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 fees are charged for the use of certain routes, tunnels, and bridges. The money generated through tolls is invested in the road network, enabling you to have 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 requirement, the distance-based toll, and special toll routes.

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

Through the vignette requirement, toll fees are charged that are not calculated based on kilometres, but correspond to a flat rate that varies 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 for a vignette can vary. With 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 requirement generally applies to vehicles up to 3.5 t gross vehicle weight (GVW: permissible total weight), but there are also exceptions. In Bulgaria, motorcycles are exempt from the vignette requirement, meaning you do not need to purchase a vignette for your motorcycle. For your car with a permissible total weight of 3.5 t, you must purchase a vignette.

If you are driving a car with a trailer, you likewise only need one vignette, as long as both together (car + trailer) do not weigh more than 3.5 t GVW. If your car together with the trailer exceeds a permissible total weight of 3.5 t, then you need a second vignette for your trailer. Accordingly, your car + trailer still falls under the vignette requirement, 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.

Distance-based toll: trucks over 3.5 t GVW

Unlike the vignette requirement, 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 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 via a route map (also called a route pass or route plan), in which you provide details about the route you intend to travel, or via an electronic transmission device (on-board unit). The on-board unit must be attached to your vehicle and enables contactless payment of toll fees. The amount payable is automatically deducted from your stored payment method. Another way of collecting the distance-based toll is via a GPS tracker.

Special toll: applies to all vehicles

The special toll is charged for certain routes that are subject neither to a vignette requirement nor to 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 no longer apply from 1 October 2026. For ferries, you pay the usual ferry fare. This is not a toll.

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 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 when driving on the route via the transponder.

It should also be noted that most special toll routes can be reached via access roads subject to either the vignette requirement 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 the simple ordering process. Secure your trip 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 have suitable toll products displayed. If you have any questions, we are available at any time via email.