Destinations / Bulgaria
Driving in Bulgaria as a visitor
Usually yes. Bulgaria expects visiting drivers to carry an International Driving Permit alongside their national licence, and rental desks ask for one. It matters most when your licence is not printed in the Latin alphabet.
Standard delivery included. Need it sooner? Express lands by for $25 more.
Reviewed July 2026 · A translation of your own licence, carried with it. Not a government permit.
What Bulgaria expects
| Permit needed | Expected |
|---|---|
| Convention format | 1949 Geneva & 1968 Vienna |
| Valid for | Up to 3 years |
| Drives on the | Right |
| Emergency number | 112 |
| Top speed limit | 140 km/h motorways |
What the rental desk will ask you for
| Your own licence | The original card. A photo of it, or a photocopy, gets turned away. |
|---|---|
| Licence translation | Expected. Hand it over with the licence, never instead of it. |
| Booklet format they know | 1949 Geneva & 1968 Vienna |
| Minimum age | 18. Under 25 usually pays a young-driver surcharge. |
| Deposit | A credit card in the driver's name. The hold is taken in BGN. |
Rules that catch visitors out
| Tolls | Electronic vignette required on national roads. |
|---|---|
| Lights | Headlights on day and night. |
| Alcohol | 0.05% alcohol limit. |
| In the car | Reflective vest and triangle mandatory. |
On the road in Bulgaria
At the pump
Petrol (A95/A98) and diesel are sold at chains like OMV, Shell, Lukoil and Petrol; stations are mostly self-service with widely accepted cards, and prices are among the lowest in the EU.
After a crash
Call 112. For anything beyond trivial damage Bulgarian police (KAT) should attend and issue a report (protokol), which insurers and rental firms require; do not leave the scene, and use the warning triangle and hazard lights.
Sources: bgtoll.bg · sofiatraffic.bg · speedycars.eu · guidebg.com
Common questions
Do you need an International Driving Permit in Bulgaria?
Usually yes. Bulgaria expects visiting drivers to carry an International Driving Permit alongside their national licence, and rental desks ask for one. It matters most when your licence is not printed in the Latin alphabet.
Which IDP format does Bulgaria accept?
Bulgaria recognises the 1949 Geneva & 1968 Vienna format. Your permit is prepared in that format.
Will a rental desk in Bulgaria ask for one?
An e-vignette is needed for highways; desks request an IDP for non-EU licences.
How fast can you get one?
Express orders are emailed within 5 minutes. The exact delivery moment is quoted before you pay and the order is refundable for 30 days.