Bulgaria Motorway Speed Limit 2026: 140 km/h, Paid on Spot

Motorway speed limit in Bulgaria: 140 km/h.

Bulgaria signs its motorways at 140 km/h for cars — among the highest limits in Europe — while trucks on the same road are held to 100 km/h, and the defaults drop to 90 km/h on rural roads and 50 km/h in town. Enforcement tolerance runs to about 10 km/h, past which a ticket starts at EUR 25.56 and climbs to EUR 102.26–204.52 with six control points and a licence suspension once you are 30 km/h over.

Your case: The 140 is the easy half; what it costs depends on the margin you were caught at and whether the car is a rental. Put your own speed and the posted limit into the Speeding Fine Calculator, which carries Bulgaria’s bands, before you decide how fast the A1 feels.

The part that catches foreign drivers

The 140 is easy; the way Bulgaria collects fines is what surprises visitors. The camera network along the Trakia (A1) and Hemus (A2) motorways has expanded fast, and police stops are common near the Kapitan Andreevo and Kulata borders. As a foreign driver you are usually expected to pay on the spot — EUR 25.56 for 10 km/h over, rising to EUR 102.26–204.52 plus six control points and a licence suspension once you are 30 km/h over. There is no leniency for a rental plate: the notice reaches the hire company, who bill you with a fee on top.

The other thing the A1 expects is an e-vignette, and it is not optional for a single transit. Since 1 August 2026 the tariff for a vehicle up to 3.5 t runs from EUR 5.30 for a day to EUR 10 a week, EUR 19.90 a month and EUR 64.50 a year, with a compensatory charge of EUR 46.50 if you are caught without one (bgtoll.bg). Buy it before the border, not at the first camera gantry.

Speed Limits in Bulgaria — Full Breakdown

Here is the full breakdown of speed limits across all road types in Bulgaria.

| Road Type | Cars | Trucks |

|———–|——|——–|

| Urban | 50 km/h | 50 km/h |

| Rural | 90 km/h | 70 km/h |

| Motorway | 140 km/h | 100 km/h |

Urban Speed Limits

In built-up areas of Bulgaria, the default speed limit for cars is 50 km/h. School zones and residential areas may have lower limits of 20-30 km/h.

Motorway Speed Limits

On motorways (highways/expressways), cars can travel at up to 140 km/h in Bulgaria.

Trucks and heavy vehicles are limited to 100 km/h on the same roads.

Speeding Penalties

A speeding fine for going 10 km/h over the limit is EUR 25.56. At 20 km/h over it is EUR 51.13–102.26 with three control points; at 30 km/h over, EUR 102.26–204.52 with six points and a licence suspension.

What Most Guides Don’t Tell You

Enforcement Reality

Bulgaria has limited fixed camera coverage, but mobile radar traps are common on busy routes.

The typical enforcement tolerance is around 10 km/h above the posted limit. Anything beyond that triggers an automatic fine.

Cross-border fine collection is active. An unpaid ticket does not disappear when you leave the country.

Officers can demand on-the-spot payment. If you cannot pay, your vehicle may be impounded until the fine is settled.

Truck Speed Limits

Heavy vehicles on Bulgaria motorways are capped at 100 km/h, creating a speed differential of 40 km/h with passenger cars. Be alert when overtaking or merging.

Mandatory Equipment

A speed check often turns into a full vehicle inspection. Make sure you carry a warning triangle, reflective vest, first aid kit and fire extinguisher. Missing any of these items is a separate offence with its own fine.

Alcohol and Speed

With a BAC limit of 0.05, Bulgaria is stricter than many destinations. Driving after even one drink and exceeding the speed limit can lead to a double penalty.

How Bulgaria Compares

Key Facts at a Glance

More Resources

• Full Driving Rules for Bulgaria

• World Speed Limit Map

• Speed Unit Converter

Bulgaria adopted the euro on 1 January 2026. Figures previously published in leva were converted at the fixed statutory rate of 1.95583 leva to the euro.