is a risk of landslides and flooding
• Some Serbian hire car companies won't let you take the car to Kosovo because of safety concerns – there have been a few incidents of Serbian-registered cars being targeted in Kosovo
• In 2018, the first toll road was introduced on the motorway between Kosovo and Albania
• Unleaded petrol and diesel are readily available, as is LPG
• You will usually have to pay to park your car in the capital Pristina. Vehicles parked illegally or causing an obstruction may be towed away
• The Foreign and Commonwealth Office advises against all but essential travel to the north of the country near the border with Serbia due to potential for unrest. Check Government advice for travelling in Kosovo for the latest information

In an emergency

112 - Here's a really important bit of knowledge; you can dial 112 from anywhere in Europe and an operator will connect you to an emergency service in the country you're visiting.

Operators can answer your call in their native language, English or French.

Breaking down in Kosovo

RAC offers great-value, flexible RAC European breakdown cover tailored to meet your needs. We also offer comprehensive travel insurance, including cover for medical expenses, baggage, personal money and belongings.

Not all of the information in the guide above will be relevant to those looking to rent a hire car in Kosovo.

Though it might be a good idea to read through everything anyway, here are the most important things to know for drivers of rental vehicles:

Rental information

• The minimum age to hire a car can vary depending on your provider and vehicle type - it's best to check beforehand
• You need a full, valid UK driving licence and usually a second proof of ID (passport)
• Some car rental companies ask that you have held your licence for a minimum term - check with your hire company first
• Most companies require you to use a credit card for deposit
• You may not be able to drive outside of Kosovo unless planned in advance - check with your hire company first
• Make sure you get car hire excess insurance before your trip to protect yourself from unexpected costs. It's almost always cheaper to do this with a separate insurer and in advance

Hire car driving tips

• Kosovans drive on the right and overtake on the left - the opposite to the UK
• The national speed limit on Kosovan motorways is 130km/h (80 mph). On a main road outside a built-up area it's 80 km/h. For built-up areas it’s 50km/h
• Dial 112 in an emergency
• It’s compulsory to wear seat belts in the front and rear seats
• There is a zero-tolerance approach to drink-driving in Kosovo. The blood alcohol content limit for drivers of private vehicles is 0.01% (to allow for alcohol present in medicines)

UK Government travel advice

See up-to-date travel advice