Driving Rules of Bulgaria

We have outlined below some of the most important driving rules of Bulgaria, in order to help awareness of different driving
laws in foreign countries.

Please contact your local Avis representative about toll charges and road charges before leaving the Avis car hire location
and whether snow tyres or chains are needed.

Which Side of the Road?

In Bulgaria we drive on the RIGHT hand side of the road and so we approach roundabouts in an anticlockwise direction.

Unique Country Driving Laws

• Vehicles on roundabouts have priority and not those entering it. There can be exceptions to this rule, but if so it will be shown with road signs.
• In Bulgaria many crossings are monitored by street cameras, and if you pass on red light you may get serious fine.
• Car rental vehicles 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 current year.
• In Bulgaria you should drive with lights on during the day and night.

• Within city limits: 50 km/h
• Outside city: 90 km/h
• On the highways: 140 km/h

• National law requires the appropriate child and adolescent passenger restraints.
• Children to remain seated in rear facing car seats until age 4 years.
• Children under 135 cm must be fitted in the correct childseat.

• Warning triangle
• First-aid kit
• Fire Extinguisher
• Reflective jacket

General emergencies: 112	Police: 166	Ambulance: 150
Fire Department: 160	Road police – 165	Road toll assistance – 146

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.

In Sofia here are two zones for parking:


Blue Zone

The area is determined by following boulevards: "Hristo Botev" blvd., "Todor Alexandrov" blvd., "Kniaz Al. Dondukov" blvd., "Vasil Levski" blvd. and "Gen. M. D. Skobelev" blvd.

The border boulevards determines the scope of the zone, and there is active mode of hourly paid parking for BLUE ZONE.

Green Zone

This area is determined by following boulevards : "Kniagina Maria Luisa" blvd., "Belogradchik" St., "Veslec" St., "Kolkotnitsa" St., "Budapesta" St., "", "Konstantin Stoilov" Blvd, "Gen. Danail Nikolaev" Blvd., "Prof. Milko Bichev" Blvd, "Evlogii and Hristo Georgievi" blvd., . "Pencho Slaveikov" Blvd, "Bulgaria" Blvd., "Akademik Ivan Е. Geshov" Blvd., "Han Persian" St., "Zdrave" St., "Pencho Slaveikov" Blvd, "Gen. Eduard I. Totleben" Blvd., "Gen. Mihail D. Skobelev" Blvd. and "Opalchenska" St.

The border boulevards determines the scope of the zone, and there is active mode of hourly paid parking for GREEN ZONE.

View actual blueprint of action of the two zones:

How we can park in the Blue zone
Send text message to number 1302
Rate - 2 lv/h
Maximum parking time is up to 2 hours
Time limits:
Business days 08.00 to 19.00 o’clock
Saturday 08.00 to 14.00 o’clock

How we can park in the Green zone
Send text message to number 1303
Rate - 1 lv/h
Maximum parking time is up to 4 hours
Time limits:
Business days 08.00 to 19.00 o’clock

You can also pay for parking in both zones with ticket which you buy from special associates looking after the parking spaces or to buy it from certain trade shops.

Mobile phones

You are not permitted to use a mobile phone while driving unless it has a hands free connection.

Drinking and driving