Seatbelts and child restraint systems: Albanian Road Code Article 170
Article 170 requires drivers and passengers to wear seatbelts and children up to 3 to travel in approved restraint systems. The fine depends on who broke the rule and how.
Updated:
Who must wear a seatbelt
Under paragraph 1, drivers and passengers of vehicles of category L6 with a closed cabin and categories M1, M2, M3, N1, N2, N3 (as classified in article 47, paragraph 2) fitted with seatbelts must wear them on every journey. M2 and M3 vehicles used for urban transport or allowing standing passengers are exempt.
Travelling with children
- Children up to 3 travel in the rear seats in approved restraint systems suited to their weight (paragraph 4).
- In the front seat of M1, N1, N2 and N3 vehicles only rear-facing, and only when the airbags are deactivated (paragraph 4).
- Without a suitable restraint system, children up to 3 may not travel in these vehicles (paragraph 4/1).
- Children over 3 who are not taller than 1.50 m may not sit in the front (paragraph 4/2).
- Passengers up to 3 in the rear seats of category M1 vehicles must be held by special restraint systems (paragraph 5). This does not apply in taxis or hired cars with a driver while in service, in built-up areas or on routes to or from the railway station, ports and airports, if at least one passenger aged 18 or over accompanies the child (paragraph 6).
Exemptions
Paragraph 3 lists exemptions, including people shorter than 1.35 m or taller than 1.90 m, people with a medical certificate and pregnant women with a gynaecologist's certificate.
Fines under article 170
Amounts are taken from the published text of the Code; check the exact amount to pay in the official payment channel before paying.
- Not using seatbelts and child restraint systems: 5,000 to 15,000 lek (paragraph 8). Where the violation concerns a minor child, responsibility lies with the driver or, if present when the violation is committed, with the person in charge of supervising the child. If that person is the driver, the driving licence is also suspended for 6 to 12 months as a supplementary administrative measure.
- Unbelted passengers in the vehicle: the driver is fined 1,000 to 3,000 lek (paragraph 8).
- Tampering with a belt or replacing it with a non-approved type: 250 to 1,000 lek (paragraph 9).
How to read the code on a fine and where to check fines
A code such as “170 §8” on a fine means article 170, paragraph 8 of the Albanian Road Code. You can check active unpaid fines for a licence plate for free on the Gjoba Alert home page.
This page is reference information, not legal advice. The Code may change.
Fines under this article
| 170 §8 | 5,000 ALL to 15,000 ALL In addition: përveç masës administrative të ndëshkimit me gjobë, merret edhe masa administrative plotësuese e pezullimit të lejedrejtimit për një periudhë nga 6 deri në 12 muaj Text of the Code (Albanian)Cilido që nuk përdor rripat e sigurisë dhe sistemet e fiksimit për fëmijë, ndëshkohet me masë administrative me gjobë nga 5000 (pesë mijë) deri në 15.000 (pesëmbëdhjetë mijë) lekë. |
|---|---|
| 170 §8 | 1,000 ALL to 3,000 ALLText of the Code (Albanian)Drejtuesi i mjetit ndëshkohet me masë administrative me gjobë nga një mijë deri në tre mijë lekë nëse konstatohet se në mjetin që ai drejton ka pasagjerë që nuk kanë vendosur rripin e sigurimit. |
| 170 §9 | 250 ALL to 1,000 ALLText of the Code (Albanian)Cilido që, ndonëse e përdor rripin e sigurisë, ndryshon a pengon funksionimin normal të tij, ose e zëvendëson me një tip të pahomologuar për mjetin ku është vendosur, ndëshkohet me masë administrative me gjobë nga dyqind e pesëdhjetë deri në një mijë lekë. |
Source
Consolidated text of the Albanian Road Code (Law 8378/1998 as amended up to Law 58/2026), p. 110–112. Reference information, not legal advice.
Amendments to the article: Shfuqizuar shkronja “c” e pikës 3 me ligjin nr. 9808, datë 24.9.2007; ndryshuar pika 8 me ligjin nr. 10488, datë 5.12.2011; ndryshuar me ligjin nr. 175/2014, datë 18.12.2014; shtuar një paragraf në fund të pikës 8 me ligjin nr. 63/2021, datë 7.5.2021; ndryshuar pika 1, 4, shtuar pika 4/1 dhe 4/2, zëvendësuar fjalë në pikën 5 dhe 6, ndryshuar pika paragrafi i parë i pikës 8 me ligjin nr. 21/2023, datë 16.3.2023
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Frequently asked questions
What is the seatbelt fine in Albania?
Paragraph 8 of article 170 sets 5,000 to 15,000 lek for not using seatbelts and child restraints. Check the exact amount in the official payment channel.
Is the driver fined for unbelted passengers?
Yes. Paragraph 8 sets a fine of 1,000 to 3,000 lek for the driver if passengers in the vehicle are not wearing belts.
Can a child up to 3 sit in the front?
Only in M1, N1, N2 or N3 vehicles, in an approved rear-facing system and with the airbags deactivated (paragraph 4).