Toll roads in Romania? How to buy a vignette in Romania? Fines in Romania? Parking in Romania? Autostrada in Romania? Toll tunnels in Romania? Toll bridges in Romania? Ferries in Romania? We have collected answers to all these questions for you in this article.
Roads in Romania
The length of the network of public roads in Romania is 86,391 km, of which 68,551 km are paved roads. Length of highways (Autostrazi) 981 km.
Toll Motorways in Romania
The use of national roads outside the city limits in Romania is only allowed after paying the toll. The amount of the fee depends on the category of the vehicle and the duration of use of the national roads.
On October 1, 2010, the electronic system for issuing vignettes (rovinieta) came into force on the territory of Romania.
Vignettes can be purchased in large shopping centers, Rompetrol, Petrom and OMV gas stations, any post office, UNTRR offices.
When purchasing, the driver informs the operator about the license plate of the vehicle for which he wants to purchase a vignette, as well as the type of vehicle and the validity period of the vignette. After that, the operator enters the data into the electronic database (CESTRIN – Technical Research Center) and issues a receipt or invoice. The underlying data is stored throughout the life of the vignette.
You can buy a vignette online on the website ROVINIETE, starting from the current day. Previously, it could be purchased no earlier than 30 days before the date of its effective date. You can pay for the vignette by credit card or bank transfer.
ATTENTION! When paying in foreign currency (not Romanian lei) – the order will be made only after receipt of funds in Scala Assistance’s bank account; the operation can last up to 72 hours. For the urgent issuance of a traffic vignette, it is better to pay by bank card via the Internet.
The cost of a vignette in Romania
The cost of the vignette (EUR) for 2024:
| Vehicle type | 1 day | 7 days | 30 days | 90 days | 1 year |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Motorcycle | —– | € 3 | € 7 | € 13 | € 28 |
| gross weight of up to 3.5 tons | —– | € 6 | € 16 | € 36 | € 96 |
| gross weight of up to 3.5 tons | € 4 | € 16 | € 32 | € 92 | € 320 |
A vignette for 1 day is not provided for cars with a total weight of less than 3.5 tons.
This means that the minimum period for which you can purchase a vignette for a passenger car is 7 days. Even if you only need 1 day to travel.
A vignette is not required for motorcycles in Romania.
Traffic control on national roads in Romania
Control is carried out either automatically at fixed points where system cameras are installed, or on the move by authorized officials.
The authorized officials are a crew of police officers, ARR (Romanian Road Service) and CNADNR< /span> (National Road Company of Romania) – control using mobile terminals (PAD).
Unauthorized driving on highways
A fine is charged for the absence of a vignette, and in addition to it, compensation for road damage.
Penalty for unauthorized driving and road damage in Romania:
| Vehicle type | Penalty (RON) | Compensation (EUR) | ||
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Minimum | Maximum | |||
| A passenger car with a maximum permissible gross weight of up to 3.5 tons | 250 (€ 50) | 500 (€ 101) | € 28 | |
| A van or minibus with a maximum permissible gross weight of up to 3.5 tons | 750 (€ 151) | 1,250 (€ 252) | € 96 | |
| A truck with a maximum permissible gross weight over 3.5 t and up to 7.5 t and buses with up to 23 seats | 1,250 (€ 252) | 1,750 (€352) | € 320 | |
Frequently asked questions about vignettes in Romania
Where can I be fined for an invalid vignette?
The driver may be fined both when driving on national roads in Romania and at checkpoints when crossing the state border when leaving Romania.
What are the validity periods of the vignette?
The period of validity of the vignette starts from the zero hour of the day specified in the application and ends at 24:00 on the last day of the period for which the payment was made.
What should I do if my vignette is valid but I have received a fine?
You can file a complaint within 15 days from the moment of delivery of the report on the offense. The complaint is submitted to the court under whose jurisdiction the offense was committed (unless another district is indicated in the offense report).
If I paid a fine after the violation, do I need to buy a vignette?
It is necessary.
I received several violation reports issued for the same vehicle, but with different dates of violation. Do I have to pay a fine for all violations?
So they should.
Plots with special payment
There is a charge for crossing the Danube bridge between Giurgiu (Romania) – Ruse (Bulgaria) and Calafat (Romania) – Vidin (Bulgaria), as well as ferries between Silistra (Bulgaria)/Calarasi (Romania) and Magurele (Romania)/Nikopol. (Bulgaria).
Bridges over the Danube
The bridge between the cities of Giurgiu – Ruse was built in 1954 and has a length of 2,223 m. For a long time it was the only bridge between Romania and Bulgaria.
In June 2013, a second bridge was opened between the cities of Vidin and Calafat. It has a length of 1.971 m. Unlike the old bridge, this bridge has 2 lanes for cars in each direction, as well as bicycle and pedestrian paths.
Tariffs for 2024:
| Vehicle type | Giurgiu – Russia | Calafat – Vienna | |
|---|---|---|---|
| Motorcycle | —– | —– | |
| Vehicles with 8 + 1 seats (including the driver) / private cars | €3 | €6 | |
| Trucks with a maximum permissible gross weight of up to 3.5 tons | €6 | €6 | |
| Truck vehicles, including a trailer, from 3.5 to 7.5 t | €12 | €12 | |
| Vehicle from 9 to 23 seats (including the driver) | €12 | €12 | |
In addition, in Romania there is a toll to travel on the bridges between Giurgieni/Vadul Oii and Fetesti/Cernavoda.
Tariffs for 2024 (RON):
| Vehicle type | Giurgieni/Vadul Oii | Fetesti/Cernavoda | |
|---|---|---|---|
| Motorcycle | —- | —- | |
| A car with a trailer/trailer up to 3.5 tons | 11 (€ 2.2) | 13 (€ 2.6) | |
| Car with trailer/trailer from 3.5 to 12 t | 26 (€ 5) | 47 (€ 9) | |
Payment for travel on the Giurgieni — Vadul Oii bridge is made exclusively in the local currency RON.
On the Fetesti – Cernavoda bridge, payment is also made in RON, but it is possible to pay the fare by bank card. Of the 4 gates, cash is accepted only at one.
The fare can also be paid electronically on the website www.taxadepod.ro . It is possible to pay for several trips at once – 1, 2 or 20. Payment is valid for 12 months.
Tolls on these bridges have been waived for motorbikes due to the very small number of them.
Poromi via Danube
There is no fixed timetable for ferries across the Danube. During peak periods, ferries may depart as they fill up.
Ferry schedule
Ferry Silistra – Calarasi operates all year round from 05:00 to 24:00. During heavy traffic, for example in the summer months, there may be additional ferries that depart as they fill up. Travel time takes approximately 12-15 minutes.
On the ferry Nikopol – Turnu Magurele the following schedule is valid since 2017:
| Turnu Magurele – Nikopol | Nikopol – Turnu Magurele |
|---|---|
| 08.00 | 08.00 |
| 12.00 | 12.00 |
| 16.00 | 16.00 |
| 19.30 | 19.30 |
Travel time is approximately 30 minutes. Ferries at 12:00 and 16:00 are additional and available only on a first-come, first-served basis.
Ferries on the line Oryakhovo – Bechet operate 24 hours a day and depart every 2 hours. From Bulgaria at even hours (10:00, 12:00, etc.), from Romania at odd hours (11:00, 13:00, etc.).
Ferry Svishtov – Zimnicea operates from 07:00 to 21:00 and departs every 1.5 hours. Travel time is about 15 minutes.
Fares for ferries in Romania for 2024
| Vehicle type | Silistra – Calarasi | Nikopol – Turnu Magurele | Walnuts – Bechet | Svishtov – Zimnicea | |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Motorcycle | € 2 | € 1 | € 2 | €3 | |
| Car with total weight up to 3.5 t | € 8 | €10 | €12 | €4 | |
| A car with a trailer with a total weight of up to 3.5 tons | €15 | €15 | €20 | € 8 | |
| Minibus | € 25 | €30 | €30 | € 8 | |
Parking in Romania
Parking meters have not yet become widespread in Romanian cities. Usually, the fee is collected by employees of the companies that provide parking services. The cost of parking varies from €0.5 to €1.5 per hour. A receipt is issued upon payment.
In Bucharest in particular, parking is a problem due to the lack of parking spaces. It is recommended to leave cars in guarded parking lots at hotels.
Map of toll roads in Romania
The main traffic laws of Romania
Speed limits in Romania
Standard speed limits in Romania (unless otherwise indicated on signs).
Cars:
- in the settlement – 50 km/h
- outside the settlement – 100 km/h
- on the highway – 130 km/h
Cars with a trailer:
- in the settlement – 50 km/h
- outside the settlement – 90 km/h
- on the highway – 120 km/h
Motorhomes with a total weight of more than 3.5 tons:
- in the settlement – 50 km/h
- outside the settlement – 90 km/h
- on the highway – 110 km/h
On some sections of inner-city roads, higher speed limits may be set for category A and B vehicles, but not more than 80 km/h.
Despite the fact that the speed limit outside populated areas is set at 100 km/h, this applies only to those roads that have the status of national expressways or European roads (E85). A limit of 90 km/h has been set for other roads outside of populated areas.
For drivers whose experience is less than 1 year, the maximum speed is 20 km/h less than the maximum permissible speed of vehicles of this category.
Alcohol
Maximum permissible blood alcohol level in Romania 0.00‰.
If the blood alcohol level is less than 0.8‰, the fine will be from RON 1,305 to 2,900 (€ 263-584) and the suspension of the driver’s license for up to 90 days.
If the level of alcohol in the blood exceeds 0.8 ‰, then the driver faces imprisonment from 1 to 5 years.
Low light
Low beam in Romania is mandatory 24 hours a day all year round. Driving without low beam or using high beam incorrectly 290 (€ 58).
Using fog lights when there is no fog is punishable by a fine of RON 435 (€ 88).
Transportation of children in Romania
Children under 3 years of age can travel only when using appropriate child restraint systems that correspond to their weight.
Children older than 3 years and less than 150 cm tall are not allowed to ride in the front seats, even when using appropriate restraint systems.
In case of transportation of children under 12 years old in the front seat – a fine of RON 435 (€ 88).
Safety belts
Use of seat belts in Romania mandatory for front and rear passengers.
The fine is RON 290 (€ 58).
Phoning
In Romania, it is forbidden to use a telephone device that is not equipped with a technical device that allows for hands-free conversations while driving. As well as any other mobile device with the function of recording or playing back text, photos or videos.
The fine is from RON 870 to 1,160 (€ 175 – 233).
Toning in Romania
The degree of light transmittance of the glasses must comply with UNECE Rules No. 43 “Uniform prescriptions for safe glazing materials and their installation on vehicles” — 75% for the windshield, 70% for the side windows.
Only factory tinting or done in a certified center is allowed.
The fine is RON 1,305 (€ 263).
Fines in Romania
In Romania, a certain number of penalty points are charged for traffic violations. Each penalty point is valued at RON145 (€29).
Fines should not be paid directly to the police officer at the scene of the violation. Drivers can pay 50% of the fine amount within 15 days of receiving the report.Table of fines for traffic violations in Romania:
| Violation | Fines (RON) |
|---|---|
| Failure to give a signal before starting a movement, rebuilding, turning, turning or stopping | 290 (€ 58) |
| Administration of a motor vehicle whose registration numbers are damaged, soiled or covered by ice or snow, preventing its identification | 290 (€ 58) |
| Driving through a yellow traffic light | 435 (€88) |
| Violation of parking rules | 435 (€88) |
| Refusal to provide documents required by law at the request of a police officer | 580 (€ 117) |
| Passing through a traffic light prohibition signal | 725 (€ 146) |
| Failure to comply with the requirement to give way to pedestrians who enjoy the right-of-way | 725 (€ 146) |
| Violation of the rules of passage through railway crossings | 870 (€ 175) |
| Departure to the intersection in the event of a traffic jam, which forced the driver to stop, creating an obstacle for the movement of vehicles in the transverse direction | 870 (€ 175) |
| Violation of overtaking rules | 870 (€ 175) |
| Violation of the rules of towing vehicles | 1,305 (€263) |
| Alarm siren operation for more than 1 minute | 1,305 (€263) |
Table of fines for speeding in Romania
| Speeding | Fines (RON) |
|---|---|
| from 10 to 20 km/h | 290 (€ 58) |
| from 21 to 30 km/h | 435 (€88) |
| from 31 to 40 km/h | 580 (€ 117) |
| from 41 to 50 km/h | 870 (€ 175) |
| over 50 km/h | 1,305 (€263) |
If the speed is exceeded by more than 50 km/h, in addition to the fine, rights are revoked, which can be recovered only in court. A temporary permit is granted to travel to the court.
Useful Information
Fuel prices in Romania
Unleaded gasoline (95 and 98) and diesel are available in Romania. There are gas filling stations (LPG).
Average prices for all types of fuel on 16.12.2023:
- Petrol 95 — RON 6.34 (€ 1,275)
- Petrol+ 98 — RON 6.91 (€ 1,390)
- Diesel fuel — RON 6.79 (€ 1,366)
- GPL — RON 3.89 (€ 0.782)
Emergency numbers in Romania
- The European emergency number is 112
Mandatory equipment
Equipment that necessary to have in the car:
- First aid kit
- Emergency stop sign – two signs are required according to Romanian traffic rules
- Extinguisher
- Reflective vest – any person, leaving the vehicle outside the population centers, must wear a reflective vest
In the absence of any of the above equipment – a fine of RON 580 (€ 117)
Winter equipment
Winter tires
Since 2011, in Romania, in the period from November 1 to March 31, it is forbidden to drive a car equipped with summer tires in the event of appropriate weather conditions (slush, snow, ice on the road). Winter tires are tires marked with one of the symbols “M+S”, “M.S”, “MS” or “M&S”.
In case of violation – fine from RON 1,305 to 2,900 (€ 263-584).
Studded tires
The use of studded tires in Romania is prohibited.
Anti-slip chains
Anti-skid chains are recommended when riding in the mountains.
Recommended equipment and other rules
The use of radar detectors in Romania is not prohibited by law. According to the traffic rules, the driver can use his own means of detecting devices to measure speed.
At the same time, the use of anti-radar devices in Romania is prohibited and is punishable by a fine from RON 1,305 to 2,900 (€ 263-584)