Toll Bulgaria
Why do you have to pay toll fees?
Most countries in Europe charge toll fees. There is a so-called toll obligation. But what does that mean? Toll amounts are charged for the use of certain roads, tunnels, and bridges. The money collected through tolls is invested in the road network, enabling you to have a smooth journey on your way to your vacation. The primary areas for investment are infrastructure, traffic management and road safety, as well as environmental protection measures.
Infrastructure: construction and maintenance of roads and highways
Road safety and traffic management: new technologies such as intelligent traffic systems or toll bridges
Environmental protection: expansion of noise barriers or measures to reduce emissions
How is the toll collected?
Tolls can be collected in various forms. These include the vignette obligation, the distance-based toll, and special toll routes.
Who needs a vignette in Bulgaria?
Through the vignette obligation, toll fees are charged that are not measured by kilometers, but correspond to a flat-rate amount that varies depending on the duration of travel. With the vignette flat rate, you receive your vignette for Bulgaria and can use it to drive on all toll roads (except special toll routes).
The vignette obligation generally applies to vehicles up to 3.5 t GVW (GVW: gross vehicle weight), but there are also exceptions. In Bulgaria, motorcycles are exempt from the vignette obligation, meaning you do not need to purchase a vignette for your motorcycle. For your car with a gross vehicle weight of 3.5 t, you must purchase a vignette.
If you are driving a car with a trailer, you also only need one vignette, as long as the two together (car + trailer) do not weigh more than 3.5 t GVW. If your car together with the trailer exceeds a gross vehicle weight of 3.5 t, then you need a second vignette for your trailer. Accordingly, your car + trailer still falls under the vignette obligation, even if the weight exceeds 3.5 t GVW. The same applies to a trip to Bulgaria with a caravan. Regardless of the total weight of the motorhome, you only need to purchase a vignette and do not have to pay a distance-based toll.
Is there a distance-based toll in Bulgaria?
Unlike the vignette obligation, the distance-based toll is not a flat-rate amount, but is based on the kilometers driven, the vehicle class (number of axles), and the emission class (pollutant emissions). Accordingly, the amount of the toll fee can vary greatly. In Bulgaria, the distance-based toll applies to commercial vehicles such as trucks over 3.5 t GVW. Motorhomes and cars with trailers are exempt from the distance-based toll, even if they weigh over 3.5 t GVW.
Payment of the distance-based toll is made either in advance through a route card (also called a route pass or route plan), in which you provide details of the route you wish to drive, or through an electronic transmitting device (on-board unit). The on-board unit must be installed in your vehicle and enables contactless payment of toll fees. The amount to be paid is automatically deducted from your stored payment method. Another option for collecting the distance-based toll is the GPS tracker.
Is there a special toll in Bulgaria?
The special toll is charged for certain routes that are subject to neither a vignette obligation nor a distance-based toll. Accordingly, you must pay an additional fee to use a special toll route, even if you have already purchased a vignette or are paying the distance-based toll.
Special toll routes are often tunnels or mountain pass roads. Special toll routes in Bulgaria include the Vidin-Calafat Danube Bridge as well as the Ruse-Giurgiu Bridge in the direction of Romania. The Danube flows through Romania and Bulgaria and at the same time separates the two countries from each other. Additional fees apply for the use of these bridges. The Romanian bridge toll in the direction of Bulgaria will be abolished from October 1, 2026. For ferries, you pay the usual ferry fare. This is not a toll.
Vehicle owners who need a vignette pay an additional amount on top of their vignette and must purchase a ticket for using the special toll route. Vehicles subject to a distance-based toll do not need to purchase a ticket, but must still pay the special toll fee. The difference is that the amount is automatically taken into account by the transponder when driving on the route.
It should also be noted that most special toll routes can be reached via vignette-obligated access roads or distance-based toll access roads. Therefore, it always makes sense to purchase a vignette or a transponder, regardless of the special toll route.
The Europamaut team wishes you a pleasant journey!
Order your digital vignette now conveniently from home with us and benefit from the simple ordering process. Protect yourself for your trip and register your vehicle for a digital vignette to avoid possible fines. We want to make your journey as pleasant as possible with our digital vignette. If you want to know whether you can avoid the toll fees in Bulgaria, take a look at our guide. We wish you a great trip. If you have any further questions, please feel free to contact us via email.
FAQ: Questions and Answers for Your Trip
Answers to the most frequently asked questions on this topic.
Why do I have to pay toll fees in Bulgaria?
In Bulgaria, toll fees are charged to finance, among other things, infrastructure, traffic management, road safety, and environmental protection measures. The revenue is used, for example, for the construction and maintenance of roads and highways.
What toll systems exist in Bulgaria?
In Bulgaria, there are basically three forms: the vignette requirement (flat fee depending on duration), the distance-based toll (dependent on kilometers), and special toll routes (additional fees for certain sections, e.g. Danube crossings).
"}Do I need a vignette in Bulgaria?
The vignette requirement generally applies to vehicles up to 3.5 t gross vehicle weight. In Bulgaria, motorcycles are exempt from the vignette requirement. For a car up to 3.5 t gross vehicle weight, you generally need a vignette.
Do I need a second vignette for a trailer?
For a car with a trailer, you generally only need one vignette, as long as the car + trailer combined do not weigh more than 3.5 t gross vehicle weight. If the combined permissible total weight is over 3.5 t, then you will need a second vignette for the trailer.
Does the distance-based toll in Bulgaria apply to motorhomes or cars with trailers over 3.5 t?
No. In Bulgaria, the distance-based toll applies mainly to commercial vehicles such as trucks over 3.5 t gross vehicle weight. Motorhomes and cars with trailers are exempt from the distance-based toll – even if they weigh over 3.5 t gross vehicle weight.
How is the distance-based toll calculated in Bulgaria?
The distance-based toll is not a flat fee. It depends on the kilometers driven, the vehicle class (number of axles), and the emission class (pollutant level). As a result, the amount of the toll fee can vary greatly.
How can I pay the route-based toll?
Payment is made, for example, in advance via a route pass (route pass/route plan) or via an electronic transmitter device (On-Board Unit). Additionally, a GPS tracker is mentioned as another option. With the On-Board Unit, the amount is usually deducted automatically via the stored payment method.
What is a special toll in Bulgaria?
Special toll applies to certain routes that are subject to an additional charge – regardless of whether you already have a vignette or pay the distance-based toll. Special toll routes are often tunnels or mountain pass roads.
What special toll routes are there in Bulgaria?
The special toll routes in Bulgaria include in particular the Vidin-Calafat Danube Bridge as well as the Ruse-Giurgiu Bridge in the direction of Romania, where additional fees apply.
Do I have to pay extra for special toll routes despite having a vignette?
Yes. An additional fee applies for a special toll route, even if you have already purchased a vignette. Vehicle owners who require a vignette generally need to purchase a ticket for the special toll route.
Do I need a ticket for special toll routes if my vehicle is subject to route-based tolls?
Vehicles subject to route-based tolls generally do not need to purchase a separate ticket for the special toll route, but they still have to pay the special toll fee. The amount is charged via the transponder when driving on the route.
