Quest Bulgaria

A reminder that Bulgaria's annual 2012 vignettes are now available to buy around the country, the good news also for drivers is that the price has remained the same.The vignettes or toll stickers can be purchased from numerous concerns including Bulgarian Post Office, Easypay offices and Piccadilly supermarket as well as petrol stations OMV, Lukoil, Shell, Litex and Rompetrol.

A vignette is required driving on Bulgarian state roads. These are practically all main roads in Bulgaria and there is no option to avoid buying a vignette for driving in Bulgaria. Unlike other countries that have the vignette system like Austria and Switzerland the vignette cannot be obtained outside Bulgaria. If you are arriving in Bulgaria by car you should buy a vignette for your car at (after) the border checkpoint. If you drive in Bulgaria without a vignette you risk a fine.

Following types of vignettes are available in Bulgaria

Prices of road tax vignettes for cars

1 Week - EUR 5,00

1 Month - EUR 13,00

Annual - EUR 34,00

How to buy

When you buy a vignette it should be activated for the days you will need it. A vignette is being activated by a" punch system" and when you buy one you will be asked about the day it should be valid from. A vignette for seven days is valid for seven calendar days from the day it has been activated from. A monthly vignette is valid for 31 calender days - for example if you buy a montly vignette on 15 of July it will be valid till 15th of August. Things are different with the annual vignette it is valid from 1 January of the current year until 31 January of the following year irrespective of the date it was bought. It is expected that a new electronic system will be introduced to Bulgaria by 2014.

The day on which the vignette sticker is purchased must not always be the day of its departure. The vignette can be purchased in advance of the desire of the customer. The important thing is that the actual date of departure will be punched.

Affixing the vignette sticker

A vignette sticker is only valid once it has been properly affixed to the vehicle. The mere purchase or possession of a toll sticker does NOT satisfy the requirements for proper payment of the toll. After removing the foil backing, the vignette sticker must be placed without damage directly onto the inside of the windscreen in a location (down right when facing the screen) which is clearly visible from outside the vehicle, where it can be inspected. Short-term toll stickers (1-week and 7-day stickers) must be punched prior to being affixed. Vignette stickers which are not punched or which are not affixed to the vehicle are invalid and one must expect penalties in the event of an inspection. The lower part of the vignette sticker (counterfoil with the serial number) must be retained as a proof of purchase.

Vignettes Available

Vignettes are required for all types of roads, except for the streets inside cities, towns and villages, as well as city beltways. There are road signs notifying drivers of a vignette being required. Three types of vignettes are available:

K1 - 1st category: all freight vehicles with more than two axles, road trains, special construction equipment, auto cranes, special trailers for transport of heavy or oversized cargo, and other special motor vehicles.
k2 - 2nd category: all passenger transport vehicles with more than 8 seats excluding the driver's seat, all freight vehicles with two axles as well as construction equipment, auto cranes, special trailers for transport of heavy or oversized cargo, and other special motor vehicles, all of them with two axles.
K3 - 3rd category: all passenger transport vehicles with no more than 8 seats.

 

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