Toll in 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 this mean? Toll amounts are charged for the use of certain routes, tunnels, and bridges. The money collected through tolls is invested in the road network and thus ensures a smooth journey on your way to your holiday. The primary areas of investment are infrastructure, traffic management and road safety, as well as environmental protection measures.

• Infrastructure: construction and maintenance of roads and motorways

• 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?

The toll can be collected in various forms. These include the vignette obligation, the distance-based toll, and special toll routes.

Vignette obligation: motorcycles, cars (+ trailers) & motorhomes

Through the vignette obligation, toll fees are charged that are not measured by kilometres, but correspond to a flat rate and vary depending on the duration of travel. Accordingly, you purchase a vignette before your trip and choose between the various validity periods. Depending on the vehicle class, the price of a vignette may differ. Through the vignette flat rate, you receive your vignette for Bulgaria and can use it to travel on all toll roads (except special toll routes).

The vignette obligation generally applies to vehicles up to 3.5 t gross vehicle weight (GVW), though 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 combination 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 need to pay a distance-based toll.

Distance-based toll: trucks over 3.5 t GVW

Unlike the vignette obligation, the distance-based toll is not a flat rate, but is based on the kilometres driven, the vehicle class (number of axles), and the emission class (pollutant load). 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 more than 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 intend to drive, or through an electronic transmitting device (on-board unit). The on-board unit must be fitted to your vehicle and enables contactless payment of toll fees. The amount due is automatically debited from your stored payment method. Another option for collecting the distance-based toll is the GPS tracker.

Special toll: applies to all vehicles

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 for using 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 Danube crossings. The Danube flows through Romania and Bulgaria, separating the two countries from one another at the same time. If you want to use one of the many bridges or the ferry to cross, additional fees apply.

Vehicle owners who require a vignette pay an additional amount on top of their vignette and must purchase a ticket for using the special toll route, which can be purchased digitally with us. Vehicles subject to the 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 access roads subject to either the vignette obligation or the distance-based toll. 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 our simple ordering process. Protect yourself for your journey and register your vehicle for a digital vignette to avoid possible fines. We want your journey to be as pleasant as possible thanks to our digital vignette. Feel free to also use our free route planner to plan your trip optimally and to see the suitable toll products displayed. If you have any questions, we are available at any time via email.