Driving in Romania

DRIVE ON THE RIGHT

This page provides the basic rules of the road for driving in Romania.

Telephone Numbers:

Emergency Services:

Police 112
Fire 112
Ambulance 112

Speed Limits

Speed limits in Romania are measured in KPH (Kilometres per Hour). Ensure you check the road signs, as speed limits can vary greatly.

Motorways 130kph
Outside urban and rural areas 90 kph
Urban and rural areas 50 kph

Watch out for signs in built up areas restricting you to 30kph . These limits can also be painted on the road. Also, there is a portion of the road DN1 ( National Road 1) between Bucharest and Brasov where the limit in urban and rural is increased to 70 kph.

Toll Information

When entering Romania by car you need to buy Romanian Vigneta which costs from 3 eur for a car for 7 days up to a few hundred euros depending on the period and type of vehicle. If you rent a car, this vigneta should be payed by the rental company, and you don`t need to worry about it.

General Tips and Road Information

Car Horns:
Avoid using your car horn in built up areas of Romania, restrict their use to emergencies.

Trams:
If you encounter trams whilst driving in Romania be aware that they are given priority at all times. You are permitted to overtake trams on either side on one-way streets; but if you encounter a tram on a two-way street, it must be overtaken on the right. You must avoid overtaking trams when their occupants are either climbing aboard or alighting.

Pedestrian crossings in Romania:
Watch out for pedestrian crossings, marked on the road in painted white bands. If you come across a pedestrian attempting to cross here you must give way.

Fuel:
You can usually pay for fuel with a major credit card. If you are collecting a rental car at the airport there will normally be a fuel station close by, if not, ask the rental company for directions. Leaded 'super' petrol has an octane rating of 95, 'super plus' is 98 octane.

English to Romanian Translation of Fuel Terms:

Unleaded petrol - Fara Plumb

Diesel - Diesel

Liquid Petroleum Gas - GPL

Requirements

Minimum driving age:
The minimum driving age in Romania is 18yrs.

Driving licences:
If you are visiting Romania for less than a year you are covered by your domestic drivers licence.

Essential equipment:
A warning triangle.

Children in the front seat:
Children in the front passenger seat must be at least 12 years old or 1.5 metres tall unless using a child seat.

Seatbelts:
You are legally required to wear a seatbelt in Romania both as the driver of a vehicle and as a passenger.

Headlights:
In Romania, you need to have your low beam headlight on outside urban and rural areas. It is better to keep them on all the time. In bad weather you are required to use your low beam headlights.

Motorcycles:
When you ride a motorcycle in Romania you must have your headlights on at all times.