Driving in Bulgaria

However, it’s important to make yourself aware of how Bulgarian driving laws differ to the UK before you set off.

To help make your trip as safe and cost-effective as possible, we’ve put together a guide of everything you need to know before you go, from required documents to rules of the road.

Driving a rented vehicle? Jump to the advice for driving a hire car in Bulgaria section.  

RAC European Breakdown Cover (Basic, Comprehensive and Single Trip) provides a wide range of benefits should you breakdown in Bulgaria to ensure you stay safe. 

To supplement this, RAC also offers travel insurance. Cover will include medical expenses, baggage, personal money and belongings, among many other benefits.

Need short-term insurance for your vehicle? Our temporary car cover is perfect if you're looking for flexible insurance for between 1 hour and 30 days.

• A valid, full UK driving licence (you must also be 18 or over)
• Your motor insurance certificate
• The V5 registration document for your own car or the hire car paperwork for a rental

Do I need a GB or UK sticker for driving in Bulgaria?

Since 28th September 2021, the distinguishing mark (or national identifier) displayed on vehicles registered in the United Kingdom that are driven abroad has changed from GB to UK.  

This means that vehicles registered in the UK must display the letters “UK” when driven in Bulgaria.   

The identifier can be incorporated in vehicle number plates (along with the Union Flag) or as a separate sticker. Note that vehicles featuring the letters GB together with the Council of Europe golden stars are no longer valid for driving abroad.

If your vehicle does not have the UK identifier within the number plate, you will require a UK sticker when driving in Bulgaria. GB stickers will no longer be valid from the end of September.

Do I need an insurance green card?

From 2nd August 2021, drivers will no longer require an insurance green card for taking their vehicles to Bulgaria.

ETIAS – 2024

ETIAS stands for the European Travel Information and Authorisation System. It is a visa program for visitors who don’t need a Schengen visa, who want to travel to the European Union and a few other European countries.

Visitors who purchase an ETIAS will be able to enter the 26 member states of the Schengen Zone as well as Bulgaria, Croatia, Cyprus, and Romania.

This will be launching in 2024. Learn more about ETIAS here.

Aside from the documents above, there are some legally-required items you must bring with you to drive in Bulgaria.

Unless your headlights can be adjusted, it's a legal requirement to carry headlamp converters (stickers for your headlights when driving on the right, so your lights don't dazzle motorists coming the other way).

A warning triangle is also compulsory to carry in vehicles in case of a breakdown.

It's also recommended to have:

• Spare bulbs for your car's external lights
• A fire extinguisher 
• A first-aid kit
• A reflective jacket (every passenger should have a reflective jacket which must be worn in case of a breakdown or emergency on a motorway, when stepping out of the vehicle)
• Snow chains (use of chains can be compulsory depending on road conditions so check local information. The speed limit when driving with snow chains is 50 km/h)

You can pick up all the car kit you need from RAC Shop.

Is there anything that I shouldn’t take with me?

Be aware that you cannot take the following with you into Bulgaria:

• meat or products containing meat
• milk or dairy products

You cannot take the following unless you pay to have them inspected before you leave and get a ‘phytosanitary certificate’:

• fresh fruit (apart from bananas, coconuts, dates, pineapples and durians)
• vegetables
• plants
• plant products

• In Bulgaria, motorists drive on the right and overtake on the left 
• All vehicles must also drive with their headlights on, even in the daytime
• In Bulgaria, the use of horns is generally prohibited in built up areas between 2200 and 0600 and between 1200 and 1600, except in cases of immediate danger
• When approaching a roundabout, vehicles already on the roundabout have priority. Any exceptions to this rule will be shown on road signs. Trams have right of way over vehicles on the road whether the tram is approaching from the right or left
• EU citizens driving with a trailer in tow must hold an additional insurance policy for the trailer unless it has a gross weight of under 750kg
• If you’re caught committing a minor driving offence while travelling through Bulgaria, you could be given an on-the-spot fine
• Children over the age of three and measuring less than 150cm may travel without child restraints but must sit in a rear seat. Children under the age of three must use restraints
• To drive legally on Bulgarian motorways, you must purchase a toll sticker - a ‘vignette’ – and display it in the passenger-side windscreen. Vignettes can be purchased at border crossings as well as post offices and petrol stations
• The drink-drive limit is 0.05%. Random tests are carried out and drivers who test positive will be required to have a follow-up blood test at a local hospital

Speed limits in Bulgaria vary depending on the road. In built-up areas, the limit for cars is 50 km/h while outside these areas the limit is 90 km/h. On motorways the limit is either 130 km/h or 140 km/h, depending on local signage.

• Parking restrictions in major towns and cities are often indicated by Blue Zones and Green Zones where parking is limited by means of tickets. Vehicles parked illegally can incur fines of up to €100. Wheel clamps and towing vehicles are also in operation
• Foreign disabled badges are recognised in Bulgaria and should be placed inside the windscreen of the vehicle
• Petrol and diesel are readily available in large towns and along major routes, with some stations open 24hrs. Do not use red pumps at petrol stations as these are reserved for service vehicles. 

In an emergency

112 - Here's a really important bit of knowledge; you can dial 112 from anywhere in Europe and an operator will connect you to an emergency service in the country you're visiting.

Operators can answer your call in their native language, English or French.

Breaking down in Bulgaria

RAC offers great-value, flexible RAC European breakdown cover tailored to meet your needs. We also offer comprehensive travel insurance, including cover for medical expenses, baggage, personal money and belongings.

Not all of the information in the guide above will be relevant to those looking to rent a hire car in Bulgaria.

Though it might be a good idea to read through everything anyway, here are the most important things to know for drivers of rental vehicles:

Rental information

• The minimum age to hire a car is 21, altthough this can vary depending upon your provider
• You need a full, valid UK driving licence and usually a second proof of ID (passport)
• Some car rental companies ask that you have held your licence for a minimum term of 1 year
• Some companies require you to use a credit card for deposit
• You may not be able to drive outside of Bulgaria unless planned in advance - check with your hire company first
• Make sure you get car hire excess insurance before your trip to protect yourself from unexpected costs. It's almost always cheaper to do this with a separate insurer and in advance

Hire car driving tips

• Bulgarians drive on the right and overtake on the left - the opposite to the UK
• Speed limits in Bulgaria vary depending on the road. In built-up areas, the limit for cars is 50 km/h while outside these areas the limit is 90 km/h. On motorways the limit is either 130 km/h or 140 km/h, depending on local signage.
• Dial 112 in an emergency
• It’s compulsory to wear seat belts in the front and rear seats
• The blood alcohol content limit for drivers of private vehicles is 0.05%. That's lower than the 0.08% in England Wales and Northern Ireland, but the same as Scotland.

UK Government travel advice

See up-to-date travel advice

Fuel

Fuel prices in Bulgaria can be found in our up-to-date European fuel prices page.