Traffic Rules Bulgaria

You want to travel through Bulgaria by car and think that your knowledge of traffic regulations in Germany will somehow be sufficient? However, there are some differences in behaviour and traffic regulations between Bulgaria and Germany. So that your trip isn't accompanied by fines or other annoyances, we have summarised the most important information for you here.

The most important facts

• A blood alcohol limit of 0.5‰ applies. For novice drivers who have held their licence for less than 2 years, a 0.0‰ limit applies.

• There is a low-emission zone in Sofia, resulting in access restrictions.

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

• Snow chains may be mandatory on some sections of road.

You absolutely must keep this in mind

A German driving licence is sufficient. Drivers who are not the registered keeper of the vehicle must carry an authorisation from the keeper. The vehicle registration certificate Part I must also be carried.

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

Carrying a high-visibility vest is compulsory 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 gross vehicle weight, as well as motorhomes in category M1 regardless of weight. For motorhomes, the entry in the vehicle registration document is decisive. Motorcycles are exempt.

Commercial vehicles and buses over 3.5 t pay a distance-based toll. The amount of toll payable is determined by 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, in which the travel route must be specified. Alternatively, there is the option of entering into a contract with a national toll collection service provider and paying the toll using an electronic transmitter device (on-board unit) or a GPS tracker.

If the permissible total weight of a vehicle combination exceeds 3.5 t gross vehicle weight, an additional vignette for the trailer must be purchased.

An additional special toll must be paid for crossing the Danube towards Romania.

Danube crossings subject to special toll

• Vidin (BG) - Calafat (RO) bridge

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

The Romanian bridge toll in the direction of travel to Bulgaria will cease to apply from 1 October 2026. For ferries, you pay the usual ferry fare. This is not a toll.

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

Traffic regulations

Basically, there are many rules that also apply in Germany. Nevertheless, there are also some differences and new rules. To give you 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. For novice drivers who have held their licence for less than 2 years, a 0.0‰ limit applies.

Lights requirement

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

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

Vehicles registered in Bulgaria must be fitted with winter tyres. Winter tyres are not mandatory for foreign vehicles.

Snow chains may be fitted to all vehicles and are mandatory on some sections of road 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

• In built-up areas: 50 km/h

• Outside built-up areas: 90 km/h

• Motorways: 130 km/h

Motorcycle

• In built-up areas: 50 km/h

• Outside built-up areas: 80 km/h

• Motorways: 100 km/h

Light motorhome

• In built-up areas: 50 km/h

• Outside built-up areas: 90 km/h

• Motorways: 130 km/h

Trailer combination/heavy motorhome

• In built-up areas: 50 km/h

• Outside built-up areas: 70 km/h

• Motorways: 100 km/h

140 km/h is only permitted on the motorway on newly built sections of road. Pay attention to the signage on site.

Fines

For alcohol offences and speeding offences, the Bulgarian police can confiscate your driving licence. It will then be sent by the Bulgarian authority to Flensburg.

• Illegal parking: from 10 euros

• Speeding (20 km/h): from 25 euros

• Using a mobile phone while driving: 25 euros

• Failure to wear a seatbelt: 25 euros

• Not wearing a high-visibility vest: 25 euros

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

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

• Running a red light: from 250 euros

• Exceeding the blood alcohol limit: from 255 euros

• Speeding (50 km/h): from 300 euros

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

Extract 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 and is a low-emission zone. From December 2025, the "Large Ring" area, which covers larger parts of the city centre, is also set to become a low-emission zone.

Vehicles that are not permitted to enter:

• Cars and motorhomes (vehicle class M1) with emission standards petrol Euro 0-2 and diesel Euro 0-3

• Commercial vehicles (vehicle class N1), same emission standards as cars

• Tightening from December 2024 to petrol Euro 0-3 and diesel Euro 0-5

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 the whole of Europe. Petrol stations are also easily accessible everywhere, and you won't have far to drive to the nearest one.

Charging stations, on the other hand, are not yet as widespread and are mainly found in the capital city of Sofia. However, the number of charging stations is being expanded significantly, and by 2025 there are expected to be a total of over 10,000 charging stations.

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 allowed to drive a car in Bulgaria from the age of 18, a rental car can only be hired from the age of 20. In addition, you must have held your driving licence for at least one year. 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 will stand in the way of a stress-free journey 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 have suitable 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 Hungary in our guide. If you have any questions, we are available at any time by email.