Romania on a Chinese Licence 2026: No IDP, No Easy Route
China
Romania
Not by the usual route. Romania requires an IDP with a licence from outside the 1968 road convention, and China is in neither convention and issues no IDP. Ask a hire firm in writing before you pay, or plan a car with a driver. Romania drives on the right, as China does, with a zero alcohol limit.
A Chinese driver cannot follow the standard route into a Romanian rental car. Romania’s road traffic ordinance (OUG 195/2002, article 82(3)) says a driver holding a licence issued in a state that is not a member of the 1968 Vienna convention must also hold an international driving permit. International permits exist only under the 1949 Geneva and 1968 Vienna conventions, and China is a party to neither. No Chinese authority issues one, so the standard combination of licence and permit is not available. A notarised translation is not an IDP.
The one legal opening, and how to test it
Article 83 allows licences recognised by reciprocity. If a Romanian hire firm tells you it can accept a Chinese licence, treat the answer as unconfirmed until you hold it in writing. Send the company a short email with these questions:
- Do you accept a Chinese national licence, with or without a translation?
- Does your insurance cover me if I have an accident on that licence?
- Will you release the car at the counter on that basis?
Keep the reply on your phone. If any answer is no or unclear, the realistic options are a car with a driver, trains, buses or domestic flights. Other European countries may pose the same problem, and the Driving Permit Checker lets you test them one by one.
Speed limits, compared with China’s
| Road | Romania | China |
|---|---|---|
| Motorway | 130 km/h | 120 km/h |
| Expressways and European roads | 100 km/h | not listed |
| Other roads outside towns | 90 km/h | 70 km/h |
| Built-up | 50 km/h | 50 km/h |
Romania keeps to the right, the same side as China, so a Chinese passenger will find the roads familiar. Under articles 49 and 50 of the ordinance, motorways allow 130 km/h and ordinary roads outside towns 90, so the open road is faster than the 70 km/h you know.
Alcohol: zero against 0.02
China’s limit is 0.02%. Romania’s is effectively zero. Canada’s advice describes zero tolerance, and UK advice warns that any alcohol in your system can bring a fine and possible imprisonment. The same rule applies to a hired driver, so do not accept a drink with the driver before the road.
Penalties use points
Romania scores speeding in penalty points: 2 points for 10-20 km/h over, 3 for 21-30 over, 4 for 31-40 over and 6 for 41-50 over. Above 50 km/h over the penalty is a Class IV fine and a 90-day suspension. Running a red light means a Class II fine and a licence suspension of 30 days. A hand-held phone costs a Class III fine plus 4 points, and no seatbelt costs RON 580-1,450.
Vignette, kit and winter
National roads outside the main cities need a rovinieta, the road vignette, sold at border points and most petrol stations. Our vignette countries guide explains the system. A car must carry a first-aid kit, a fire extinguisher, a red warning triangle and a fluorescent jacket, and winter tyres are required whenever snow, ice or sleet is on the road.
Getting around without driving
Trains, buses and domestic flights connect the main cities, and a car with a driver reaches mountain routes that public transport does not. Ask a driver for a quote that states hours, kilometres and fuel, and agree the route before the day starts. Book rural stays with parking, so a driver can leave the car safely overnight.
If you are travelling with a driver
A hired driver removes the licence problem, though you should still know the basics: seatbelts in every seat, no alcohol for the driver, and the vignette handled before the first national road. Ask the company which vehicle is used and whether it carries the required kit.
Numbers
Romania uses 112 for every emergency. China’s 110, 119 and 120 will not connect. More on the country is in the Romania driving guide.
Sources
- Emergency Ordinance 195/2002, article 82(3) and 83 (IDP for licences from non-1968 states; reciprocity), articles 49-50 (speed limits): lege5.ro
- UN Treaty Collection, 1949 Convention on Road Traffic (China not a party): treaties.un.org
- UN Treaty Collection, 1968 Convention on Road Traffic (Romania 1980; China not a party): treaties.un.org
- Global Affairs Canada, Romania travel advice (zero tolerance; rovinieta): travel.gc.ca
- GOV.UK foreign travel advice, Romania, safety and security (alcohol; rovinieta; winter tyres; equipment): gov.uk
- Global Affairs Canada, China travel advice (0.02%): travel.gc.ca
Speed limits, fines, equipment & license requirements
Your home country driving rules for reference
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Winter tyres in Romania — 2026–27 season
Winter tyres are required in Romania whenever conditions are wintry — No fixed dates — required whenever the road is covered in snow, ice or black ice.
- Tread minimum: 1.6 mm — Romania sets no separate winter figure.
- Accepted marking: M+S / M.S. / MS / M&S required ("all seasons" alone is not enough; 3PMSF not required)
- Studded tyres: rules could not be verified from an official source
- Penalty: Class IV penalty: 9-20 penalty points plus seizure of the registration certificate (OUG 195/2002 art. 102(1) pt. 28)
In Romanian the rule is anvelope de iarnă, and snow chains are lanțuri de zăpadă — that is the wording on signs, in hire-car paperwork and on any penalty notice.
Checked against national legislation, 20 Oct 2026 · Full Romania tyre law · Compare all countries
Frequently Asked Questions
Not on the usual route. Article 82(3) of Romania's road traffic ordinance says holders of a licence issued in a state that is not a member of the 1968 Vienna convention must also hold an international driving permit. China is a party to neither the 1949 nor the 1968 convention, so no Chinese authority issues an IDP. Article 83 also allows licences recognised by reciprocity; ask any hire firm in writing whether it will accept a Chinese licence before you pay.
Effectively zero. Canada's travel advice describes zero tolerance with severe penalties, and UK advice warns that any alcohol found in your system can bring a fine and possible imprisonment. China's own limit is 0.02%.
Yes. A rovinieta is required on national roads outside the major cities, sold at border points and most petrol stations, according to UK and Canadian advice.