Destinations / Bulgaria
Driving in Bulgaria as a visitor
Often required, depending on where your licence was issued. Bulgaria drives on the right and uses Cyrillic signage, so non-EU visitors should carry an IDP to translate their licence for desks and police.
Reviewed July 2026 · A translation of your own licence, carried with it. Not a government permit.
What Bulgaria expects
| Driving document | Depends on licence issuer, script and rental policy |
|---|---|
| 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 | Check the desk policy for your issuing country and licence script. A translation accompanies the licence and never replaces an official permit. |
| 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?
Often required, depending on where your licence was issued. Bulgaria drives on the right and uses Cyrillic signage, so non-EU visitors should carry an IDP to translate their licence for desks and police.
Which translation format is used for Bulgaria?
Bulgaria uses the 1949 Geneva & 1968 Vienna convention format. A Vialy translation is prepared in that format but is not a government-issued permit.
Will a rental desk in Bulgaria ask for a translation?
An e-vignette is needed for highways; desks request an IDP for non-EU licences.
How fast can Vialy prepare one for Bulgaria?
The exact delivery moment is quoted before you pay, 30 minutes as standard and 5 with Express.
Also in Europe
Driving on to another country on the same trip? Each page states what that destination expects.