To Bulgaria by car
To travel by car you will need:
- Foreign passport (biometric or with a valid visa).
- Technical passport of the car (registration certificate).
- Driver's license - plastic Ukrainian of the new model. Bulgaria recognizes Ukrainian driving license without the need for translation or exchange for short-term trips (up to 6 months).
- Green Card - compulsory insurance for cars abroad.
💚 You can apply for a Green Card on our website online in a few minutes.
- A notarized power of attorney if the car is not registered in your name.
💡 If you are traveling with children, be sure to take child car seats (mandatory for children up to 150 cm) and a notarized permission if the child is traveling without one of the parents.
Ukrainians can use their newly issued plastic driver's license for short-term stays (tourist trips up to 6 months).
‼️ If you plan to live in Bulgaria for more than 6 months, for example, if you have received a residence permit, you need to replace your Ukrainian license with a Bulgarian one within 6 months. To do this, you need:
- Application to the KAT (Bulgarian police)
- Medical certificate (Bulgarian form)
- Photo
- Payment of the fee
💡 If you are under a temporary protection program, your rights are also recognized, but it is better to have official confirmation.
Romania
Traveling on Romanian roads requires a mandatory rovignette (vignette).
- Price: from €3 for 7 days (for passenger cars).
- Where to buy: special points near the border, gas stations. The most convenient option is to register a vignette online on the Visit Ukraine website. After payment, the permit is automatically registered in the system by the car number.
- Cameras automatically record cars without payment — a fine of up to €200.
Bulgaria
Bulgaria uses the e-Vignette. Without it, you cannot use most roads and motorways.
- 7 days — ~€7.7.
- 1 month — ~€15.
- 1 year — ~€49.
Where to buy:
- You can purchase an e-vignette for toll roads in Bulgaria on the Visit Ukraine portal. Registration takes only a few minutes, and confirmation is sent to your email in PDF format — no printing required.
- At gas stations near the border.
‼️ The fine for not having one is from ~€150.
Quality of roads
- Highways (Sofia - Varna, Sofia - Burgas) are in good condition, wide, modern.
- Mountain roads are narrow, with many sharp turns, often without roadsides.
- Local rural roads can be with pits, without markings.
💡 Gasoline in Bulgaria costs about €1.4-1.6 per liter (2026). There are fewer gas stations in the mountains - plan ahead.
Speed limits
Cities - 50 km/h.
Outside cities - 90 km/h.
Highways - 140 km/h.
Special features
- Headlights must be on even during the day.
- Seat belts are mandatory for all passengers.
- Alcohol - up to 0.5 ppm.
- Children under 150 cm are transported only in a car seat or booster.
Bulgaria has zoned parking systems, especially in Sofia, Varna, and Plovdiv.
“Blue zone”
Central areas of cities, the most convenient location.
Price: ~1 € per hour.
Restrictions: usually allowed a maximum of 2 hours of parking in a row.
“Green Zone”
The periphery of the center or business districts.
Price: about ~0.5 € per hour.
Time: you can park longer.
How to pay
1. Parking meters (cash or card).
2. SMS (instructions on the signs).
3. Mobile applications (e.g. Urbo Parking).
‼️ If you park without paying, you will be fined from EUR 6 to 65. The car can be evacuated (the cost of returning it is more than EUR 48.
1. Stay where you are.
2. Turn on the hazard lights, put up an emergency stop sign (100 meters outside the city, 30 meters in the city).
3. Call the police by dialing 112.
4. Notify your insurance company (Green Card).
5. If there are victims, be sure to call an ambulance.
💡 In Bulgaria, even in minor accidents, a police report is often drawn up. Do not agree to an “on-the-spot solution” without documents.
If you don't want to drive your own car, you can rent a car already in Bulgaria. This is a popular option among those arriving by bus or train.
Conditions
- Age: at least 21 years old (some companies require 23 years old).
- Work experience: from 1 year.
- Required documents: international passport, Ukrainian driver's license, credit card.
Prices
- Economy - from €20 per day.
- Crossover or SUV - from €40 per day.
Features
1. The price includes basic insurance (CDW), but there is a deductible (the amount you pay in case of damage).
2. It is recommended to take out Super CDW (full coverage) to avoid high costs in case of an accident or scratches.
3. Be sure to take photos of the car from all sides before leaving.
- Foreign passport (plastic).
- Driver's license (plastic).
- Technical passport of the car.
- Green card (to be issued on our website).
- Notarized power of attorney (if the car is not yours).
- Vignettes for Romania and Bulgaria.
- Medical insurance (to be purchased on our website).
- First-aid kit, vest, emergency stop sign.
- Car check: brakes, tires, lights, fluids.
- Downloaded offline maps or GPS.
- Cash for parking lots and gas stations.
How Visit Ukraine can help
We understand all the needs of drivers abroad, so we offer:
1. Apply for a Green Card on the Visit Ukraine website - quickly, without queues.
2. Order travel medical insurance on our website to be calm even in case of an accident or illness.
3. Get legal advice if you need help with documents, fines or rules.
4. Book bus tickets if you decide to use public transportation.
✉️ Do you have any questions?
Leave a request on the website (box in the right corner of the site / WhatsApp / Telegram) - our experts will explain in detail how to prepare for the trip, prepare the necessary documents and avoid mistakes on the road.