Toll in Romania

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? Tolls are charged for using certain routes, tunnels, and bridges. The money collected through tolls is invested in the road network and thus enables you to enjoy a smooth journey. 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 exhaust emissions

How is the toll collected?

Tolls can be collected in different ways. These include the vignette requirement, the distance-based toll, and special toll routes.

Vignette requirement: all vehicles except motorcycles

Under the vignette requirement, toll fees are charged not by the number of kilometres driven, but as a flat rate that varies depending on the length of your trip. Accordingly, you purchase a digital vignette before your journey and choose from different validity periods. Depending on the vehicle class, the price of a vignette may vary.

By purchasing the vignette, you make a one-time purchase that allows you to drive on all toll roads (excluding special toll routes). In Romania, the vignette requirement applies to all vehicles. Only motorcyclists are exempt from the vignette requirement and do not have to purchase a vignette or pay a distance-based toll. You can find more detailed information on the different vehicle classes and whether a vignette requirement applies in our guide.

Distance-based toll: does not exist in Romania!

Even though distance-based tolls do not exist in Romania, we would like to briefly explain this method of toll collection. Unlike the vignette requirement, a distance-based toll is not a flat rate, but varies depending on the road category, route length (number of kilometres), vehicle category (weight class and number of axles), CO2 emission class, and time of day (sometimes higher prices between 10 p.m. and 5 a.m.). As a result, the toll amount can vary greatly. Distance-based tolls are collected using a transponder (on-board unit). This device may differ depending on the country.

Distance-based tolls generally apply to vehicles over 3.5 t maximum permitted gross weight. Please note, therefore, that on your trip to Romania you may well travel through countries where a distance-based toll exists. If you only need a vignette in Romania for your vehicle weighing over 3.5 t maximum permitted gross weight, you will need to purchase an on-board unit to pay the distance-based toll when travelling through Hungary with the same vehicle. In other words, when travelling through Hungary, the vignette requirement does not apply to you—rather, you are required to pay the distance-based toll.

Special toll: applies to all vehicles

Special toll routes are often tunnels or mountain pass roads. If you pass a special toll route, you must pay an additional fee. Like the vignette, this fee is a flat rate that varies depending on the vehicle class.

The special toll is charged for certain routes that are neither subject to a vignette requirement nor to a distance-based toll. This means the following for your trip: even if you have already purchased a vignette, there are sections of road for which an additional fee applies. The special toll therefore applies to everyone who wishes to use that specific route. In Romania, Danube crossings are among the special toll routes.

Free route planner

With our free route planner, you can quickly and easily find out which toll products you need for your trip through Romania.

The DMC team wishes you a pleasant journey!

We wish you an enjoyable tour of exploration in Romania and are happy to assist you with any further questions about toll regulations in Romania. Feel free to contact us via email.