Toll in Bulgaria
Why do you have to pay toll fees?
Most countries in Europe charge toll fees. There is a so-called toll obligation. But what does that mean? Toll charges are levied for the use of certain roads, tunnels, and bridges. The revenue generated from tolls is invested in the road network, ensuring a smooth journey on your way to your vacation. The primary areas of investment are infrastructure, traffic management and road safety, as well as environmental protection measures.
Infrastructure: Construction and maintenance of roads and motorways
Road safety and traffic management: new technologies such as intelligent traffic systems or toll gantries
Environmental protection: construction of noise barriers or measures to reduce emissions
How is the toll charged?
Tolls can be charged in different ways. These include the vignette requirement, the distance-based toll, and special toll roads.
Vignette requirement: motorcycles, cars (+ trailers) & motorhomes
Under the vignette requirement, toll fees are charged as a flat rate rather than based on kilometers driven, and vary depending on the duration of travel. Accordingly, you purchase a vignette before your trip and choose between different validity periods. Depending on the vehicle class, the price of a vignette may vary. By purchasing a vignette, you make a one-time payment that allows you to use all toll roads (excluding special toll roads).
The vignette requirement generally applies to vehicles up to 3.5 t GVW (GVW: gross vehicle weight rating), although there are exceptions. In Bulgaria, motorcycles are exempt from the vignette requirement, meaning you do not need to purchase a vignette for your motorcycle. For your car with a gross vehicle weight of up to 3.5 t, you must purchase a vignette.
If you are driving a car with a trailer, you also only need one vignette as long as both together (car + trailer) do not exceed 3.5 t GVW. If your car together with the trailer exceeds a gross vehicle weight of 3.5 t, you will need a second vignette for the trailer. This means that your car + trailer combination is still subject to the vignette requirement, even if the weight exceeds 3.5 t GVW. The same applies when traveling to Bulgaria with a caravan. Regardless of the total weight of the motorhome, you only need to purchase a vignette and do not have to pay a distance-based toll.
Distance-based toll: trucks over 3.5 t GVW
Unlike the vignette requirement, the distance-based toll is not a flat rate, but depends on the kilometers driven, the vehicle class (number of axles), and the emissions class (pollutant emissions). Accordingly, the amount of the toll fee can vary greatly. In Bulgaria, the distance-based toll applies to commercial vehicles such as trucks over 3.5 t GVW. Motorhomes and cars with trailers are exempt from the distance-based toll, even if they exceed 3.5 t GVW.
Payment of the distance-based toll is made either in advance via a route ticket (also known as a route pass or route plan), where you specify the route you intend to drive, or via an electronic on-board unit (OBU). The on-board unit must be installed in your vehicle and enables contactless payment of toll fees. The amount due is automatically debited from your stored payment method. Another option for charging the distance-based toll is a GPS tracker.
Special toll: applies to all vehicles
The special toll is charged for certain routes that are neither subject to a vignette requirement nor to a distance-based toll. Accordingly, you must pay an additional fee to use a special toll road, even if you have already purchased a vignette or pay the distance-based toll.
Special toll roads are often tunnels or mountain passes. In Bulgaria, special toll routes include the Danube crossings. The Danube flows through Romania and Bulgaria and separates the two countries at the same time. If you want to use one of the many bridges or the ferry to cross, additional fees apply.
Vehicle owners who require a vignette pay an additional amount on top of their vignette and must purchase a ticket for using the special toll route, which can be purchased digitally from us. Vehicles subject to the distance-based toll do not need to purchase a ticket, but must still pay the special toll fee. The difference is that the amount is automatically taken into account by the transponder when driving on the route.
It should also be noted that most special toll routes can only be reached via vignette-required access roads or distance-based toll access roads. Therefore, it always makes sense to purchase a vignette or a transponder regardless of the special toll route.
The Europamaut team wishes you a pleasant journey
Order your digital vignette from us now conveniently from home and benefit from the simple ordering process. Prepare for your journey and register your vehicle for a digital vignette to avoid possible fines. We want your trip to be as pleasant as possible with our digital vignette. Feel free to use our free route planner to plan your journey optimally and have suitable toll products displayed. If you have any questions, please feel free to contact us at any time by email.
