Can an Indian Drive in Romania? — IDP Required, Zero-Alcohol Rule
India
Romania
Yes — an Indian licence holder can drive in Romania, but as a non-EU visitor you need an International Driving Permit alongside it. The two rules that catch Indian drivers are Romania's zero-tolerance alcohol limit (0.0 — any reading is an offence) and a legal requirement for winter tyres when conditions demand, on top of switching to right-hand traffic.
Romania has become a far easier country to drive than its old reputation suggests — new motorway sections, cheap fuel and dramatic Carpathian routes like the Transfăgărășan make it tempting for a self-drive trip. For an Indian visitor, the paperwork and two specific rules are what to get right before you set off.
The licence verdict
Your Indian licence works, but Romania expects a non-EU visitor to carry an International Driving Permit with it. EU and EEA licence holders are exempt; you are not, so treat the IDP as required rather than optional and sort it in India before you fly. Carry it with your licence and passport.
Romania’s alcohol rule is absolute
The drink-drive limit is 0.0 — genuine zero tolerance. India allows 0.03; Romania allows nothing, and any reading is an offence with serious penalties. This is the rule visitors most often underestimate, so the message is simple: do not drink at all if you are driving.
Winter tyres are a legal point, not a suggestion
When roads are snowy, icy or slushy, winter tyres are legally required in Romania. If you are travelling between roughly late autumn and early spring, make sure your hire car is properly fitted — ask the rental company directly, because being caught without them brings a fine.
Speeds, roads and fines
Limits are 50 km/h in towns, 90 on rural roads and 130 km/h on motorways. The catch is the rural network: expect horse-drawn carts, slow trucks and the occasional unlit vehicle, so overtake with real care. Romania also drives on the right, the opposite of India, so be deliberate at junctions on your first day. A typical speeding fine runs RON 290–725 (≈ €60–150), enforced by both fixed cameras and mobile patrols. Fuel is about $1.42 a litre and the emergency number is 112.
Confirm your permit position with the driving permit checker, read the full rules on the Romania driving guide, and estimate any penalty with the speeding fine calculator.
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.
Verified against national legislation, August 2026 · Full Romania tyre law · Compare all countries
Frequently Asked Questions
Yes. EU and EEA licences are valid without one, but as a non-EU visitor an Indian driver should carry an International Driving Permit with their national licence. Arrange it in India before you travel.
It is zero — 0.0. Romania operates absolute zero tolerance, so any measurable alcohol is an offence. There is no 'one drink' margin at all.
Yes, when roads are covered in snow, ice or slush, winter tyres are legally required. If you are driving in the colder months, confirm your rental car is fitted with them.