Romania 2026: Zero Alcohol, and Points Instead of Fines
Data verified:
5 min readRomania drives on the right side of the road. The minimum driving age is 18. The motorway speed limit is 130 km/h. The general emergency number is 112. Foreign drivers should carry an International Driving Permit (IDP) alongside their valid national licence.
Driving in Romania means right-hand traffic with rules that differ from home. Road conditions vary dramatically between motorways and rural areas. Full guide with penalty calculator below.
Romania has right-hand traffic and a BAC limit of zero tolerance (any detectable alcohol). Speed cameras cover sparse stretches of the primary motorway network, and 20+ km/h speeding costs a Class II-III fine (penalty units).
Driving Difficulty: Romania
Mixed road quality, horse carts on rural roads, limited motorways
3.5/5 · Moderate (TyreMap difficulty index)
Personalise for Your Trip
See how Romania differs from your home country
Watch: Driving in Romania
Driving in Romania · Outside the Comforts
Romania prices most speeding in penalty points rather than in cash: 2 points from 10 km/h over, 3 from 21, 4 from 31 and 6 in the 41 to 50 band, with anything beyond 50 km/h over becoming a Class IV fine and a 90-day suspension. A red light carries no points at all — it carries a mandatory 30-day licence suspension instead. The alcohol limit is 0.0 and studded tyres are banned outright; winter tyres have no fixed season but are required whenever snow, ice or black ice covers the road, and going without costs 9 to 20 points plus seizure of the registration certificate. The car must carry a fire extinguisher, first-aid kit, reflective vest and warning triangle.
Speed limits are 50 km/h in urban areas, 90 km/h on rural roads, and 130 km/h on motorways. The blood alcohol limit is zero. You must be at least 18 to drive.
Emergency Numbers in Romania
General Emergency: 112 | Police: 112
Save these numbers before you start driving. In Romania, emergency calls are free from any phone.
Speed Limits in Romania
The default speed limits for passenger cars in Romania are 50 km/h in built-up areas, 90 km/h on rural roads, and 130 km/h on motorways.
Trucks and vehicles over 3.5 tonnes have lower limits: 50 km/h urban, 80 km/h rural, and 90 km/h on motorways.
For comparison, motorway limits in nearby countries: Bulgaria (140 km/h).
Speed camera coverage in Romania is relatively limited, but mobile radar units are used. The typical enforcement tolerance is about 10 km/h.
Important: Posted signs always override default limits. Watch for temporary restrictions in construction zones, near schools, and in residential areas.
Speeding Fines and Penalties
Speeding in Romania is scored in penalty points: 2 points for 10-20 km/h over, 3 for 21-30, 4 for 31-40 and 6 for 41-50. More than 50 km/h over carries no points — it is a Class IV fine plus a 90-day licence suspension. Romanian fines are set in penalty units (punct-amendă), not fixed lei figures. Since 1 July 2026 one unit is 216.25 lei (HG 146/2026), so the lei total moves with the unit value.
Warning for foreign drivers: Romania pursues unpaid fines through cross-border enforcement agreements. You may receive a penalty notice at your home address weeks or months after your trip.
Other common fines:
- Mobile phone use while driving (hand-held): Class III fine + 4 penalty points
- Running a red light: Class II fine + a mandatory 30-day licence suspension (no penalty points)
- Seatbelt violation: a fine set in penalty units (216.25 lei per unit since 1 July 2026) + 2 points
Traffic Rules and Regulations
Drive on the right side of the road. Overtake on the left. At roundabouts, enter counter-clockwise and yield to traffic already circulating.
Seatbelts are mandatory for all occupants. Children must use appropriate restraint systems based on their age and height.
Using a hand-held phone while driving is illegal. It is a Class III fine plus 4 penalty points. Use hands-free devices only.
Daytime running lights are required in most situations. Dipped headlights must be used in tunnels, rain, and reduced visibility.
Priority at intersections follows posted signs. When no signs are present, yield to traffic from the right.
Drink-Driving Laws and Alcohol Limits
Romania enforces a zero-tolerance drink-driving policy. Any detectable alcohol in your blood while driving is illegal. There is no safe amount — even one drink can put you over the limit. Penalties include heavy fines, licence confiscation, and potential imprisonment.
The safest approach is to not drink at all if you will be driving. Alcohol affects reaction time and judgement regardless of the legal limit.
Tyre Requirements and Regulations
Winter tyre requirement in Romania: Required.
The legal minimum tread depth is 1.6 mm. Safety experts recommend replacing tyres at 4.0 mm for adequate grip.
Studded tyres are prohibited in Romania.
For detailed tyre law information, see our Tyre Laws in Romania guide.
Mandatory Vehicle Equipment
Vehicles in Romania must carry the following:
Required:
- Warning triangle
- Reflective vest (high-visibility)
- First aid kit
- Fire extinguisher
Recommended:
- Spare bulbs
Keep all equipment accessible — not buried under luggage. Police may check during routine stops.
Driving License Requirements
EU and EEA driving licences are valid in Romania without additional documentation. Always carry your original driving licence — photocopies are not accepted. Your foreign licence is valid for up to 12 months.
The minimum driving age is 18 years.
EU/EEA licences valid. Non-EU visitors need IDP.
Parking and Fuel
City-centre parking in Romania is typically paid — use parking meters, ticket machines, or mobile payment apps. Look for P+R (park and ride) facilities on the outskirts connected to public transport.
Current fuel prices in Romania: petrol approximately $1.42/litre, diesel $1.45/litre (USD). Prices vary by region and station.
Most fuel stations accept major credit and debit cards. In rural areas, keep your tank above half — stations may be far apart.
Seasonal Driving Conditions
Romania has varied conditions. Check weather forecasts before long journeys and adjust your driving to conditions. Road surfaces and visibility can change quickly with weather.
Practical Driving Tips for Romania
- Speed camera warning apps (Waze, Google Maps) are legal here.
- Dashcams are legal and recommended for evidence in case of an accident.
- Police can issue on-the-spot fines. Carry cash or a valid payment card.
- Download offline maps of Romania before your trip — mobile signal can be unreliable on rural roads.
- Check if you need a motorway vignette (toll sticker) or an environmental zone sticker for city driving.
- Take a break every 2 hours on long drives. Fatigue is a leading cause of road accidents.
- Use our interactive tools on this page — compare rules with your home country and calculate potential fines before you set off.
How Romania’s penalty points work
Points are wiped 6 months after they are issued. Reaching 15 points within 6 months costs you a 30-day licence suspension; a second 15-point total within 12 months costs 60 days. Romanian fines are set in penalty units (punct-amendă), not fixed lei figures. Since 1 July 2026 one unit is 216.25 lei (HG 146/2026), so the lei total moves with the unit value.
Speed Limits in Romania
| Road Type | Cars | Trucks (>3.5t) |
|---|---|---|
| Urban | 50 km/h | 50 km/h |
| Rural | 90 km/h | 80 km/h |
| Motorway | 130 km/h | 90 km/h |
Speed Enforcement in Romania
What tourists actually face on the road
Tolerance
10 km/h
Foreign Plates
Limited
Radar Apps
Legal
Dashcams
Legal
Cross-border fine collection: Romania can pursue unpaid fines through EU/international agreements. Fines may be sent to your home address months after your trip.
Limited fixed cameras but police use handheld radar extensively. On-the-spot fines; receipt mandatory. Dashcams recommended for insurance claims.
Traffic Fines in Romania
| Offence | Penalty |
|---|---|
| Mobile phone use while driving | Class III fine + 4 penalty points (hand-held) |
| No seatbelt | RON 580-1,450 (approx. EUR 120-300) |
| Running a red light | Class II fine + a mandatory 30-day licence suspension (no penalty points) |
| Speeding (1-10 km/h over) | 2 penalty points (10-20 km/h over) |
| Speeding (11-20 km/h over) | 3 penalty points (21-30 km/h over) |
| Speeding (21-30+ km/h over) | 4 penalty points (31-40 km/h over); 6 points at 41-50; over 50 km/h it is a Class IV fine and a 90-day suspension with no points |
Penalties may vary by region and circumstances. Always check current local regulations.
Mandatory Equipment in Romania
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
Licence Requirements for Foreign Drivers
EU/EEA licences valid. Non-EU visitors need IDP.
Emergency Numbers in Romania
These numbers are free to call and available 24/7. When calling, state your location and the nature of the emergency.
Tyre Laws in Romania
Winter tyre requirements, tread depth rules, and studded tyre regulations.
View tyre regulationsAvoid a fine in Romania
Who pays a driving fine abroad, the hire-car admin-fee trap, and how to appeal.
Read the fine guide Romania needs a motorway vignette — buy it rightDriving in Romania on a foreign licence
Nationality-specific licence, IDP & rules — pick where your licence is from:
Renting a Car in Romania?
Compare prices from all major rental companies. Free cancellation on most bookings.
Compare Car Rental PricesSome links on this page are affiliate links. We may earn a commission at no extra cost to you. Learn more.
Recent changes to this page
- Title, description and introduction rewritten from this page's own data (no shared template wording).
- Corrected the penalty section against OUG 195/2002 art. 103/108: red-light running carries a mandatory 30-day suspension and no penalty points (the page said 4 points), speeding points run 2/3/4/6 by band, and over 50 km/h is a Class IV fine with a 90-day suspension. Lei figures were replaced with the penalty-unit basis, which is 216.25 lei from 1 July 2026.
- Fixed a concatenated licence age (1816) that rendered as "1816 years old" on the live page; the correct car age is 18.
Frequently Asked Questions
In Romania, the default speed limits for passenger vehicles are: urban areas 50 km/h (31 mph), rural roads 90 km/h (56 mph), and motorways 130 km/h (81 mph). Always follow posted signs as limits may differ on specific roads.
In Romania, traffic drives on the right side of the road. Vehicles have the steering wheel on the left side. If you are visiting from a country that drives on the left, take extra care at intersections, roundabouts, and when overtaking.
EU/EEA license holders generally do not need an IDP for short visits to Romania. However, drivers from outside the EU/EEA should carry an International Driving Permit alongside their valid national driving license. An IDP translates your license into multiple languages and is recognized internationally. Check with the embassy of Romania for the most current requirements.
Vehicles in Romania must carry: Warning triangle, Reflective vest, First aid kit, Fire extinguisher. Failure to carry mandatory equipment can result in on-the-spot fines during police checks. It is advisable to keep all required items easily accessible in your vehicle.
The general emergency number in Romania is 112. These numbers are free to call and available 24/7. When calling, be prepared to state your location and the nature of the emergency.
Using a hand-held mobile phone while driving is prohibited in Romania. Hands-free systems (Bluetooth, speakerphone, or mounted devices) are permitted. Penalties for mobile phone use while driving typically include fines — in Romania, the fine is a Class III fine plus 4 penalty points. For safety, always use hands-free solutions or pull over to use your phone.
When driving in Romania, you should always carry: your valid driving license (and IDP if applicable), vehicle registration document, valid insurance certificate (Green Card for European countries), and your passport or national ID. Rental car drivers should also carry the rental agreement. Police may request these documents during routine checks.
The minimum age to drive a car in Romania is 18 years old. Some categories of vehicles (such as motorcycles or heavy vehicles) may have different age requirements. Novice drivers may face additional restrictions during their first years of driving.
Driving in Romania is generally safe for tourists who are prepared. Road infrastructure follows European standards. Before driving, familiarize yourself with local traffic rules, road signs, and driving customs. Consider downloading offline maps, carrying emergency supplies, and purchasing comprehensive insurance. Avoid driving at night in unfamiliar areas if possible.
Romania has limited ability to enforce fines on foreign-registered vehicles. However, rental car companies will always pass fines to the registered driver.
Romania has limited fixed speed cameras but active mobile radar patrols. The typical enforcement tolerance is around 10 km/h above the posted limit. Speed camera warning apps (like Waze, Google Maps) are legal to use in Romania.
For Romania: EU/EEA driving licences are valid. An IDP is recommended but not always required. Your licence is valid for up to 12 months. Always carry your original licence alongside the IDP.
If you receive a traffic fine in Romania: police may require on-the-spot payment from foreign drivers. A notice can still reach your home address, because authorities use commercial address-tracing services. What does not exist is automatic EU enforcement — Directive 2015/413 covers only eight road-safety offences and emission-zone violations are not among them. Rental car companies will always pass camera fines to the registered driver with an admin fee.
Get Driving Law Updates
Speed limits, fines and tyre laws change frequently. Get monthly updates for the countries you drive in.
Related Articles
Dashcam Bans 2026: Austria Can Fine You EUR 10,000
Austrian privacy law makes filming the road effectively illegal, Luxembourg bans them in private cars, and German courts have taken footage since 2018.
Driving LawsEurope Speeding Fines 2026: EUR 15 to an Uncapped Day-Fine
The same 20 km/h over the limit costs EUR 15 at the cheap end and EUR 70 on a German Autobahn, and in Switzerland a share of income with no ceiling.
Driving LawsRadar Detectors in Europe 2026 — €1,500 Fine in France
France seizes the device and fines €1,500 plus six licence points; Germany charges €75 for using one, and Waze camera alerts are unlawful in two countries.
Major Cities
Common Questions
Explore Guides
How Romania compares worldwide
Compare Romania with Other Countries
Romania Tyre Laws
Winter tyres, tread depth & tyre regulations
Albania
Andorra
Austria
Belarus
Belgium
Bosnia and Herzegovina