Romania (RO)
Romania is the largest country in Southeastern Europe — a full Schengen EU member state blessed with the dramatic Carpathian mountains, medieval Saxon towns like Sibiu and Brasov, the legendary Transylvania region, a booming technology sector, and one of the lowest costs of living in the European Union.
Driving in Romania
Licence exchange, road rules, fines, buying a car, and cycling.
Driving in Romania is governed by OUG 195/2002 (Codul Rutier) and Regulamentul de aplicare HG 1391/2006. Traffic keeps to the right. The motorway network (autostradă) has grown past 1,000 km and continues to expand along the A1, A2, A3, A4 and A10 corridors, though many inter-city journeys still mix expressway with single-carriageway DN roads. A valid rovinietă (electronic road vignette) is mandatory on all national roads outside city limits. Penalty points (puncte de penalizare) go on the driver's file in the Evidența Șoferilor system held by DRPCIV — 15 points in 12 months triggers a licence suspension.
Driving Licence Exchange
EU/EEA driving licences are fully valid in Romania without exchange — they only need to be updated at DRPCIV when the holder becomes a Romanian resident or the document expires. Non-EU holders from countries with a bilateral agreement can exchange without a test; others must pass the full theory and practical exams in Romanian.
Valid indefinitely until the document expires. No exchange is required for day-to-day driving. When you become a Romanian resident you must update your address at DRPCIV (Direcția Regim Permise de Conducere și Înmatriculare a Vehiculelor) and, on renewal, replace the document with a Romanian licence.
EU/EEA licence categories transfer 1:1. Bring your existing licence, passport/CI, residence permit and medical/psychological certificates only if your category requires periodic review.
USA, Canada, Japan, South Korea, Turkey, Moldova, Israel, Serbia, United Kingdom, Switzerland, Norway
Direct exchange without theory or practical test at your local DRPCIV. Bring: the original foreign licence, legalised translation into Romanian (traducere legalizată), your residence permit, a medical certificate (aviz medical auto) and a psychological certificate (aviz psihologic). Appointment must be booked online via drpciv.ro.
The exchange must usually be completed within 185 days of obtaining residency. The foreign licence is retained by DRPCIV and a Romanian one is issued in its place.
Full theory (proba teoretică) and practical exam (proba practică) in Romanian. You must enrol at a licensed școală de șoferi (driving school), complete the minimum 30 hours of theory and 30 hours of practical instruction, obtain the aviz medical and aviz psihologic, and then sit both exams at DRPCIV. Theory is computer-based with 26 questions; practical is an in-traffic evaluation.
Fail rates are high — plan for at least one retake. Autoșcoli (driving schools) in larger cities may offer partial recognition of your foreign licence, reducing required teaching hours.
Road Rules
Inside built-up areas (în localitate): 50 km/h. Outside built-up areas on main roads (drumuri naționale / europene): 90 km/h. Expressways (drumuri expres): 100 km/h. Motorways (autostradă): 130 km/h. Lower limits apply to drivers with less than 1 year of experience (reduced by 20 km/h outside built-up areas).
Romania's motorway network is still growing — current backbone routes include A1 București–Sibiu–Nădlac, A2 București–Constanța, A3 București–Ploiești and the Transylvanian segments, A4 Constanța bypass, and A10 Sebeș–Turda. Rovinietă is mandatory for all vehicles on national roads, expressways and motorways. Overtaking on the right is forbidden. Keep right except when overtaking.
0.00 g/L (zero tolerance) — Romania has absolute zero BAC for all drivers. Driving with any detectable alcohol (0.01–0.79 mg/L in exhaled air) is a criminal contravention punished by fine, licence suspension, and in some cases community service. 0.80 mg/L or above in exhaled air is an infracțiune (criminal offence) punishable by up to 5 years in prison.
Holding a mobile phone while driving is prohibited. Fine: 4 puncte amendă (approximately 580–870 RON in 2026) plus 4 penalty points. Hands-free is allowed.
Mandatory for driver and all passengers, front and rear. Non-compliance: 4 puncte amendă (580–870 RON) plus 4 penalty points on the driver.
Children under 135 cm in height or under 12 years must travel in an approved child seat or booster (ECE R44/04 or i-Size R129). Rear seats only below 135 cm unless the front airbag is deactivated. Fine for non-compliance: 9 puncte amendă plus 4 points.
Bucharest introduced the Zona de Protecție de Mediu (ZPM) in 2024. Old vehicles (generally pre-Euro 4 petrol / pre-Euro 5 diesel) need a vignetă de oxigen to enter central Bucharest (sectors 1–6 inner loop). Check the sticker requirements and fees at pmb.ro. Other cities, including Cluj-Napoca, are piloting similar schemes.
Traffic Fines (Bußgeldkatalog)
Romanian fines are expressed in puncte amendă (fine points), where 1 punct amendă in 2026 equals ~145 RON (= 10% of the gross minimum wage). The traffic file records puncte de penalizare (penalty points) — at 15 points within 12 months the licence is suspended for 30 days. Serious offences (speeding 50+ km/h over, running a red light, DUI) carry an additional suspension of 30–120 days and in some cases criminal charges.
| Offence | Fine | Points |
|---|---|---|
| Speeding up to 10 km/h over limit | 2–3 puncte amendă (~290–435 RON) | 2 |
| Speeding 11–20 km/h over limit | 4–5 puncte amendă (~580–725 RON) | 3 |
| Speeding 21–30 km/h over limit | 6–8 puncte amendă (~870–1,160 RON) | 4 |
| Speeding 31–40 km/h over limit | 9–20 puncte amendă (~1,305–2,900 RON) + 30-day suspension | 5 |
| Speeding 40+ km/h over limit | 20–40 puncte amendă (~2,900–5,800 RON) + 90-day suspension | 6 |
| Running a red light | 12–20 puncte amendă (~1,740–2,900 RON) + 90-day suspension | 6 |
| Handheld mobile phone while driving | 4 puncte amendă (~580–870 RON) | 4 |
| No seatbelt (driver or adult passenger) | 4 puncte amendă (~580–870 RON) | 4 |
| Child not in appropriate seat | 9 puncte amendă (~1,305 RON) | 4 |
| Driving without rovinietă | 250–2,500 RON depending on vehicle class | 0 |
| Overtaking on the right | 9–20 puncte amendă | 4 |
| Driving with 0.00–0.79 mg/l alcohol in exhaled air | Criminal contravention, 120-day suspension, up to 20 puncte amendă | 6 |
Buying a Car
Romania has an active used-car market. Most private transactions happen on autovit.ro, OLX.ro and MyBC, while dealers list on lajumate.ro and their own sites. Western European imports dominate the popular segments. Private sellers can exclude warranty but the vehicle must match its description; dealers must offer a 12-month legal warranty under Codul Consumului.
- 1.Research on autovit.ro, OLX.ro or MyBC; compare prices at eurotaxglass.ro.
- 2.Check the certificat de înmatriculare (registration certificate) and cartea de identitate a vehiculului (CIV) — the seller's name and CNP must match.
- 3.Run a history report via istoricauto.ro or RAR's online check (~30–50 RON) to verify mileage, accidents and ownership chain.
- 4.Commission a pre-purchase inspection (verificare tehnică) at RAR or an authorised workshop (200–400 RON).
- 5.Confirm the ITP (Inspecția Tehnică Periodică) is valid and the rovinietă is purchased.
- 6.Sign a contract de vânzare-cumpărare in front of a notary or authenticate at DRPCIV — notary fees typically 200–500 RON.
- 7.Obtain a certificat fiscal (tax clearance) from the seller's primăria proving no unpaid vehicle tax.
- 8.Pay by bank transfer where possible; cash is common but keep a signed receipt (chitanță).
- 9.Register the vehicle at DRPCIV within 30 days — transfer of ownership and issue of new plates if the county changes.
- •ITP (Inspecția Tehnică Periodică) valid — annual for cars >10 years, biennial for newer.
- •RCA (third-party liability insurance) — transferable or new in the buyer's name before registration.
- •Rovinietă valid — check status at roviniete.ro.
- •Certificat fiscal from seller's primăria — confirms no outstanding vehicle tax.
- •No outstanding lien — check the cartea de identitate a vehiculului and confirm no Garanție Mobilă is registered at RNPM.
Budget: purchase price, transfer fee at DRPCIV (~90 RON), new plates if county changes (40–60 RON), ITP if due (100–200 RON), RCA (600–2,500 RON/year depending on vehicle and driver), annual vehicle tax (impozit auto) paid to the local primăria, and notary fees (200–500 RON).
Registration, Insurance & Tax
Vehicles are registered at DRPCIV (Direcția Regim Permise de Conducere și Înmatriculare a Vehiculelor) in the county where the owner resides. Bring: the old certificat de înmatriculare and cartea de identitate a vehiculului, the notarised contract de vânzare-cumpărare, a valid ITP, an RCA insurance policy in the buyer's name, the seller's certificat fiscal, your ID/residence permit, and proof of address. New plates are issued if you change county. Fee: ~90 RON plus ~40–60 RON for plates. Processing is usually same-day if you arrive early.
RCA (Răspundere Civilă Auto — third-party liability) is legally mandatory before a vehicle can move on public roads. Prices are regulated by ASF (Autoritatea de Supraveghere Financiară) and depend on engine capacity, vehicle age, driver's experience and claim history (bonus-malus from B14 best to M8 worst). Typical premium: 600–2,500 RON/year for passenger cars. Optional additional covers: CASCO (comprehensive — theft, fire, damage), asistență rutieră, GAP. Compare quotes at 123.ro, carassist.ro, or directly with Allianz-Țiriac, Asirom, Omniasig, Groupama, Generali.
Impozit auto is a local tax collected annually by the primăria where you are resident. It is calculated on engine displacement (cm³) using county-level rates. Example: a 1,600 cc petrol car pays roughly 200–450 RON/year in Bucharest; larger engines pay significantly more. Electric vehicles are exempt. Pay online at ghiseul.ro or in person at the primăria; a 10% discount usually applies if paid in full by 31 March.
ITP (Inspecția Tehnică Periodică) is mandatory at authorised stations (Stații de Inspecție Tehnică Periodică) — typical cost 100–200 RON. Frequency: biennial for new cars (first ITP after 3 years, then every 2 years) and annual for cars over 10 years old. Driving without a valid ITP results in fines of 9–20 puncte amendă and potential retention of the certificat de înmatriculare on the spot.
Cycling
Cycling infrastructure is expanding quickly in Bucharest, Cluj-Napoca, Timișoara, Brașov and Sibiu, though inter-city cycling remains limited. Bucharest operates the iVelo bike-share scheme (seasonal) and private e-scooter networks (Bolt, Lime, Dott) operate in multiple cities. Bikes can be carried on most CFR regional trains with a separate bike ticket.
- •Helmets are mandatory for cyclists under 14 years old. Strongly recommended for adults.
- •Front white light and rear red light are mandatory at night or in poor visibility. Fines apply for missing lights.
- •A bell is required on urban bikes.
- •Cycling under the influence of alcohol is prohibited — same zero-tolerance rule (0.00 g/L) as applies to drivers.
- •Children may be carried only in an approved child seat with full safety belt.
- •Cycling on the pavement (trotuar) is prohibited for adults unless signposted.
- •Using a phone while cycling is prohibited.
- •Running a red light on a bike is treated the same as by a motor vehicle.
- •Register your bike frame number with the local police (some sectors in Bucharest operate a free registration).
- •Use a solid U-lock plus a secondary cable — bike theft is common in Bucharest and Cluj.
- •Buy second-hand on OLX or dedicated Facebook groups — quality used hybrids start ~800–1,500 RON.
- •Check municipality cycling maps (velobiz.ro, prezentvelo.ro) for the current bike-lane network.
- •CFR allows bikes on regional trains with a separate ticket (~10 RON). Inter-city and Săgeata Albastră have limited bike space — reserve in advance.