Car hires in Bulgaria

Cars must keep their headlights on (including during daylight hours) and hire car drivers should be aware of changing speed limits on Bulgarian roads. As soon as you enter a built-up area or pass a sign showing the place name on the outskirts of a town or village you are in a 31 mph zone. On most rural roads the speed limit is 50 mph and motorways have maximum speeds of 80 mph or 87 mph , depending on whether there is a hard shoulder. Speed cameras and speed traps are not signposted. Bulgarian police have the right to issue on-the-spot fines to drivers of rental cars and to send them to a local hospital for a follow-up breath test. Parking fines can be expensive, so avoid blue and green no parking zones in cities. Trams have right-of-way over cars at all times. Be aware that a red fuel pump at a service station is reserved for service vehicles. Your car rental company should equip the car with compulsory items, i.e. warning triangle, fire extinguisher, first aid kit and reflective jackets for each passenger.

When you use momondo for rental car comparison, you have a range of car hire companies to choose from and each one will have their own car hire terms and conditions. They may include documentation over and above the legal requirements. When you pick up your rental car you will need to provide your passport or national ID card, your driving licence and your debit or credit card. Some car hire deals include a compulsory deposit which can only be paid by credit card, even if you're paying for the car hire by debit card. In addition, some rental cars can only be hired by drivers over 23, while other companies specify a minimum age of 21 years. Some car rental companies also require a printed copy of the online booking confirmation and may attach conditions to the driving licence, such as having held your licence for over three years. Always double-check the T&Cs when deciding on cheap rental cars as there will be differences in the collision and theft waivers and the deposits required. Extras such as car seats for children may incur additional charges.

Svelingrad/Kapikule is a border crossing into Turkey and so the A1 motorway from Sofia to Svelingrad is always busy and traffic includes heavy lorries in both directions. The Black Sea coast of Bulgaria is a popular holiday destination so the A4 and A2 highways to the main resorts will be busy in Summer, as will the E67 road along the coast. Winter visitors to Bulgaria often hire 4WD rental cars to take them up to the ski resorts so the roads up into the Pirin Mountains and the famous Bankso resort will almost certainly be busy in Winter. Ensure your rental car is equipped with snow chains and don’t forget to obey the low maximum speed limit on snowy roads.

Make the most of your rental car, weather permitting, by driving from Plovdiv to Veliko Tarnovo. Following Route Six and then turning onto Route Five to reach Veliko Tarnovo via the Shipka Pass takes you up into the Balkan Mountains. The road zig-zags in a series of hairpin bends and each turn on the way down opens up vistas of huge valleys, wooded slopes and spiky peaks. The E671 heading East from Sofia towards Karlovo takes you through fields of red damask roses and vineyards. The scent and views in May and June when the roses are in flower are wonderful. Or consider the road from Sofia to the picturesque spa town of Shiroka Laka. Take the A1 toward Plovdiv but turn off onto Route 843 through rolling countryside, quiet lakes and wooded hills.

If you hire a car in Bulgaria, be aware that you are required to drive on the right at all times.

As of 2019, Bulgaria ranked 98 out of 137 countries for road quality. Bulgaria received a road quality score of 3.3, which is based on a scale of 1 to 7, with 7 being the best possible score.

The highest Blood Alcohol Concentration you can have in Bulgaria while still legally able to operate a vehicle is 2.38 mg/l. However, some regions or cities within Bulgaria might have different BAC limits, so it’s important to do your research before you travel. Keep in mind that you must also be at least 18 years of age to consume alcoholic beverages, and it is not recommended to operate a motor vehicle under the influence.

As of last week, the average price of petrol in Bulgaria was £1.21 per litre. In comparison, the country with the cheapest average petrol price is Kuwait at £0.28 per litre, whereas the country with the most expensive average petrol price is Hong Kong at £2.47 per litre.

Prices for cars in Bulgaria were last updated today.

As of December 2023, there are 804 operators available to choose from for cars in Bulgaria.

Age requirements for drivers vary depending on the country, including Bulgaria. In several EU countries, drivers must be 18 years old. Generally, to rent a car overseas, you must be at least 21 years old, and if you're under 25, you may be charged a young driver surcharge. It's recommended that you review the policy of your preferred rental company before booking.

When renting a car in Bulgaria, all drivers must present a full valid driving license. An International Driving Permit is required if the driving license is written in a language different to that of the country of rental and may be necessary to avoid the risk of potential fines. If you are renting abroad, you may also need to provide proof of return travel and accommodation information during your stay. We always recommend checking with the individual rental company you are booking with.

momondo finds and compares thousands of car hire websites to provide you with the best selection of policies and car hire in Bulgaria. Finding a car hire is quick and free of charge, so using momondo for your booking makes sense.

momondo makes it easier for you to find great car hire in Bulgaria, by allowing you to refine your search with numerous filtering options. You can narrow your selection by looking at price, car type, location and more.

Yes, whether it is for cars in Bulgaria or elsewhere, momondo allows you to filter specifically for policies that offer free cancellation.

Yes, fair fuel policies are a specific filter offered on momondo for all car hire locations including Bulgaria.

You certainly can. momondo has a dedicated filter for enhanced cleaning services for all car hire locations including Bulgaria.

Yes, car hire deals in Bulgaria with unlimited mileage can be found on momondo.