Whether you’re heading for a dream vacation at Golden Sands or just passing through the country, you should know that you’ll need a vignette for Bulgaria’s roads.
The Bulgaria vignette in 2026: what has changed
2026 brought three important changes for drivers traveling through Bulgaria. First: as of January 1, 2026, Bulgaria officially adopted the euro. Vignette prices are now displayed in euros (with the equivalent in leva, at the fixed rate of 1.95583 leva/euro), and online payments on the BGTOLL platform are processed directly in euros. The good news is that the switch to the euro did not make the vignette more expensive: rates at the start of 2026 stayed the same as in 2025.
There are several channels you can pay through, depending on how often you cross the border — compared in our article on the payment alternatives for the Bulgaria vignette.
If you have already bought a vignette and want to confirm that it is active in the system, the steps are in our guide to checking the validity of the Bulgaria vignette.
On the corridor to the Balkans, Bulgaria is usually followed by Serbia, where tolls are paid at barriers, not with a vignette — see our guide to road tolls in Serbia.
The second new development: since February 4, 2026, there is also a 1-day vignette (valid for 24 hours from activation) for passenger cars, priced at 4.09 euros. It is ideal if you are just transiting Bulgaria on your way to Greece or Turkey.
The third change is less welcome: from August 1, 2026, vignette prices go up by about 30%, the first significant increase since the electronic system was launched in 2019. The annual vignette rises from 49.60 to 64.50 euros, the weekend vignette from 5.11 to 6.60 euros, and the compensatory fee for passenger cars increases from 35.79 to 46.50 euros. Our recommendation: if you plan to travel to Bulgaria often, buy your vignette before August 1, 2026, at the old price.
Fortunately for us, since 2019 Bulgaria has offered electronic vignettes that can be bought online and don’t need to be stuck on the windshield, as is the case in other countries such as Austria…
If you are a haulier and didn’t already know, on March 1, 2020 Bulgaria launched a new electronic distance-based toll system – the Toll System, which covers more than 3,114 km of the Bulgarian road network and more than 803 km of motorway.
The system is similar to the one in Hungary, where you can pay road tolls in Bulgaria more efficiently with an electronic payment device.
How do I check whether I need a vignette for Bulgaria?
Whether you drive on Bulgarian motorways or on public roads, for your peace of mind and your wallet’s, it is best to buy a vignette, either online or in person at points of sale (gas stations, self-service terminals, points of sale displaying the BGTOLL logo).
For the Bulgaria vignette, you can choose from 6 options: a 1-day Bulgaria vignette (24 hours, a new option introduced on February 4, 2026), a weekend Bulgaria vignette (valid from Friday at 12:00 to Sunday at 23:59), a 1-week Bulgaria vignette, a 1-month Bulgaria vignette, a 3-month Bulgaria vignette, and a 1-year Bulgaria vignette.
Note: no vignette is required for motorcycles!
For vehicles over 3.5 tons (trucks and buses), the system is a little different. You can buy tickets for predefined routes in advance, or routes can be paid for automatically through a road toll payment device.
Vehicle categories for the Bulgaria vignette
The price of the Bulgaria vignette depends on your vehicle category, so pay close attention to this.
- Vehicles up to 3.5 t
- Trailers up to 3.5 t
- Trucks, caravans with a technically permissible maximum laden mass < 12 t
- Trucks, caravans with a technically permissible maximum laden mass ≥ 12 t
- Buses with a technically permissible maximum laden mass < 12 t
- Buses with a technically permissible maximum laden mass ≥ 12 t
Where can I buy a physical vignette for Bulgaria?
Although buying the vignette online (e-vignette) is the most recommended option, you can also buy it in person at various points of sale, such as:
- Gas stations;
- Self-service terminals/kiosks;
- Points of sale displaying the BGTOLL logo;
Make sure you have cash in euros when choosing this option, as some gas stations or BGTOLL points of sale may not have card payment terminals (POS).
As of January 1, 2026, Bulgaria has adopted the euro, so vignettes are paid in the new official currency: the euro (prices are also displayed in leva, at the fixed rate of 1.95583 leva/euro).
Can I buy the Bulgaria vignette online?
Yes, and it’s the most recommended option!
The fastest and safest way to buy the vignette in Bulgaria is through the official platform web.bgtoll.bg.
Whether you want to buy a vignette for a car, a truck, or even a bus, you can use the same platform.
Another way to successfully buy the vignette for Bulgaria is this platform.
If you’ve decided to buy the Bulgaria vignette online using the BGTOLL platform (which is also available in Romanian), there are just 6 steps until you have your vignette:
- Select the “electronic vignette for passenger car” option;
- Select the validity period (1 day, a weekend, a week, 1 or 3 months, 1 year);
- Choose the date/day from which you want the vignette to be valid;
- Enter the vehicle details: country of registration and license plate number;
- Enter your e-mail address to receive the payment confirmation and the vignette;
- Select the card type and pay (note: since 2026, online payments are processed in euros).
If you choose to pay by card, you’ll see that in the “Payment method” field you can only choose from:
- Visa Secure;
- Mastercard ID check;
- BCARD;
- UTA;
Our recommendation is to check the back/front of your card to see which payment processor it uses.
P.S. 90% of cards are Visa Secure or Mastercard ID Check, so you’ll most likely choose one of these 2 options.
Pay close attention to the lei – euro exchange rate.
Always check the rate your bank applies to the currency at the time of purchase so you don’t get any surprises later. (There can be large exchange rate differences, meaning you could pay more than the normal cost.)
For online Bulgaria vignette payments, make sure you have enabled online card payments.
How much does the Bulgaria vignette cost in 2026?
The cost of a vignette in Bulgaria can vary depending on the period you choose to buy (for passenger cars), or on the route, vehicle type (truck/bus), emission class, number of axles, and other details if you travel on Bulgarian roads with heavy vehicles (over 3.5 tons).
Bulgaria vignette validity for passenger cars.
| Bulgaria vignette validity | Price in euros / approx. lei |
|---|---|
| 1 day (24 hours) | 4.09 euros / approx. 21 lei |
| A weekend | 5.11 euros / approx. 26 lei |
| 1 week | 7.67 euros / approx. 39 lei |
| 1 month | 15.34 euros / approx. 78 lei |
| 3 months | 27.61 euros / approx. 140 lei |
| 1 year | 49.60 euros / approx. 252 lei |
Important: from August 1, 2026, vignette prices go up by about 30%. If you plan to drive through Bulgaria often, it’s worth buying your vignette before that date.
| Vignette validity | Price from August 1, 2026 |
|---|---|
| 1 day (24 hours) | 5.30 euros / approx. 27 lei |
| A weekend | 6.60 euros / approx. 34 lei |
| 1 week | 10.00 euros / approx. 51 lei |
| 1 month | 19.90 euros / approx. 101 lei |
| 3 months | 35.90 euros / approx. 182 lei |
| 1 year | 64.50 euros / approx. 327 lei |
If you have already bought one and want to check the vignette’s validity, you can do so by clicking here.
Bulgaria vignette for vehicles over 3.5 tons (trucks / buses)
If you are a haulier with trips to Bulgaria or are just transiting the country, the process of paying the vignette, or more precisely the road tolls, is a little different than for “passenger cars.”
Before we get to the payment methods, you should know that the Bulgarian authorities calculate road tolls for heavy vehicles based on the following:
- Vehicle type: (truck / bus);
- Vehicle weight: between 3 and 12 tons or over 12 tons;
- Emission class: from EURO 0 to EURO 6 or EEV;
- Type of road traveled: motorway, expressway, or national road;
- Distance traveled;
The ways you can pay road tolls in Bulgaria are:
Transit ticket (called a “Route Pass”)
Once paid, it is valid for 24 hours and entitles you to travel on the selected road sections.
When setting up the ticket, you must specify: the starting point, the destination, and up to 4 intermediate points, the vehicle’s registration number, country of registration, vehicle category, emission class, number of axles, and vehicle dimensions.
It can be bought up to 7 days in advance by registered users and 24 hours in advance by unregistered users. Registration is done online and is a very simple process that only requires validating your e-mail address.
It can be purchased here OR here.
The major drawback of the transit ticket is that it’s very easy to get fined if the driver deviates from the route without buying another ticket.
This option is used by hauliers who transit Bulgaria or run trips there very rarely.
Automatic toll payment device – road tolls in Bulgaria
The safest and most convenient way to pay road tolls in Bulgaria as a haulier is to use a GPS device (OBU) that automatically pays road tolls on any route you choose to travel
This option is the most widely used and recommended by hauliers who frequently transit Bulgaria, because it offers the following advantages:
- You can choose any route and change your itinerary at any time;
- Road tolls are paid automatically, so you avoid the hassle of buying tickets and calculating routes manually;
- You avoid fines;
- You avoid wasted time and the mistakes that can happen when buying tickets manually;
For automatic payment of road tolls in Bulgaria, you can try CargoTrack devices, among the most widely used devices of this kind in Romania.
In what currency can the Bulgaria vignette be paid?
As of January 1, 2026, Bulgaria officially adopted the euro, so the vignette is now paid in euros (EUR). On the official BGTOLL platform, prices are displayed in both euros and leva (at the fixed rate of 1.95583 leva/euro), but electronic payments are processed in euros.
If you buy the vignette online or in person at card terminals (POS) using a bank card, it’s good to know that you don’t need a euro card – you can just as well pay with a card in lei, forints, etc., and the bank will convert the amount automatically.
Pay close attention to the lei – euro exchange rate. Always check with your bank what rate it applies to the currency at the time of purchase so you don’t get any surprises later.
Our recommendations:
- Be careful with in-person payments at card terminals (POS) – make sure your bank allows card payments abroad.
- If you buy the vignette online, make sure you have enabled online card payments.
Do I also need a vignette for a trailer in Bulgaria?
When the total weight of the car + trailer/caravan exceeds 3.5 tons, buying a vignette is mandatory.
Note: no vignette is required for the trailer (caravan) if the combination does not exceed 3.5 tons.
It is worth noting that if the vehicle + trailer / caravan combination exceeds 3.5 tons, a vignette must be bought for each of them.
A practical example.
If you go on vacation for a week with a caravan and the vehicle + caravan combination exceeds 3.5 tons, you need to buy a 7.67-euro (15 leva) vignette for the vehicle and a 7.67-euro (15 leva) vignette for the caravan.
You can see the vignette prices for trailers/caravans here.
The validity period of the vignette for a trailer/caravan may differ from that for passenger cars.
How much is the fine for not having a vignette in Bulgaria?
Penalties for not paying road tolls start at 153.39 euros (300 leva) / approx. 778 lei for passenger cars and go up to 1,533.88 euros (3,000 leva) / approx. 7,780 lei for trucks/buses.
- 153.39 euros (300 leva) / approx. 778 lei – unpaid vignette, passenger car.
- 920.33 euros (1,800 leva) / approx. 4,670 lei – unpaid road tolls, trucks/buses
- 1,278.23 euros (2,500 leva) / approx. 6,480 lei – partial payment of road tolls, incorrect data entered at purchase (e.g., wrong number of axles, wrong emission standard, etc.).
- 255.65 euros (500 leva) / approx. 1,296 lei – driving on Bulgarian roads without a paid vignette and with unclear or illegible license plates (passenger cars).
- 1,533.88 euros (3,000 leva) / approx. 7,780 lei – Driving on Bulgarian roads without a paid vignette and with unclear or illegible license plates (trucks/buses).
I was caught without a vignette in Bulgaria – what should I do?
Fines for not paying the Bulgaria vignette must be paid on the spot to the competent authorities.
All drivers of cars, trucks, or buses who use Bulgaria’s toll road network and have not bought the vignette electronically / in person or have not paid road tolls manually / automatically will be fined.
There is good news, though, for those who for various reasons have not bought / paid road tolls in Bulgaria correctly.
The Bulgarian authorities allow you to pay a compensatory fee, which entitles you to complete your journey on that calendar day.
If the compensatory fee is paid, the vehicle may leave Bulgarian territory without an offense report being drawn up beforehand.
The compensatory fee for light vehicles (under 3.5 tons) is 35.79 euros (70 leva), or about 180 lei. Note: from August 1, 2026, it increases to 46.50 euros (about 235 lei).
For trucks and buses, these are the compensatory fee amounts for cases where the road toll for Bulgaria has not been paid:
| Vehicle type | Surcharge / Compensatory fee |
|---|---|
| Truck over 3.5 t up to 12 t | 77.21 euros (151 leva) / approx. 391 lei |
| Truck over 12 t with 2-3 axles | 213.72 euros (418 leva) / approx. 1,084 lei |
| Truck over 12 t with 4 or more axles | 301.15 euros (589 leva) / approx. 1,527 lei |
| Passenger vehicle with more than 8 seats up to 12 t | 29.65 euros (58 leva) / approx. 150 lei |
| Passenger vehicle with more than 8 seats over 12 t | 36.81 euros (72 leva) / approx. 187 lei |
The compensatory fee can be paid on the spot during the inspection by bank card, or within 14 days by bank transfer.
The bank account, belonging to the authority that manages road tolls in Bulgaria, to which payment can be made is:
- IBAN: BG50BNBG96613100165801
- BIC: BNBGBGSD
- BNB Bank
If the compensatory fee is not paid, the Bulgarian authorities issue an offense report and apply the administrative enforcement measure of temporarily taking the vehicle off the road.
A penalty notice/decision setting the fine will also be issued and handed over, taking effect after 14 calendar days if the offending driver does not pay the compensatory fee within that period.
If you have driven in Bulgaria and want to check whether a fine has been issued for your vehicle number, you can check here: https://www.digitoll.bg/en/pay-delict/.
Pay road tolls in Bulgaria automatically…
Did you know you can pay road tolls automatically with just 1 device?
With the CargoTrack device, no matter which route you choose, road tolls are paid automatically, with no more waiting in line or wasting time buying tickets or using other online platforms…
5 reasons why the CargoTrack device is worth trying:
- No subscription;
- No deposits;
- No contract periods;
- You pay ONLY when you cross;
- Installation included in Romania or Europe;
+BONUS: with the same device you can activate the GPS monitoring service.
No regular trips?
No problem at all – as long as you DON’T transit Bulgaria, you don’t pay a single leu, no matter how long the break between trips (1 week, 1 month, 3 months, 1 year).
Get rid of road toll stress – let the CargoTrack experts help you!
Apply for road toll payment here.
Bulgaria Vignette Questions and Answers
Is the Bulgaria vignette mandatory?
Yes, if you drive on Bulgarian motorways or on public roads in Bulgaria, you must have a vignette bought online or in person from authorized points of sale.
Where can I buy the Bulgaria vignette?
The vignette for Bulgaria can be bought online, from the official BGTOLL platform, or in person at gas stations, self-service terminals, and points of sale marked with the BGTOLL logo.
Can I buy the Bulgaria vignette online?
Yes, the online option is the fastest and safest way to buy it. The official platform mentioned is web.bgtoll.bg.
What types of vignettes are available for passenger cars in Bulgaria?
For passenger cars, there are six options: a 1-day vignette (24 hours, available since February 2026), a weekend vignette, and 1-week, 1-month, 3-month, and 1-year vignettes. The weekend vignette is valid from Friday at 12:00 to Sunday at 23:59.
How much does the Bulgaria vignette cost for passenger cars?
For passenger cars, prices are 4.09 euros for 1 day, 5.11 euros for a weekend, 7.67 euros for 1 week, 15.34 euros for 1 month, 27.61 euros for 3 months, and 49.60 euros for 1 year. From August 1, 2026, prices go up by about 30% (the annual vignette reaches 64.50 euros).
What currency is the Bulgaria vignette paid in?
In 2026, Bulgaria vignette prices are displayed in both euros and leva on the official BG Toll platform, but online payments are processed in euros.
Do motorcycles need a vignette in Bulgaria?
No, no vignette is required for motorcycles.
Do I also need a Bulgaria vignette for a trailer or caravan?
If the total weight of the combination of car and trailer or caravan exceeds 3.5 tons, buying a vignette becomes mandatory.
If the combination does not exceed 3.5 tons, no vignette is required for the trailer or caravan.
If the combination exceeds 3.5 tons, a vignette must be bought for each of them.
How are road tolls paid in Bulgaria for vehicles over 3.5 tons?
For trucks and buses over 3.5 tons, the electronic Toll system applies, not the standard Bulgaria vignette for passenger cars.
Tolls can be paid either with a transit ticket for a predefined route or automatically through an electronic OBU device.
How are road tolls calculated in Bulgaria for trucks and buses?
For heavy vehicles, tolls are calculated based on the vehicle type, its weight, emission class, road type, and distance traveled.
What is the Route Pass in Bulgaria and when is it used?
The Route Pass is the transit ticket for heavy vehicles and is valid for 24 hours on the selected road sections.
This option is mainly used by hauliers who rarely transit Bulgaria or make occasional trips there.
The main drawback is that the driver can easily be fined for deviating from the declared route without buying another ticket.
What fine do you risk if you drive without a Bulgaria vignette?
Penalties for not having a Bulgaria vignette start at 300 leva (about 153.39 euros) for passenger cars and can reach up to 3,000 leva (about 1,533.88 euros) for trucks and buses.
Separate penalties are also listed for situations such as partial payment of tolls, incorrectly entered data, or unclear or illegible license plates.
