Vignettes Bulgaria 2023 → Price, where to buy, toll roads
- A motorway vignette is required in Bulgaria on motorways and most first-class roads.
- Vehicles that weigh up to 3.5 tons must be equipped with the vignette, trucks over 3.5 tons and buses must also pay tolls, however, it is not required for motorcycles.
- Bulgarian vignettes are sold with annual, quarterly, monthly, and weekly validity; moreover, a weekend vignette is also available.
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Price and validity of vignettes in Bulgaria in 2024
The price of the vignette depends on the category of the vehicle. The following vignettes are available depending on the length of validity: weekend vignette, as well as weekly, monthly, quarterly and an annual vignette.
All information about vignettes and current events on Bulgarian roads can be found at BGtoll.bg. You can also check the validity of your vignette on the same website. During a roadside inspection you are not required to present proof of purchase of your motorway stamp.Vignettes for vehicles up to 3.5 tons
Cars up to 3.5 t Trailers up to 3.5 t Weekend €4,599 лв. €4,599 лв. Weekly €6,6313 лв. €6,6313 лв. Monthly €13,7827 лв. €13,7827 лв. Quarterly €24,5048 лв. €24,5048 лв. Annual €4487 лв. €4487 лв. The weekend vignette is valid from Friday at 12:00 until Sunday midnight.
If you have a trailer attached to a vehicle up to 3.5 tonnes, a vignette stamp is mandatory if the total weight of the combination exceeds 3.5 tonnes. In this case, you must also purchase a motorway stamp for the trailer. The prices for the trailer vignette are the same as for a vehicle up to 3.5 tons. See the table above.
Vignettes for vehicles over 3.5 tons
From 1 March 2020, vehicles over 3.5 tonnes are charged for the use of Bulgarian motorways. More information regarding the tolls can be found at TollPass.bg.
You can subscribe to the so-called Route Pass, which allows you to report your route in advance and pay before you begin your journey. This option is suitable for a short-term use of Bulgarian roads and motorways. Route Pass as well as the vignette for cars up to 3.5 tons can be purchased online on Web.bgtoll.bg.
Another way is to record the route with an on-board unit or an already installed GPS tracking device. You will need to sign a contract with a national electronic toll service provider who will provide you with an on-board unit.
You can calculate the toll in advance via toll calculator.
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Where to buy a Bulgarian vignette 2024
Where to buy a vignette in Bulgaria
Vignette can be purchased through self-service terminals in retail outlets and in the offices of the Road Infrastructure Agency as well as at other points of sale and regional offices of the Road Infrastructure Agency. You can also purchase a vignette via the BGTOLL app.
Where to buy a vignette online
The Bulgarian vignette can be purchased online on Web.bgtoll.bg.
Fines related to vignettes
Drivers without a valid vignette in Bulgaria face a fine of €153300 лв. for passenger cars and €1 5313000 лв. for trucks.
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Toll road sections in Bulgaria 2024
Toll motorway sections in Bulgaria
Some parts of the motorways are open, others are still being completed.
- A1 motorway Trakia: Sofia – Bourgas
- A2 motorway Hemus: Sofia – Varna
- A3 motorway Struma: Sofia – Kulata / Promachonas (border with Greece)
- A4 motorway Maritza: Plovdiv – Svilengrad (border with Turkey and Greece)
- A5 motorway Cherno More: Varna – Burgas
- A6 motorway Lyulin: Sofia – Daskalovo – Struma motorway
- E 70 motorway: Choumen – Varna
- E 79 motorway: Botevgrad – Sofia
- E 80 motorway: Sofia – Plovdiv – Orizovo
Toll first-class roads in Bulgaria
- E70: Ruse – Choumen
- E79: Vidin – Botevgrad
- E79: Sofia – Kulata
- E80: Serbia – Kalotina – Sofia
- E80: Orizovo – Haskovo – Svilengrad – Kapitan Andreevo – Turkey
- E83: Biala – Pleven – Botevgrad
- E85: Russe – Biala – Veliko Tarnovo – Stara Zagora – Haskovo
- E85: Svilengrad – Greece
- E87: Romania – Shabla – Varna – Burgas – Malko Tarnovo – Turkey
- E772: Jablanica – Veliko Tarnovo – Choumen
- E772: Popovica – Stara Zagora – Sliven – Burgas
- E871: Kjustendil – Pernik
Map of highways and toll roads in Bulgaria
A map of Bulgarian motorways and expressways can be found on Aebtri.com. A map of first-class roads is available on here.
Special toll road sections
In Bulgaria, in addition to motorway tolls, a special toll must be paid when crossing certain bridges and transporting the vehicle by ferry across the Danube river. These places are at border crossings with Romania.
Fees for crossing bridges and using ferries 2024
Cars up to 3.5 t Giurgiu – Ruse (bridge) €3,00 Vidin – Kalafat (bridge) €6,00 -
Motorways in Bulgaria: Speed limits, fines…
Speed limits in Bulgaria
Speed limits for passenger cars:
- In urban areas: 50 km/h
- Outside urban areas: 90 km/h
- On expressways (first-class roads): 120 km/h
- On motorways: 140 km/h
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Speeding fines in Bulgaria 2024
Bulgarian police officers like to fine foreigners. It often happens that you are stopped by a patrol and fined without any confirmation that they measured your speed. This is certainly related to the highest level of corruption in the EU. It also happens that they place a portable sign with a low maximum speed on a road and a radar just behind it. Fines are then usually collected by them a few hundred meters further. However, this situation is improving, also thanks to the nation’s efforts to make the country more prosperous, especially by reducing corruption.
Pay good attention to other drivers. They often drive under the influence of alcohol, overtake in a risky manner, and so on.
Speeding in urban areas
- up to 10 km/h: €10,2120 лв.
- 11-20 km/h: €2650 лв.
- 21-30 km/h: €51100 лв.
- 31-40 km/h: €204400 лв.
- 41-50 km/h: €306600 лв.
- more than 51 km/h: €357700 лв. and suspension of the driving license for the duration of 3 months, furthermore for every additional 5 km/h above the maximum speed limit the fine is increased by€2650 лв.
Speeding outside urban areas
- up to 10 km/h: €10,2120 лв.
- 11-20 km/h: €2650 лв.
- 21-30 km/h: €51100 лв.
- 31-40 km/h: €153300 лв.
- 41-50 km/h: €204400 лв.
- more than 51 km/h: €306600 лв., for every additional 5 km/h above the maximum speed limit the fine is increased by €2650 лв.
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Driving fines in Bulgaria 2024
It is essential that fines are not be paid directly to a police officer on the spot, but only at a bank branch by bank transfer.
- Running a red light – €2650 лв.
- Driving with a child without a child car seat – €2650 лв.
- Driving without lights on – €10,2120 лв.
- Driving under the influence of alcohol – from €153300 лв. to €1 0212000 лв.
- Driving without fastened seatbelts – €2650 лв.
- Using a mobile phone while driving – €2650 лв.
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Driving in Bulgaria 2024
Mandatory car equipment in Bulgaria
- First aid kit
- Reflective vest (also for motorcycles)
- Warning triangle
- Fire extinguisher (except for motorcycles)
Drivers and passengers of motorcycles, mopeds, and ATVs are required to wear a safety helmet.
Tires
In Bulgaria, winter tires are compulsory from 15 November until 1 March. The minimum tread depth should be at least 4 mm.
The use of snow chains is only permitted if weather conditions require it. Studded tires are not allowed.
Failure to comply with the mandatory rules will result in a fine of €2650 лв..Seat belts
The use of seat belts is mandatory for all occupants of the vehicle. However, there are exceptions for:
- Pregnant women
- Persons whose physical condition does not allow the use of seat belts
- Taxi drivers when transporting passengers
- Driving school instructors while driving a car for training purposes
Children in the car
Children under the age of 12 and with a height of up to 150 cm must use a child seat of appropriate weight and age.
At the same time, children under the age of 12 and shorter than 150 cm must not be transported in the front seat, not even in the restraint system.Drinking and driving
The maximum permitted blood alcohol level in Bulgaria is 0.5 per mille.
Driving under the influence of alcohol faces severe penalties.From 0.5 to 1.2 ‰
- Beginner drivers with less than 2 years of experience – fine from €153300 лв. up to €306600 лв. and suspension of driving license for 12 months, for repeated violations fine from €5101000 лв. up to €1 0212000 лв. and suspension of driving license for up to 3 years
- Drivers with experience longer than 2 years – fine from €102200 лв. up to €255500 лв. and suspension of driving license within 12 months, for repeated violations fine from €5101000 лв. up to €1 0212000 лв. and suspension of driving license for up to 3 years
Over 1,2‰
- Up to 2 years in prison and a heavy fine
Refusal to undergo an alcohol or drug test
- Fine from €255500 лв. up to €5101000 лв. and suspension of the driving license for 12 to 18 months
Daytime running lights
Daytime running lights are mandatory all year round.
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