Traveling through Romania is almost as comfortable as it is through other European countries. As of today, there are over 800 kilometers of highways, which do not differ in technical condition from other countries.
In addition, there are plans to build further roads, almost twice as long as they already exist.
The total length of highway in Romania is to be over 2,200 kilometers. Using them is, like everywhere else – paid. To drive on Romanian highways you need to buy a vignette.
Toll roads in Romania
Despite the fears, the main transit routes in Romania are really in good condition. The only things you really have to take into account are obstacles such as road works or unlit vehicles moving after dark.
Including cyclists and animals walking on roads without a guardian …
It is a bit worse with smaller side roads. They are not in the best technical condition, but when moving on the highways in Romania we will not have to worry about this fact.
Motorways in Romania
Motorways in Romania are marked with the letter A on the map. They connect the following sections:
- A1: Bucharest – Pitesti – Sibiu – Deva – Timisoara – Arad – Nadlac – up to the border with Hungary
- A2: Bucharest – Fetesti – Cernavoda – Constanta
- A3: Bucharest – Ploiesti – Brasov – Sighisoara – Targu Mures – Cluj Napoca – Zalau – Oradea – Bors – to the border with Hungary
- A4: Ovidiu – Agigea – Mangalia – Vama Veche – to the border with Bulgaria
- A6: A1 near Lugoj – Drobeta-Turnu Severin – Calafat
- A10: A1 near Sebes – with A3 near Turda
- A11: A1 near Arad – with the intersection of DN7 road
Some of these motorways are still under construction.
The highway marked with 0 refers to the beltway around the capital – Bucharest. However, the planned A5 motorway is to connect the town of Albita (the border with Moldova) with Fokszana, Ploiesti up to Bucharest.
If there are highways, there are also vignettes. See how much they cost and where is the best to buy vignettes in Romania.
Vignettes in Romania
Traveling through Romania you have to buy a vignette – it is not possible to cross this country without it. Vignettes apply to all public roads, regardless of whether it is a highway or not.
Unless you are riding a motorcycle, in which case road tolls in Romania don’t apply to you.
Other vehicles – passenger cars, trucks and buses must purchase a vignette. This is a form of tax levied for the use of all road infrastructure in this country. Fortunately, vignettes in Romania are among the cheapest in all of Europe.
Where to buy a vignette in Romania?
The vignette should be bought as soon as possible after crossing the Romanian border. Failure to pay results in a fine of RON 9500 (Romanian leu). It’s best to buy a vignette at the border crossing at a designated point of sale (e.g. rovinieta) or simply at a gas station.
An even better and more convenient idea is to buy an e-vignette online, e.g. at https://www.e-rovinieta.ro/en/ (in English).
Both types of vignettes have no physical form (e.g. stickers). All you will receive is a confirmation of payment and information about your car will be entered into the database.
It’s best to keep this receipt in case of control.
Now that we know where to buy vignettes, let’s move on to the next information.
Types of vignettes in Romania
The first division is to determine the category to which your car belongs. In Romania, all passenger vehicles up to 3.5 tonnes and up to nine passenger seats fall into category A.
Transport cars up to 3.5 tonnes and minibuses over 9 passenger seats are another category of vehicles in Romania and other fees will apply.
As for the time for which you want to buy a vignette in Romania, there is such a division:
- weekly – which is valid for the next 7 days, e.g. from May 9 to May 15 until 23.59
- monthly – which is valid for the next 30 days, e.g. from March 10 to April 9 until 23.59
- three-month long – which is valid for the next 90 days, e.g. from June 22 to September 21 until 23.59
- annual – which is valid for the next 365 days, e.g. from February 12, 2019 to February 11, 2020 until 23.59
Now a few words about how much a vignette costs in Romania.
Vignette prices in Romania
When it comes to vignette prices in Romania, the fact is that despite the official Romanian currency, they are in euro (for passenger cars in category A):
- you will pay 3 euro for a weekly vignette
- you will pay 7 euro for a monthly vignette
- you will pay 13 euro for a three-month vignette
- you will pay 28 euro for an annual vignette
In addition to the basic vignette, you may also be forced to pay additional fees (the amount depends also on the type of car) when crossing the Danube. Depending on what type of crossing you choose – whether the ferry or bridge, the fees for them are at this level:
- Calafat ferry crossing – Vidin and Bechet – Oriahovo – passenger cars 23 euro, minibuses 46 euro, minibuses with a trailer 60 euro
- port charges in the above cities – passenger cars 7 euro, minibuses and coaches 11 euro
- tolls for crossing the bridge at the border crossing Giurgiu – Ruse and Calafat – Vidin are – 6 euro passenger cars, 12 euro minibuses
- bridge tolls at the Giurgeni border crossing – Vadu Oii are – 5 RON motorcycles, 11 RON passenger cars and 20 RON minibuses
- tolls for crossing the bridge at the Fetesti – Cernavoda border crossing are – 8 RON motorcycles, 11 RON passenger cars, 37 RON minibuses
What else is worth knowing when traveling around Romania by car?
In Romania your driving license is valid, there is no need for an international license. However, it is mandatory to have valid liability insurance. Driving after consuming alcohol or intoxicants is strictly prohibited. Also, you cannot talk on the cell phone while driving, except through a speakerphone.
When it comes to car equipment, you must have in Romania:
- first aid kit
- up to date fire extinguisher
- two warning triangles
- a reflective vest
Speed limits in Romania:
- up to 50 km / h in built-up areas
- up to 90 km / h on a single carriageway
- up to 100 km / h on a trunk road
- up to 130 km / h on a motorway
It is also worth adding that the police in Romania can be very strict. Even for crossing the solid line you may face, in addition to the fine, having your driving license taken for 30 to even 90 days.
The driving license return procedure is lengthy. After taking your driving license, you can travel around Romania on the basis of “Dovada”, a replacement document valid for two weeks. A stopped driving license is sent to the Central Police Headquarters in Bucharest, from there to the Embassy Consular Department, and then to the office in your home country that issued the document. This procedure means that the driver is deprived of their driving license for a period of up to about 2-3 months.
It is possible to pick up your driving license in person. After taking the driving license by officers of the Romanian traffic police, it is possible to collect the document in person before leaving Romania within 15 days of the date of detention.
Let us know how you feel about traveling by motorways in Romania.