Car insurance
There is mandatory third-party liability insurance. The premium varies according to the engine capacity and the driver’s age and experience. On average, plan to spend in the region of 270 BGN. You might prefer to spread this cost over 2 or 4 installments. Compare the market-leading insurance providers on the SDI.bg or I&G brokers’ website. If you have a policy and you want to check the validity end date, check online at the Guarantee fund website.
Road tax or vignettes
One-off payment to access state highways and A-class roads. At present (2024) this is 87 BGN for 12 months. Or 48 BGN for 3 months. BGToll.bg is the official government website, to purchase a new vignette or confirm the validity of an existing one.
Annual technical inspection – MOT
This annual car check is carried out by qualified testing stations. It would set you back between 40 BGN and 50 BGN. On the day of the inspection, you need to bring along the car’s small and large coupons and evidence of vehicle tax paid. A car fire extinguisher is also subject to an annual check. This is validated on a sticker and costs about 5 BGN. Confirm the validity date of the technical inspection at https://rta.government.bg/services/check-inspection/ .
First aid kit
Drivers in Bulgaria must carry a first aid kit, fire extinguisher, and triangle in the boot of their car at all times. They can be purchased online for about 30 BGN. Dial 112 for emergency services.
Monthly fuel price tracker
There is a choice of petrol stations ranging from the Austrian-owned “OMV”, Greek-owned “Eko”, Anglo-Dutch Shell, or Romanian-owned “Rompetrol”.
| Price per litre in BGN | Dec 23 | Jun 24 | Dec 24 |
|---|---|---|---|
| Petrol 95 | 2.69 | 2.67 | 2.54 |
| Diesel | 2.74 | 2.66 | 2.56 |
Interactive petrol station map
Find the cheapest fuel in your local area. The site offers an easy-to-use map of the country and a search function for all petrol stations by address, company and go for the cheapest price first!
Loyalty cards
Shell, Eko, OMV, and Rompetrol offer their customers loyalty programs with discounts on their range of fuels.
OMV Save&Drive card with a barcode can be obtained from any of their petrol stations. The card is only active after quick online registration. Once registered, customers can benefit from a 0.04 BGN discount per litre on their regular petrol/diesel or a 0.07 BGN discount per litre on their premium range MaxxMotion. There is a 10% discount on their popular coffee range. OMV also accepts Lidl plus card.
SDI Broker is a one-stop shop for all your home, car, and health insurance. Their offices are placed throughout the country in convenient locations. SDI has introduced a loyalty card scheme offering discounts to many of its partner services. For example, drivers benefit from a 0.07 BGN discount per litre at EKO petrol stations.
Pay for your existing car insurance policy online
Check online for:
SPEEDING PENALTIES – mind the speed camera
Holders of Bulgarian driving licence can check online for speeding penalties issued by the traffic police. Go to the local traffic police station to collect your ticket in person. Penalties can be paid via online banking by quoting the ticket number and date > https://e-uslugi.mvr.bg/en/services/obligations .
TECHNICAL INSPECTION
Online check for valid technical inspection certificate and when it runs out > https://rta.government.bg/services/check-inspection.
ROAD VIGNETTE & CAR INSURANCE
Money saving tips and ideas
1. Adjust your driving habits. Go easy on the breaks and take the foot of the accelerator early, try to anticipate the behaviour of the driver in front of you.
2. Check tire pressure and remove heavy items from the boot.
Other resources
Register your car stress-free with our popular guide: “How to register a car” .
If your driving licence is issued abroad, replace it with a Bulgarian one. Additional info is available from the traffic police website.