Bulgaria
Drives on the right · BGN · Emergency 112Speed limits
Urban
50 km/h
Rural / outside built-up areas
90 km/h
Motorway
140 km/h
Alcohol limits
General limit
0.5‰
Novice drivers
0.0‰
Mandatory equipment
- •Warning triangle
- •Hi-vis vest
- •First aid kit
- •Fire extinguisher
Winter tires & snow 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.
Tolls
System
Vignette
A digital, plate-linked e-vignette ("e-vinetka") is required for motorways and most national roads, purchased online or at petrol stations/border crossings, valid for a set period (weekend/week/month/year).
Full tolls & vignette guide →More things to know before you drive
Seatbelts
Mandatory front and rear for all occupants.
Mobile phone use
Hands-free only; holding a phone while driving is prohibited.
Child seats
Children under 150 cm must use an approved child restraint suited to their size.
Headlights
Dipped headlights are required at all times, day and night, year-round.
Low-emission & restricted zones
No nationwide low-emission zone network; Sofia has limited local traffic restrictions during high-pollution episodes.
Right of way & roundabouts
Priority to the right at unmarked intersections; roundabouts give way to traffic already circulating.
Parking
Paid parking zones ("Синя зона") are common in cities via meter, SMS, or app.
Speed cameras
Fixed and mobile cameras are widely used, including average-speed sections on some motorways.
Good to know
Currency is the lev (BGN), not the euro. Novice drivers have a zero alcohol limit.