Bulgaria vignette 2026 — the complete guide
The Bulgarian vignette (e-vinetka) is the electronic charge for using motorways and first-class national roads in Bulgaria. Since 2019 the system has been fully digital and linked to the registration number — you stick nothing on the windscreen, and ANPR cameras check plates automatically. This guide explains how the 2026 price list works, what the validity periods are, why Bulgaria has just one rate for most vehicles, and how motorcycles and trailers are treated.
How much the Bulgarian vignette costs in 2026
Bulgaria stands out for its simplicity: unlike countries that split vehicles into classes by height or number of axles, here a car, van and camper up to 3.5 tonnes pay the same rate. You don’t have to check the height above the front axle or work out categories — one price covers this whole segment. From 2026 Bulgaria charges the vignette in euros, after adopting the common currency; earlier the prices were quoted in leva.
There are six validity periods to choose from — from the shortest to the yearly one. Below is a quick note on who each suits; the exact, always up-to-date amounts are in the price list.
| Period | Who it suits |
|---|---|
| Daily | A single trip within one day |
| Weekend | Friday 12:00 – Sunday 23:59; a short getaway |
| 7-day | A week of holidays or a longer transit |
| 30-day | Several trips onto tolled roads in a month |
| Quarterly | More frequent journeys during the season |
| Yearly | Regular driving; 365 days from the start date |
Bulgaria is one of the few countries with both a daily and a weekend vignette — so for a short trip you don’t have to pay for a whole week. This flexibility of short periods is one of the advantages of the Bulgarian system over its neighbours.
Which period to choose — quick scenarios
- A one-day trip: the daily vignette is enough if you enter and leave on the same day.
- A weekend by the sea: the weekend vignette (Fri 12:00 – Sun 23:59) is usually cheaper than the 7-day one.
- A week of holidays: the 7-day vignette for a longer stay or transit.
- Regular driving through the year: the yearly vignette gives the lowest cost per day.
Which roads require a vignette
The vignette applies on all Bulgarian motorways and on first-class national roads. The main routes are:
- A1 Trakia — Sofia → Plovdiv → Burgas (the main eastward axis, to the sea).
- A2 Hemus — Sofia → Varna (the northern route to the Black Sea).
- A3 Struma — towards the Greek border (Kulata).
- A4 Maritsa — towards the Turkish border (Kapitan Andreevo).
- A6 Lyulin — a short section near Sofia.
Second- and third-class roads and city streets are free. A separate matter is the Ruse–Giurgiu bridge on the Romanian border — that is a bridge toll the vignette does not cover. If you enter Bulgaria from Romania over that bridge, you pay separately for the crossing and buy the vignette separately for the onward drive.
Vehicle categories — who pays and who doesn’t
The Bulgarian system distinguishes three situations:
- Car, van, camper up to 3.5 t — one shared rate (the vehicle category).
- Motorcycle — exempt from the vignette. You buy nothing, unlike in some countries where the motorcycle is paid.
- Trailer — has its own, paid vignette (the same rate as the vehicle). Towing a trailer or caravan you need two vignettes: for the car and for the trailer.
Vehicles over 3.5 tonnes do not buy a vignette — they settle in the separate Tol Pass system (a charge based on the kilometres driven). This applies to large campers and heavy goods vehicles. We describe trailers in detail in the post about the trailer vignette.
How to buy the vignette step by step
Buying online takes about two minutes and needs no account. You choose the category (vehicle or trailer) and the period, enter the registration number, the start date and an e-mail address, then pay. Once the payment clears we register the vignette in the official bgtoll.bg system — usually within 10–15 minutes. You can also set a future start date (up to a month ahead), which helps when planning a trip in advance.
You receive a confirmation with the vignette details by e-mail. It is worth checking the registration number before payment — after activation a change may be impossible, because the vignette binds permanently to the plate. The full, current prices of all periods are in the price list. If you are wondering about timing, see the post when is the best time to buy a Bulgaria vignette.