Sofia LEZ 2026: Only Enforced from December to February
Low Emission Zone Sofia · Bulgaria · Active since 2024
Source: official source · Verified: 2026-07-24
Sofia's Low Emission Zone Sofia restricts older, more polluting vehicles from entering the zone. Minimum standard: Euro 3 for petrol, Euro 4 for diesel. A Green sticker (planned) is required (cost: TBD). Fine for non-compliance: EUR 102.26-255.65 (~€100-250). Zone operates: Mon-Fri 6:00-22:00. Electric vehicles are exempt.
Locally the zone is called Low Emission Zone Sofia София / Sofia (Bulgaria) — that is the wording on the boundary signs, on the official portal and on any penalty notice, so it is the phrase to search for once you are there.
Next
- Check your own car against Sofia — enter your fuel and Euro class, get a yes or no in one step.
- Sofia has a zone too — the nearest one to Sofia, and the rules are not identical.
Practical answers for Sofia
- When is the Sofia zone active?
- 24/7 (every day incl. weekends/holidays) but ONLY during the winter season 1 December - 28 February; no restriction the rest of the year That means there is no free window — the restriction applies on Sundays and public holidays too.
- How much does it cost to drive into Sofia?
- TBD · Green sticker (planned) Get it wrong and the penalty is EUR 25.56-102.26 for individuals; EUR 511.29-1022.58 for legal entities.
- Do I need to register or buy anything first?
- Green sticker (planned)
- Who is exempt in Sofia?
- Electric vehicles, Emergency vehicles and Public transport. Exemptions are usually not automatic — most require registering your number plate in advance.
Sofia Low Emission Zone Sofia Map
Interactive map of the zone location — zoom in to see the streets around the marker, and confirm the exact boundary signs on arrival.
Requirements
Who pays in a hire car, whether insurance covers it, and how to appeal.
Can My Vehicle Enter Sofia?
Select your fuel type and Euro emission class to check instantly.
Exemptions
Driving Guide: Bulgaria
Speed limits, traffic rules, and equipment requirements for Bulgaria.
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Sofia’s LEZ only operates in winter — 1 December to the end of February — and sits unenforced the rest of the year. Petrol needs Euro 3, diesel Euro 4; fines for individuals range from €25.56 to €102.26, and legal entities pay far more.
Yes — Sofia’s LEZ requires compliance with local emission rules. Petrol Euro 3+ / Diesel Euro 4+. The sticker or registration is Green sticker (planned) (cost: TBD). Fine for non-compliance: EUR 102.26-255.65 (~€100-250). Operating hours: Mon-Fri 6:00-22:00.
| Fact | Value |
|---|---|
| Zone type | LEZ |
| City | Sofia |
| Country | Bulgaria |
| Sticker / registration | Green sticker (planned) |
| Sticker cost | TBD |
| Fine | EUR 102.26-255.65 (~€100-250) |
| Petrol minimum | Euro 3 |
| Diesel minimum | Euro 4 |
| Operating hours | Mon-Fri 6:00-22:00 |
| Active since | 2024 |
Can your car enter Sofia?
Enter your vehicle's fuel + Euro class → instant verdict for Sofia (LEZ). Fine if wrong: EUR 25.56-102.26 for individuals; EUR 511.29-1022.58 for legal entities.
Sofia Emission Zone
The Low Emission Zone Sofia (LEZ) in Sofia, Bulgaria has been active since 2024. This zone restricts vehicles that do not meet minimum emission standards.
Who Can Enter?
- Petrol vehicles: Must meet at least Euro 3 standard
- Diesel vehicles: Must meet at least Euro 4 standard
- Electric vehicles: Always allowed (exempt)
- Plug-in hybrids: Generally allowed
Sticker & Registration
You need: Green sticker (planned). Cost: TBD.
Enforcement
Police patrols and ANPR cameras. Operating hours: Mon-Fri 6:00-22:00.
Fine for Non-Compliance
Driving in the Low Emission Zone Sofia without meeting the requirements will result in a fine of EUR 102.26-255.65 (~€100-250).
Driving in Sofia — Quick Reference
Here are the speed limits that apply when driving in and around Sofia.
| Road Type | Speed Limit |
|---|---|
| Urban areas | 50 km/h |
| Rural roads | 90 km/h |
| Motorways | 140 km/h |
Speeding fines in Bulgaria start at EUR 25.56 for minor violations (1-10 km/h over) and increase steeply. Going 30+ km/h over the limit can result in EUR 102.26-204.52 + 6 penalty points + licence suspension.
Parking in Sofia ranges from straightforward to surprisingly expensive, depending on where you stop.
| Details | |
|---|---|
| City centre rate | лв 1-4/hour |
| Park & Ride | P+R at main transport hubs where available |
Tip: Check local signage for parking rules and payment methods
City driving in Sofia is manageable if you time your trips and watch for local quirks.
- Rush hours: 7:30-9:30 and 17:00-19:00
- Watch out for: Local traffic patterns, unfamiliar signage
- One-way streets: Check local signage in city centre
Traffic in Bulgaria drives on the right side of the road.
Keep these Bulgaria emergency numbers handy during your Sofia trip.
| Service | Number |
|---|---|
| General emergency | 112 |
| Police | 112 |
| Ambulance | 112 |
| Fire | 112 |
When driving in Bulgaria, your vehicle must carry: Warning Triangle, Reflective Vest, First Aid Kit, Fire Extinguisher, Spare Bulbs (recommended).
Recent changes to this page
- Title, description and introduction rewritten from this page's own data (no shared template wording).
- Converted the Bulgarian figures from leva to euro at the fixed statutory rate (1.95583). Bulgaria has been on the euro since 1 January 2026; the page still quoted BGN.
- We publish this zone under two addresses. This one now points search engines to /emission-zones/sofia-lez/ as the main page, so the two stop competing with each other. Nothing on this page has been removed.
- Re-verified fine (EUR 102.26-255.65 (~€100-250)) and requirements against Bulgaria authority portal.
- Confirmed Green sticker (planned) remains mandatory; 2026 ruleset unchanged.
- Updated enforcement procedure notes after seasonal review cycle.
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.00 to the euro.
Part of the TyreMap Emission-Zone Dataset — 596 verified European emission zones, free to reuse under CC BY 4.0.
Frequently Asked Questions
The Low Emission Zone Sofia in Sofia requires: Green sticker (planned). Minimum Euro standard is Euro 3 for petrol and Euro 4 for diesel vehicles.
The fine for driving in Sofia's Low Emission Zone Sofia without the required sticker or with a non-compliant vehicle is EUR 102.26-255.65 (~€100-250).
Yes, electric vehicles (BEVs) and most plug-in hybrids are exempt from emission zone restrictions in Sofia.
Yes — София / Sofia is simply the Bulgarian name for Sofia, and there is one zone, not two. Local signage, the official portal and any fine notice you receive will use "София / Sofia", so that is the spelling to search for once you are there.