Rate coefficients for the gas-phase reaction of NO₃ with methanol, ethanol and propan-2-ol have been determined. Absolute rates were measured at temperatures between 258 and 367 K using the fast flow–discharge technique. The measured rate coefficients (in units of 10^–15 cm³ molecule^–1 s^–1) at 295 K are: 0.132 ± 0.024, 1.37 ± 0.10 and 3.13 ± 0.64 for methanol, ethanol and propan-2-ol, respectively. The temperature dependence of the rate coefficients can be expressed as Arrhenius equations: k_methanol=(1.06 ± 0.51)× 10^–12 exp[–(2093 ± 803)/T], k_ethanol=(6.99 ± 1.21)× 10^–13 exp[–(1815 ± 419)/T] and k_propan-2-ol=(1.54 ± 0.75)× 10^–12 exp[–(1743 ± 1009)/T](in units cm³ molecule^–1 s^–1). An attempted product study, using N₂O₅, as the NO₃ source, failed since the alcohols react with N₂O₅, producing alkyl nitrates. The estimated upper limit for rate coefficients for reaction of N₂O₅ with methanol, ethanol and propan-2-ol at 296 K in the gas phase were (2.0 ± 1.0)× 10^–19, (3.9 ± 2.0)× 10^–19, and (4.8 ± 2.5)× 10^–19 cm³ molecule^–1 s^–1, respectively. The error limits correspond to the 95%-confidence interval.