Traffic Rules Bulgaria

The Most Important Facts

• A blood alcohol limit of 0.5‰ applies, even for novice drivers and professional drivers.

• There is a low emission zone in Sofia, which results in access restrictions.

• A rental car may only be rented from the age of 20, and only if you have held your driving licence for at least one year.

• Snow chains may be mandatory on some road sections.

Things you absolutely need to remember

A German driving licence is sufficient. Drivers who are not the registered keeper of the vehicle must carry a power of attorney from the keeper. The vehicle registration certificate part I must also be carried.

The German number plate is sufficient as proof of valid motor vehicle liability insurance, but we recommend carrying the IVK (International Insurance Card). This shows that your car has motor vehicle liability insurance, and you can request the card free of charge from your car insurance provider. This also includes checking with your car insurer before starting your trip to make sure you have sufficient insurance coverage.

Carrying a high-visibility vest is mandatory for the driver, but in the event of an accident or breakdown, all occupants must wear a high-visibility vest when leaving the vehicle. It is therefore advisable to carry as many high-visibility vests as there are people in the car.

A warning triangle, a fire extinguisher and a first-aid kit must also be carried.

Toll and Vignette

A vignette requirement applies to all vehicles up to 3.5 t GVW as well as category M1 motorhomes regardless of weight. The entry in the vehicle registration document is decisive for motorhomes. Motorcycles are exempt.

Commercial vehicles and buses over 3.5 t pay a distance-based toll. The amount of toll payable is based on the Euro emission class, the number of axles, and the type of road. Payment is made in advance using a route card, the route pass or the route plan, for which the route travelled must be specified. Alternatively, there is the option of concluding a contract with a national toll collection service provider and paying the toll using an electronic transmission device (On-Board-Unit) or a GPS tracker.

If the permissible total weight of a vehicle combination (car plus trailer) exceeds 3.5 t GVW, an additional vignette for the trailer must be purchased.

A bridge toll is payable in both directions for the Vidin–Calafat Danube Bridge (cars €6, motorcycles free). At the Ruse–Giurgiu bridge, you pay a special toll when travelling in the direction of Romania.

Danube crossings subject to special tolls

• Vidin (BG) - Calafat (RO) bridge

• Ruse (BG) - Giurgiu (RO) bridge (direction of Romania)

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.

Many cameras and patrol vehicles check the validity of your vignette. You can purchase the digital vignette quickly and easily, with immediate validity, here from us.

Traffic Regulations

Basically, many rules also apply that are in force in Germany. Nevertheless, there are also some differences and new rules. So that you can get an overview of the general traffic regulations in advance, here is a summary of the most important basic rules.

Blood Alcohol Limit

A blood alcohol limit of 0.5‰ applies, even for novice drivers and professional drivers.

Headlight Requirement

In Bulgaria, there is a requirement to drive with lights on at all times. This applies all year round. You must therefore always drive with dipped headlights or, alternatively, daytime running lights.

Traffic Lights

Traffic lights in Bulgaria often have no amber phase between red and green. The change is then announced by a countdown timer.

Tyres

There is no general winter tyre requirement in Bulgaria. However, between 15 November and 1 March, all tyres must have a minimum tread depth of 4 mm, which also applies to foreign vehicles. Studded tyres are prohibited.

Snow chains may be fitted to all vehicles and are mandatory on some road sections if weather conditions require it. The permitted maximum speed with snow chains fitted is 50 km/h.

Accident and Breakdown

Accidents should always be reported to the police, regardless of the extent of the accident.

Speed Limits

Car

• Built-up areas: 50 km/h

• Outside built-up areas: 90 km/h

• Expressways: 120 km/h

• Motorways: 140 km/h

Motorcycle

• Built-up areas: 50 km/h

• Outside built-up areas: 80 km/h

• Expressways: 90 km/h

• Motorways: 100 km/h

Motorhome up to 3.5 t

• Built-up areas: 50 km/h

• Outside built-up areas: 90 km/h

• Expressways: 120 km/h

• Motorways: 140 km/h

Car with trailer

• Built-up areas: 50 km/h

• Outside built-up areas: 70 km/h

• Expressways: 90 km/h

• Motorways: 100 km/h

Motorhome over 3.5 t

• Built-up areas: 50 km/h

• Outside built-up areas: 80 km/h

• Expressways: 90 km/h

• Motorways: 100 km/h

On motorways, a speed of 140 km/h generally applies to cars, and 120 km/h on expressways, unless signs indicate otherwise. On some sections, the average speed is now measured. Pay attention to the local signage.

Fines

In the case of alcohol offences and speeding offences, the Bulgarian police may confiscate the driving licence. This is then sent by the Bulgarian authority to Flensburg.

• Illegal parking: from €10

• Speeding (20 km/h): from €25

• Using a mobile phone while driving: €25

• Violation of the seatbelt requirement: €25

• Not wearing a high-visibility vest: €25

• No valid vignette (car): €153.39, €255.65 if the licence plate is illegible

• Compensation fee instead of a fine (vehicles up to 3.5 t): €46.50

• Running a red light: from €250

• Exceeding the blood alcohol limit: from €255

• Speeding (50 km/h): from €300

• Toll violation (vehicles over 3.5 t): €920.33 for the driver, up to €1,278.23 for the keeper, €1,533.88 if the licence plate is illegible

Excerpt from the fine catalogue: https://www.bussgeldkatalog.org/bulgarien/

Access Restrictions: Low Emission Zones

The so-called "Small Ring" is a small area in Sofia that is a low emission zone. Since December 2025, the area known as the "Large Ring", which covers larger parts of the city centre, has also been a low emission zone.

Vehicles that are not permitted to enter:

• Small Ring: cars and motorhomes (vehicle class M1) with petrol Euro 0-3 and diesel Euro 0-5 emission standards

• Large Ring: cars and motorhomes (vehicle class M1) with petrol Euro 0-2 and diesel Euro 0-3 emission standards

• Commercial vehicles (vehicle class N1): same emission standards as cars in the respective zone

Vehicles permitted to enter do not need to register. The low emission zone applies around the clock from 1 December each year until the end of February of the following year.

Refuelling and Charging

Bulgaria is one of the countries with the cheapest diesel and petrol prices in all of Europe. Petrol stations are also easy to reach everywhere, and you won't have to drive far to the next one.

Charging stations, on the other hand, are not yet as widespread as in Western Europe. You'll find them mainly in large cities and along the A1 and A2 motorways; the network is being continuously expanded. More on this in our guide to Refuelling and Charging in Bulgaria.

There is only one hydrogen filling station, so we do not recommend travelling to Bulgaria with a hydrogen-powered car.

Carrying fuel in reserve canisters is prohibited.

Rental Cars

Although you are already allowed to drive a car in Bulgaria at the age of 18, a rental car may only be rented from the age of 20. In addition, you must have held your driving licence for at least one year. Make sure to check whether a vignette has already been purchased for the rental car or not.

The Europamaut Team Wishes You a Pleasant Trip!

If you have a valid vignette and follow the rules described in this article, nothing stands in the way of a stress-free drive through Bulgaria. You can purchase your digital vignette for Bulgaria directly from us. Feel free to also use our route planner to plan your trip optimally and see the appropriate toll products displayed.

We wish you a pleasant trip to Bulgaria and lots of enjoyment exploring this diverse country. You can find more information on the toll in Bulgaria in our guide. If you have any questions, we are available to help at any time via email.