BulgariavsGreece
Bulgaria and Greece share a land border — here's how their driving rules differ, side by side.
VERIFIED 2026-07-29 & 2026-07-29 · METHODOLOGY| RULE | Bulgaria | Greece |
|---|---|---|
| Driving side | Drives on the right | Drives on the right |
| Urban speed limit | 50 km/h | 50 km/h |
| Rural speed limit | 90 km/h | 90 km/h |
| Motorway speed limit | 140 km/h | 130 km/h |
| Alcohol limit (general) | 0.5‰ | 0.5‰ |
| Alcohol limit (novice) | 0.0‰ | 0.2‰ |
| Mandatory equipment | Warning triangle, Hi-vis vest, First aid kit, Fire extinguisher | Warning triangle, Hi-vis vest, First aid kit, Fire extinguisher |
| Tolls | Vignette | Toll booths |
| Headlights | Dipped headlights are required at all times, day and night, year-round. | Dipped headlights are required outside built-up areas at all times, day and night, and in poor visibility everywhere. |
| Winter tires / chains | Winter tires (or all-season tires with adequate tread, or chains carried) are effectively required in winter conditions on many roads — enforcement is active, especially on signed mountain routes. | No nationwide mandatory date-based rule; winter tires or chains can be required on specific signed mountain roads (e.g. parts of northern Greece) during winter weather events. |
| Low-emission / restricted zones | No nationwide low-emission zone network; Sofia has limited local traffic restrictions during high-pollution episodes. | Athens has a restricted-access zone in the historic center (the "Daktylios") limiting entry by licence plate on alternating days for certain vehicle categories; check current rules if driving into central Athens. |
| Child seats | Children under 150 cm must use an approved child restraint suited to their size. | Children under 135 cm must use an approved child restraint suited to their height and weight. |
| Mobile phone use | Hands-free only; holding a phone while driving is prohibited. | Hands-free only; holding a phone while driving is prohibited. |
| Currency | BGN | EUR |
| Emergency number | 112 | 112 |