AMENDMENTS ON TRAFFIC CODE
The Parliament of the Republic of Albania has adopted the law no. 21/2023, On some amendments and additions to law no. 8378, dated 22.7.1998, “ Traffic Code of the Republic of Albania”, as amended. This law has yet not been published in the Official Gazette.
The main changes and novelties of the law pertain to the following:
• The holder of a category B driving license shall be allowed to drive motor vehicles with a maximum power of 55 kw/ton (referring to the empty weight of the vehicle), or of 65 kw/ton for hybrid electric or plug-in cars (by including the weight of the battery), during the first two years of the driving license being issued.
The validity of the driving license changes as follows:
• driving license for vehicles of categories AM, A1, A2, A, B1, B and BE is granted for:
– 15 years, for persons up to 70 years old (from 10 years for persons up to 50 years old and 5 years for persons over 50 years old);
– for persons over 70 years old no time limit is defined, but the validity of the driving license shall be confirmed by submitting a medical certificate that proves the physical and mental capacities, as required by law (from 3 years for persons over 70 years old);
– 5 years, for persons with disabilities, up to 65 years old (from 5 years for persons up to 60 years old);
– 3 years, for persons with disabilities, over 65 years old (from 3 years for persons over 60 years old);
• driving license for vehicles of categories C1, C1E, C, CE, D1, D1E, D and DE is granted for 5 years for persons up to 70 years old (from 5 years for persons up to 65 years old and 2 years for persons over 65 years old).
• driving license for vehicles of categories C1, C1E, C and CE, for persons with disabilities is granted for:
– 5 years, for persons up to 65 years old (from 5 years for persons up to 50 years old and 3 years for persons over 50 years old);
– for persons over 65 years old, such driving licenses shall not be renewed (unchanged).
The maximum speed allowed on the highway increases from 110 km/h to 130 km/h.
The deadline for the payment of fines changes from 5 (five) to 15 (fifteen) days from the day the fine is registered or the decision is made final, except for cases where an immediate fine is allowed by law. In case the fine is paid within 15 days, it will be reduced by 50% of the value.
