Romania is a country located in the south-eastern part of Europe. It borders Hungary and Serbia to the west, Bulgaria to the south along the Danube, and Ukraine and Moldova to the north. Romania also has access to the Black Sea. The capital of Romania is Bucharest, which is the largest city in the country. If you are planning a trip to this increasingly attractive tourist country, read this article. You will learn what is worth knowing when traveling by car on the roads of Romania.
Toll roads and motorways in Romania
Motorways in Romania are among the least developed roads in Europe. Their total length is only 807 km . Many of them are still under construction, which makes navigation much more difficult. There are no expressways in Romania. You have to pay for traveling on Romanian highways. The toll system on motorways is based on vignettes.
Tolls in Romania
When planning a trip to Romania, you need to take into account tolls. Romania offers prices for vignettes according to the following criteria:
- 7 days – 6 euros,
- 30 days – 13 euros,
- 90 days – 36 euros,
- 365 days – 104 euros.
You will have to pay an additional fee for crossing bridges on the Danube and at the border crossing Ruse – Giurgiu. This fee is 6 euros.
Romanian vignettes – everything you need to know about them
The vignette allows you to use the roads of a certain country. After crossing the Romanian border, you must have a vignette, which is currently available electronically. You can purchase a vignette before entering Romania. It is valid on all Romanian highways and allows you to drive on them legally. It is very important to have it, because in the event of an inspection, the absence of a vignette can lead to a high fine of up to 1,000 euros.
Learn more about vignettes in Romania
One type of vignette applies to cars with a maximum number of seats of 9 and a weight of no more than 3.5 tons. The situation is different with vehicles with more than 9 seats, vehicles and fleet. In this case, different types of vignettes are used.
Motorcycles are exempt from vignettes . Vignettes can be purchased at a gas station, at a border crossing or online. We especially recommend the last method, as it is the least problematic to purchase a vignette online.
Auto equipment in Romania
Mandatory car equipment in Romania is:
- warning triangle,
- first aid kit,
- extinguisher,
- reflective vest,
- spare wheel with jack or repair kit,
Additional car equipment that you should always have with you is a towing cable and spare light bulbs. It should be remembered that the minimum tire tread depth is 1.5 mm.
Romania – the most important traffic rules and speed limits
When traveling in Romania by car, it is worth knowing what the rules are in force in this country, because the Romanian police are very strict. It is a driver’s responsibility to turn on the low beam of headlights outside of populated areas all year round. In Romania, towing by private cars is prohibited. You can’t use anti-radar either. In difficult weather conditions, winter tires are mandatory .
Speed limits in force in Romania:
- in populated areas – up to 50 km/h,
- on single-lane roads – up to 90 km/h,
- on national roads and so-called European roads – up to 100 km/h,
- on highways – up to 130 km/h.
Important phone numbers for traveling in Romania
In case of unforeseen events, it is worth knowing the necessary phone numbers that can come in handy in an emergency.
In Romania, the emergency number 112 is intended for ambulance, police and fire services.