Note that in Albania, payment is usually expected for the ride. (Because the country was isolated for so much of the 20th century, it didn’t get the same phenomenon of young people traveling the world for free as in Western Europe or Yugoslavia.). Some foreign travelers do try to get around paying by telling the driver “No money”, but I recommend being sensitive to the local culture. It will still be very, very cheap to move around.

Yeah I didn’t even bother to try when I was in Italy cause it’s illegal on the highways

Hitchhiking in Italy is illegal directly on motorways. You can still hitchhike from motorway entrances. The same law exists everywhere in Europe.