Booking Conditions
Your Rental Agreement is with Drive The Balkans Ltd, a UK-registered company. Our Suzuki Jimny SUVs are owned and operated by Our destination management company in Albania, DTB Travel SHPK (NIPT L252125066I).
If you choose to rent a Suzuki Jimny SUV from Drive The Balkans Ltd, You are agreeing to the below Terms & Conditions.
TERMS & CONDITIONS
This agreement is between You, and DRIVE THE BALKANS LTD, registered address 16-18 Palace Gates Rd, London N22 7BN.
The Contract between Us (DRIVE THE BALKANS LTD, hereinafter referred to as ‘the Company’ or ‘Us’ or ‘We’ in respect of these Terms & Conditions) and the Client (You, the person whose signature appears on the booking form) will be governed by UK law and any disputes will be resolved by UK courts exclusively. If any part of these Terms & Conditions is found to be invalid or unenforceable, the remainder of them will not be affected and will remain valid and enforceable.
These Terms & Conditions, and any further Terms & Conditions notified to You by Us prior to Your entering into a Contract with Us, will be binding to both parties once a Contract is made between Us.
01 Minimum driver age for unescorted self-drive tours and Suzuki Jimny SUV rental, 29, unless we give our written permission for younger drivers to drive. Minimum driver age for escorted tours with a designated tour leader, 21.
02 All drivers must have held a valid driver's license for a minimum period of 10 years, unless driving as part of a tour led by a designated tour leader.
03 A damage deposit of €300 will be retained in cash by a representative of DTB TRAVEL SHPK before handover of the vehicle. We will return this deposit in full on the safe return of the vehicle, unless the vehicle has suffered damage.
04 All Our Suzuki Jimny SUVs are supplied with a full tank of fuel at the start of the rental period. Customers must return the SUV full at the end of the rental period.
05 It is strictly prohibited to take one of Our Suzuki Jimny SUVs outside Albania without Our prior written permission.
06 Anyone who will be driving the Suzuki Jimny SUV must email a photo or scan of their valid driving license with their current address in advance of the start of the rental period. License endorsements up to 9 points are accepted. If the driver has been banned from driving for a DD, DR or UT offence, or has been disqualified for 12 months or more, We will only rent 5 years or more after the return of the license.
07 Should We consider damage to Our Suzuki Jimny SUV to be caused by your gross negligence, serious carelessness, or deliberate misuse, then We reserve the right to recharge the full cost of repairs regardless of the cover that has been taken out, e.g. driving the Suzuki Jimny SUV illegally, fuel contamination or driving through a flood or on a road obviously unsuitable for the Suzuki Jimny SUV, or attempting to cross a deep river, or any deep body of water. Any call out for a customer-induced fault, (e.g. losing the key to the Suzuki Jimny SUV or changing a punctured tyre) will lead to additional charges being applied.
08 Driving our Suzuki Jimny SUVs on wet sand or wet pebbles on beaches, or in sea water, or salt water in lagoons is strictly prohibited. If You drive the Suzuki Jimny SUV on wet sand or wet pebbles on a beach, or in salt water of any kind whatsoever, You will no longer have our permission to use Our Suzuki Jimny SUV and We will take back Our Suzuki Jimny SUV at the earliest opportunity and retain Your deposit in full.
09 Our Suzuki Jimny SUVs are ideal for driving rough rural roads and moderate unpaved tracks. We do not consider them suitable for extreme off-road conditions. You are not permitted to take the Suzuki Jimny SUV on any roads specifically prohibited by us as We consider them unsafe for inexperienced drivers or to be in such poor condition as to be likely to damage the Suzuki Jimny SUV. For instance, the track to Gjipë beach in south Albania.
10 It is strictly prohibited to drive one of Our Suzuki Jimny SUVs in convoy as part of a tour arranged by another agency, or arranged independently (i.e. if You are travelling with a group of friends in a convoy of two or more vehicles, following a route You have bought from a third-party or designed Yourselves). If You use one of Our Suzuki Jimny SUVs in a convoy without our permission, You will no longer have our permission to drive the Suzuki Jimny SUV, and we will recover it at the earliest opportunity and retain Your deposit in full.
11 When We hand over the Suzuki Jimny SUV, Our representative will brief You on the vehicle and its four-wheel-drive system, and how and when to use it. You must demonstrate that You have understood the basics of this briefing, and are competent to drive according to these instructions.
12 Under no circumstances whatsoever will DRIVE THE BALKANS LTD or DTB TRAVEL SHPK be responsible for data roaming charges levied by Your mobile phone provider, or any phone charges incurred by You during Your Tour.
13 Your responsibilities -
a) You must inspect the Suzuki Jimny SUV and any accessories, such as a satellite navigation system, We provide before You take the vehicle. If You are not satisfied with the vehicle or any accessories or if You do not think the condition of the vehicle meets Our pre-rental inspection report, You must notify us within 2 hours. In the absence of such notice, it shall be deemed that You received the Suzuki Jimny SUV and any accessories in perfect working order.
b) You must take care of the Suzuki Jimny SUV, any accessories and the keys or other locking device (including any apps which can be used with the vehicles) for the vehicle. You agree to return the vehicle in the same condition in which You received it. You must always lock the vehicle when You are not using it, and use any security device which is fitted or supplied with the vehicle. You must always use your best endeavors to protect the vehicle against adverse weather conditions which could cause damage to the vehicle. You must make sure that You use the correct fuel and fluids in the vehicle.
c) You must not sell, rent or dispose of the vehicle, any of its parts or accessories. You must not give or try to give anyone the legal rights to the vehicle or transfer legal ownership.
d) You must not let anyone work on the vehicle without Our written permission. If We do give permission We will only give You a refund if You have an official tax receipt for the work We have given You permission for.
e) You must let Us know as soon as You become aware of any defect with the Suzuki Jimny SUV, or if the vehicle is stolen or involved in an accident or broken down. Failure to notify may result in You breaking this agreement and liable to paying costs We incur.
f) If We have agreed to drop off the Suzuki Jimny SUV at an address You have given us, You will be responsible for the vehicle from the time We drop it off at this address.
h) Unless We have agreed to collect the Suzuki Jimny SUV from You, You must return the vehicle to the location We agreed. When You return the vehicle, Our representative must check its condition. If We have agreed to allow You to return the vehicle outside of Our opening hours, You will stay responsible for the vehicle and its condition until Our staff have checked it at the earliest opportunity the following day. We may need to clean the vehicle before Our representative can check its condition.
i) You must not carry any object or substance which, because of its condition or smell, may harm the Suzuki Jimny SUV or delay us renting or selling it.
j) You are responsible for removing Your personal belongings, including Your data, from the Suzuki Jimny SUV at the end of the tour, as We are not responsible for any items/data You leave in the vehicle. If You do leave items in the vehicle, We may agree to keep them for You to collect within a reasonable time. We may charge You reasonable costs for storing the items.
k) If You are involved in an accident, You must not admit that You are responsible, or move the vehicle before the police arrive. You should describe the situation as fully as possible when You are asked to do so by the police. You should get the names and addresses of everyone involved, including witnesses. You should also:
• make sure the vehicle is secure;
• tell the police straight away if anyone is injured or if there is a disagreement over who is responsible; and
• contact us straight away.
l) If the vehicle has been stolen, You must tell us as soon as possible and confirm this in writing as soon as reasonably possible. You or any authorised drivers will also need to:
• get the names and addresses of any witnesses and give them to Us;
• send Us any notices or other documents relating to any legal proceedings arising out of the theft or loss;
• help Us and Our insurers in any legal proceedings, including allowing us to take legal action in Your name and defending any legal action taken against You; and
• give Us back all keys and report the theft or loss to the police as soon as reasonably possible.
m) You are responsible for all charges, including legal and administrative costs for any road-traffic offence or parking (local authority or private), congestion or toll charges, or any other offence or charges involving the rental vehicle, including costs from the vehicle being clamped, seized or towed away. You are responsible for paying the appropriate authority or company for any charges and costs if and when they ask You or Us for these payments. You will also be responsible for paying Our reasonable administration charges for dealing with these matters. However, where it is not reasonably practicable to transfer liability for any such fine or charge, We may use Our discretion to settle the fine or charge with the appropriate authority and re-charge You such amount together with an administration charge to reflect Our reasonable administration costs. Should You wish to appeal, contest or dispute any such fine or charge We shall pass all relevant information to You and You must liaise directly with the appropriate authority or company to obtain any refund, where this is possible.
n) You are responsible for returning the Suzuki Jimny SUV at the time and date specified in advance. If You fail to do so, You will be in breach of a condition of this agreement. We can charge You for every day or part of the day You have the vehicle after You have returned it to us. We will charge You a daily or hourly rate to cover any losses incurred until We get Our vehicle back.
o) You are responsible for any damage caused to the underside of the Suzuki Jimny SUV, or to the tyres, or to shock absorbers. If You damage a tyre beyond repair and purchase a spare, the replacement tyre has to be exactly the same dimensions, make and type as the original. If You destroy a tyre beyond repair please inform Us immediately before attempting to purchase a spare.
p) You are responsible for acquiring a local SIM or agreeing roaming data with your domestic mobile phone provider in advance of travel. It is not realistic that You embark on a self-drive tour of the Balkans without good connectivity on your smartphone as roads can often be temporarily impassable due to landslides, or dangerous weather conditions, or other reasons. Rural Balkan roads are also rarely if ever signposted and can be extremely confusing due to unmapped cut-throughs. Please ensure your phone is unlocked and able to take a non-contract SIM, particularly if You are traveling from the USA. Neither DRIVE THE BALKANS LTD nor DTB TRAVEL SHPK will be held responsible for any losses incurred due to Your failure to have good phone/internet connectivity as You travel.
q) You must be competent to change a wheel unassisted in the event of a puncture in a remote area.
r) If You are driving on unpaved roads, there is always the chance that the Suzuki Jimny SUV might get stuck. You are responsible for extracting the vehicle. If the vehicle is damaged by getting stuck and/or Your attempts to extract it, You are responsible for its recovery and delivery to a secure place designated by Us in a town or city reachable by a standard recovery vehicle, and for any repairs for damage caused by Your attempts to extract the vehicle.
s) You must use the designated recovery points at the front and rear of the Suzuki Jimny SUV to recover the vehicle if it is stuck. You will be responsible for any damage to the vehicle if You fail to use these recovery points.
t) You are responsible for assessing weather conditions before starting to drive on any unpaved road. If You choose to drive an unpaved road in extreme weather, You are responsible for any damage to the Suzuki Jimny SUV due to Your getting stuck, or caught in a landslide, or any other reason caused by Your decision to drive an unpaved road in extreme weather conditions. You must inform Us of extreme local weather conditions in advance of driving any unpaved road.
u) You must use the snow chains provided with the Suzuki Jimny SUV in the event of snow. If You have an accident while driving on snow and are not using snow chains, Your insurance will not be valid and We will retain Your deposit in full and you will be responsible for any damages incurred.
v) You must plan adequate contingency if You are planning to catch a flight or ferry or any other form of onward travel at the end of the vehicle hire period. Under no circumstances will DRIVE THE BALKANS LTD or DTB TRAVEL SHPK be held responsible for Your missing a flight or ferry of for any disruption to Your onward travel due to one of Our cars suffering mechanical problems.
w) You must fill the Suzuki Jimny SUV with fuel at reputable filling stations in cities or large towns. You must not fill the car in villages or rural areas, where the fuel is likely uncontrolled. Refueling the vehicle in rural areas will likely lead to engine damage. If You fill the vehicle at a filling station in a village or rural area, You no longer have Our permission to use the vehicle, and We will take it back at the earliest opportunity.
x) You must not let the fuel tank go below 3 bars on the fuel-level indicator. Fuel in Albania is notoriously poor quality, and running the tank close to empty will lead to fuel sludge and debris damaging the fuel pump and possibly other components.
y) You must not attempt to drive dangerous and/or high-altitude roads, paved or unpaved, in adverse weather conditions after dark. For example, if You are driving from Shkodër to Theth or vice-versa in a period when snow and sub-zero temperatures are predicted, You must plan Your journey to be completed by nightfall. Driving dangerous and/or high-altitude roads in adverse weather conditions at night puts both You and Our Suzuki Jimny SUV at risk, and if You attempt such a drive You will no longer have Our permission to drive the vehicle, and We will retrieve it at the earliest opportunity.
14 Our responsibilities -
a) Our intention is to provide a new Suzuki Jimny SUV. However, we have a limited number of these vehicles and due to unforeseen circumstances such as theft or accident damage it may be impossible to provide a Suzuki Jimny SUV. If this is the case, we will provide a full refund.
b) We will identify and tell You about any existing damage to the Suzuki Jimny SUV before We hand it over to You.
c) The Suzuki Jimny SUV You have hired is fitted with a tracking device, which may be used to ensure safe and compliant operation of the vehicle in line with the terms of this agreement. If the vehicle is not returned on the agreed date, time and place We may use the data recorded on the device to recover Our vehicle.
d) The Suzuki Jimny SUV is roadworthy and suitable for You to use at the start of the rental period.
e) We are responsible for any loss You suffer as a result of Us breaking this agreement, if We could have predicted Your loss at the time this agreement started and it is a result of us breaking this agreement. We are not responsible for any indirect losses which occur as a side effect of the main loss and which We or You could not have predicted, such as loss of profits or loss of opportunity (for example not being able to go to a business meeting or catching a flight or ferry or any onward travel).
15 If You do not keep to the conditions of Our agreement, We can ask You to bring back the Suzuki Jimny SUV before the date and time We have agreed with You. To do this We will give You written notice in person or send it to your email address, or via text, Viber or WhatsApp message to your mobile phone. Once We have given You the notice, You will no longer have Our permission to use the vehicle. We may then take back Our vehicle. If We believe You have given us false information which was material to the decision to provide the vehicle to You, We may take back the vehicle without giving You any notice. You will be required to arrange collection of the vehicle in these instances.
EXTREME CIRCUMSTANCES & FORCE MAJEURE
16.1 DRIVE THE BALKANS LTD will not pay compensation or accept liability where any change or cancellation is beyond Our reasonable control, including but not limited to: strikes and industrial action; acts of God; war; riot and civil unrest; malicious damage; compliance with any law or government order, rule regulation or direction; fire; flood; storm or other adverse weather conditions; adverse weather conditions affecting any airport or port or other transport link; flight delays; acts of terrorism; police or security alerts or precautionary measures.
16.2 Under no circumstances will DRIVE THE BALKANS LTD be held responsible for any delay, deviation or cancellation due to weather conditions; nor can any hire agreement be cancelled or amended by You at any time on the basis of weather conditions.
DRIVE THE BALKANS LTD, 5 January 2026