Destinations / Romania
Driving in Romania as a visitor
Often required, depending on where your licence was issued. Romania drives on the right and requires an e-vignette (rovinietă); non-EU visitors should carry an IDP with their national licence.
Reviewed July 2026 · A translation of your own licence, carried with it. Not a government permit.
What Romania 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 | 130 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 RON. |
Rules that catch visitors out
| Tolls | Road vignette (rovinietă) required. |
|---|---|
| Lights | Headlights on outside built-up areas. |
| Alcohol | Zero-tolerance alcohol policy (0.0%). |
| In the car | Reflective vest and triangle mandatory. |
On the road in Romania
At the pump
Petrol (benzină 95/98), diesel (motorină) and LPG are widely available at mostly self-service stations with broad card acceptance; prices are mid-range for the EU.
After a crash
Call 112 for any injury, unsettleable damage or blocked traffic; police notification is mandatory for accidents with death or injury. Photograph the scene, exchange insurance/registration details, and use the amicable European report only for minor agreed damage.
Sources: theromanianlawyers.com · europa.eu · romaniatourism.com · expatcenter.ro
Common questions
Do you need an International Driving Permit in Romania?
Often required, depending on where your licence was issued. Romania drives on the right and requires an e-vignette (rovinietă); non-EU visitors should carry an IDP with their national licence.
Which translation format is used for Romania?
Romania 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 Romania ask for a translation?
Bucharest desks request an IDP for non-EU licences; rovinietă usually included.
How fast can Vialy prepare one for Romania?
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.