Vineta and road taxes in Bulgaria: What all the Romanians who go to Greece or Turkey must know.

Holidays on their own are conquering more and more Romanian tourists, and the costs – or rather the economies – play an essential role. Whether they hunt the sunny beaches of Greece, the Eastern Bazaar in Turkey or only cross the Balkans on the way for relaxation, the Romanian tourists are getting more and more the personal car. A choice that brings freedom, but also responsibilities – and one of them is called the Bulgarian vignette.

The transit through Bulgaria is not paid only with liters of fuel and patience in customs, but also with a mandatory road tax: electronic vignette. And in 2025, from May 1, the Bulgarian authorities have changed the rates, so it’s good to know exactly what awaits you. A wrong calculation or omitted payment can quickly turn into a stinging fine.

Find out from this essential guide everything you need to know about the vignette in Bulgaria (the equivalent of the ruin from us)-to start your vacation without stress, unforeseen costs and unpleasant stops. And if you are a truck, bus or minibus driver, take care of Toll taxes – and they have undergone changes in 2025.

What is the vignette and who should pay it

The vignette is a mandatory road fee for all vehicles with maximum admissible mass of up to 3.5 tonnes that travel on the roads and highways in Bulgaria. This applies whether you only transit the country or stop for your visit, even for a few hours.

Where and how you can buy the vignette

Online, before departure: The most comfortable and fast is to buy the vignette from the recognized and safe official sites, bgtoll.bg and Vinetki.bg/roor through mobile applications, with card payment. You receive the instant confirmation, and the vignette is valid immediately.

To the border or gas stations: You can buy the vignette at the border points with Bulgaria or at the gas stations near the border. However, to avoid queues and possible delays, we recommend payment online before travel.

How much does the vignette cost for transit

The rates increased by 10% from May 1, 2025.

The price varies depending on the type of vehicle and the period for which you buy it. For cars (vehicles with maximum admissible technical mass up to 3.5t), the prices are:

• 7 days: 15 Leva (8 euros or 40 lei);
• 1 month: 30 lev (15 euros or 75 lei);
• 3 months: 54 Leva (28 euros or 140 lei);
• 1 year: 97 Leva (50 euros or 250 lei);
• The weekend vignette with validity on Friday, 12:00 until Sunday, 11:59 pm – 10 Leva (5 euros or 25 lei).

Rates may change, so they always check the rates updated on the official site.

IMPORTANT WARNING: Avoid sites that sell vignette with swollen prices

When you are looking to buy the vignette for Bulgaria, be careful where you buy it! There are unofficial sites like vignettetebulgaria.com or Vintrica.com OR Evagnettetetebulgaria.comwhich displays much higher than real and official prices. For example, a 7-day vignette valid for cars officially costs 15 Leva (about 8 euros), but on the first of the mentioned sites it costs about 16 euros, which is almost double!

To avoid paying extra, we recommend that you buy the vignette only from the official websites of the Bulgarian authorities, Vinetki.bg/ro and bgtoll.bgwhere you find the real prices and instant confirmation of the purchase. Correct prices I found on TollPass.bg. Thus, you save money and travel without worries, avoiding the risks of any fraud or problems in control.

How long is the vignette valid

The vignette is valid for the period chosen for purchase: from one week to one year. Attention, the validity starts from the day and time indicated at the purchase, so it correctly plans the period in which you will travel through Bulgaria.

What risks exist if you travel without vignette

The valid vignette circulation attracts serious fines. Bulgarian police can apply sanctions of the order of hundreds of leva (about 250-500 lev), ie between 600 and 1200 lei, and in extreme cases, you can have additional problems at the control points or at the country.

The Bulgarian police carry out automatic and mobile checks, so the risk of being caught is high.

Toll Tax in Bulgaria: Increases in two installments in 2025

Toll road taxes for freight vehicles and passengers traveling on Republican Highways and Roads of Category and II in Bulgaria will grow in two stages, as follows:

• +10% starting April 1, 2025,
• +10% additional from September 1, 2025 (See photo 1).

Also, the amount of the maximum tax applied in situations in which the distance traveled (for reasons of technical faults of the electronic tax system in Bulgaria) will not be determined.

• Between 13 and 156 euros, depending on the vehicle category, after the first April increase,
• Between 14 and 170 euros after the second increase, September (See photo 2).

The difference between the electronic vignette and the Toll tax

The electronic vignette is intended for vehicles with a total admissible mass of up to 3.5 tonnes, being a fixed fee for the use of the public road infrastructure in Bulgaria.

The Toll (E-Toll) tax applies to vehicles with a mass over 3.5 tonnes-minibuses, trucks and coaches-and is calculated according to the distance traveled.

Useful tips for tourists and transit

1. Purchase the vignette online before you enter Bulgaria – you will gain time and avoid stress.
2. Choose the vignette for 7 days if you only make fast transit.
3. Check the validity period-do not buy more than you need, but make sure it is valid for the entire trip.
4. Keep the proof of payment with you – it may be necessary for any controls.
5. Pay attention to the routes you choose – the roads without vignette are limited, and the bypass can increase the travel time.
6. Plan your route considering that most of the Bulgarian roads require vignette.
7. Currently, the general rule is that any vehicle traveling on national roads and highways in Bulgaria must have a valid vignette, whether it only transits the country or stays for a longer period.
8. For tourists who are in Bulgaria, the vignette is mandatory throughout the use of the main roads, regardless of the reason for the stay.
9. There are a few exceptions, such as certain local routes or secondary roads, where vignette is not necessary, but these routes are limited and are not recommended for transit.
10. Exceptions: Electric cars or vehicles with certain features can have discounts or exemptions, but there are special cases.

With this information, you will be able to organize your journey through Bulgaria without worry and without the risk of unexpected fines. Good road and pleasant fun!