Navigating Bulgaria's roads comes with its own set of regulations. Dive into this guide for comprehensive advice to guarantee a smooth and memorable Bulgarian excursion. Discover insights on refueling, handling toll fees, understanding vignettes, and other essential travel prerequisites when journeying through Bulgaria.
Toll Roads and Vignettes in Bulgaria
For most Bulgarian motorways, a vignette is obligatory. Delve deeper into Bulgaria's vignette requirements and their nuances here. While a large number of routes require a standard vignette, certain specific roads, especially tunnels and bridges, might necessitate an additional toll fee.
Before embarking on your Bulgarian journey, ensure you secure the appropriate vignette, readily available online and valid for regular motorways. For specific stretches, especially certain tunnels and bridges, a unique toll fee might apply. Cameras on these routes scan license plates, facilitating a smooth journey and ensuring you enjoy every moment of your Bulgarian trip. Details on these special routes can be obtained from local travel agencies or online resources.
Bulgarian Border Crossing Locations
Bulgaria shares border crossing points with its neighboring countries. Some popular border crossings include:
- Turkey: Kapitan Andreevo (E80)
- Greece: Kulata (E79) and Makaza (E85)
- North Macedonia: Gyueshevo (E871) and Delchevo (E79)
- Serbia: Kalotina (E80) and Vrashka Chuka (E70)
- Romania: Ruse (E85) and Vidin (E79) - over the Danube bridges.
Rules and required documents for traveling in Bulgaria
When crossing borders with a car, it is essential to have the following documents:
- A valid passport or ID card (for EU citizens)
- An international driver's license or EU driving license
- The car agreement, including permission to cross borders
- A valid insurance certificate (Green Card)
- Vehicle registration documents
Additionally, you may need to purchase a vignette (road tax sticker) for the countries you plan to visit. Vignettes are required in Austria, Bulgaria, Slovenia, Slovakia and Czech Republic.
Bulgarian Driving Fines & Limits
To enjoy Bulgaria's scenic roads, it's crucial to understand and abide by local driving laws. Familiarize yourself with the speed limits and associated fines to ensure a hassle-free journey.
Traffic rules in Bulgaria
When driving in Bulgaria, you must adhere to the following traffic rules:
- Drive on the right side of the road.
- Seat belts must be worn by all occupants.
- Using mobile phones while driving is prohibited, except for hands-free devices.
- Children under 12 years old or shorter than 150 cm must use appropriate child seats or booster cushions.
- Headlights must be used during nighttime and in poor visibility conditions, such as fog or heavy rain.
- Alcohol consumption rules: The legal blood alcohol limit is 0.05% for all drivers.
- Be aware of unique traffic signs, such as the “No Overtaking“ sign, which features a red car on a white background with a black diagonal line.
- Exercise caution, as Bulgarian drivers may not always follow traffic rules and road conditions can vary.
Speed limits in Bulgaria
Speed limits in Bulgaria vary depending on the type of road:
- Urban areas: 50 km/h (31 mph)
- Non-urban roads: 90 km/h (56 mph)
- Highways: 140 km/h (87 mph)
Fines in Bulgaria
Fines for traffic violations in Bulgaria (in Bulgarian lev and EUR equivalent) include:
- Speeding: 20 to 1,000 BGN (€10 to €500), depending on the excess speed
- Not wearing a seat belt: 50 BGN (€25)
- Using a mobile phone while driving: 50 BGN (€25)
- Parking violations: 20 to 200 BGN (€10 to €100), depending on the severity of the offense
- Running a red light: 150 BGN (€75)
- Drunk driving: 200 to 2,000 BGN (€100 to €1,000), depending on the blood alcohol level
- Children without child seats: 50 BGN (€25)
Fines can be paid at the nearest police station, post office, or bank within 14 days from the date of issuance.
Road police in Bulgaria
There are numerous cameras on Bulgarian roads, and the road police, known as “KAT“ (Kontrolno-Arestuvalen Trud), are responsible for maintaining traffic safety and enforcing traffic rules. If stopped by road police, remain calm, provide the requested documents, and follow their instructions. Do not attempt to offer bribes, as this can lead to more severe penalties. The emergency phone number to call for road accidents is 112.