
Rules for driving a rental car in Bulgaria
Car rental or own car – the rules of the road in Bulgaria are the same. The generally accepted rules for driving in the European Union also apply in Bulgaria.
You have already learned the requirements for the tenants of the company from which you will rent a car. You have probably chosen your car rental and you know what documents and equipment must be in the car. Now it’s time to introduce you to the rules of the road in Bulgaria.
If you drive a rental car, you must follow the same rules as when driving your own car. We will list the most important rules below.
In Bulgaria, car traffic is carried out on the right side of the road.
During the day it is mandatory to drive with the car’s daytime running lights on. If your car is not equipped with such, you have to switch on the dipped beam.
Using the phone while driving can only be done by using a Handsfree device. Most cars are already equipped with Bluetooth. Through it you can connect your phone to the car radio. This is easy and takes no more than a minute. Our advice is to always connect your phone to the car this way. This will allow you to use your phone comfortably and safely.
Maximum driving speed limit
Be careful about the speed at which you drive. In Bulgaria there is a good system of stationary cameras that detect speeding. In addition, the traffic police have several variants of mobile speed cameras.
When you exceed the speed limit, the traffic police send the fine to the owner of the car. The car rental company will pay the fine, after which it will deduct the amount from your credit card that you provided when signing the car rental agreement. Additionally, you will owe an administrative fee for processing documents. It is really important to follow the speed limits, not just to avoid being fined. It is most important to comply with the restrictions, because high speed is a prerequisite for road accidents.
Speed limits in Bulgaria are:
- In the cities – 50 km / h;
- Outside the cities- 90 km / h;
- On highways without emergency lane – 120 km / h;
- On the highway – 140 km / h;
- In tunnels – 80 km / h;

Despite the maximum speeds fixed in the traffic law, it is possible to go through relatively long sections, with a lower speed limit. Therefore, be careful of road signs to impose restrictions.
Seat belts and transportation of children in a car rental car in Bulgaria
Seat belts fastened is mandatory for all seats in the car.
When traveling with a child, always state the child’s age when booking a rental car. This will prevent you from getting a child seat that does not match your child’s age, weight or height.
Children under the age of 12 must travel in the back seat of the rental car. Children with a height of less than 150 centimeters, depending on the weight use child seats or booster. Observe the chair / seat manufacturer’s instructions for compliance with your child’s height and weight.
Do not drive with children in a baby seat, in the front seat of the car, facing in the opposite direction of travel, with an active airbag. You need to deactivate the airbag first.
Driving and drinking – Don’t afford it!
The legally permissible concentration of alcohol in the blood is 0.5 / 1000. Our advice is not to allow yourself to drive a rental car after consuming any amount of alcohol. We do not know of a car rental company that allows any presence of alcohol in a driver’s examination. The use of alcohol or narcotics will invalidate all car insurance. In this case, you will be fully responsible for the damage caused.
We hope you find the information useful. Coming soon more useful information about what is included in the price of car rental and more …
If you have any questions, you can ask them to the team of M Rent a car for Bulgaria, to our e-mail or in another way convenient for you. You will find our coordinates on our website www.mrentacar.bg, our page on Facebook and Instagram.