Driving in Bulgaria
• Drive on the right hand side of the road and so approach roundabouts in an anticlockwise direction. Vehicles on roundabouts have
priority and not those entering it. Seat belts are compulsory, including also passengers sitting on the rear back side of the car.
Insurance companies may refuse to pay for any accidents if you are not wearing seat belt.
• Speed limits
- Within city limits – Up to 50 KmPH
- Outside city – Up to 90 KmPH
- On the highways – Up to 130 KmPH
• Road information
Cars rented in Bulgaria come with visible sticker or vignette which allows the vehicle to travel on all the roads without exception
until the end of the year.
• Useful and important numbers
- General emergency calls – 112
- Road toll assistance – 146
- Ambulance call – 150
- Fire service – 160
- Road police – 165
- Police – 166
• Parking: Parking on the sidewalk is forbidden.
• Blue zone in Sofia
- Only vehicles with weight of up to 2.5 tons and vans or buses with maximum 12 passengers are allowed to park in the "Blue Zone".
- On working days from 08.30 to 18.30 parking places in "Blue Zone" require a fee.
- Parking in the "Blue Zone" is permitted within two hours and only on the designated areas. After the expiration of time the vehicles will be repatriated.
• Green zone in Sofia
- Only vehicles with weight of up to 2.5 tons and vans or buses with maximum 12 passengers are allowed to park in the "Green Zone".
- On working days from 08.30 to 18.30 parking places in "Green Zone" require a fee.
- Parking in the "Green Zone" is permitted within two hours and only on the designated areas. After the expiration of time the vehicles will be repatriated.
• Parking via SMS:
- Customers of the Bulgarian mobile operators can park in the Blue Zone, by sending SMS to number 1302 or 1303 with text registration
plate No of the vehicle. Payment with a SMS is for a stay for up to 1 hour.
- The Content of a SMS must literally reproduce the contents of the registration plate of the vehicle.
- The price of the service " SMS Parking" and "Parking by a phone call" with VAT for 1 hour parking is determined by the
Sofia Municipal Council and is equal to the price of parking ticket with VAT, the price of a SMS is determined separately - by the
mobile operator.
• Mobile phones
You are not permitted to use a mobile phone while driving unless it has a hands free connection.
• Drinking and driving
In Bulgaria you are not allowed to drive when you have a an alcohol concentration of more than 0.5 pro mille. The law is very strict,
random testing is carried out and if convicted you will loose your license, receive a heavy fine and may be imprisoned. If you hold a
driving license and are traveling in a car with a drunk driver, you are equally responsible under Bulgarian law. In case of an
accident with your car, accident and health insurance may all be made void if it is shown that you were under the influence of alcohol.
As in all countries it is safer not to drink and drive at all!
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