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Car hire in Bulgaria got a quiet upgrade on 1 January 2025, when the country joined the Schengen Area in full. The land borders with Greece and Romania no longer mean a passport check, and a single Schengen visa now covers all three countries. Everything inside works to European standards while staying noticeably cheaper than most of the EU — economy cars start around $17 a day in low season, and petrol sits at about $1.30 a litre.
A car turns Bulgaria into a surprisingly compact country. Black Sea in the morning, a Roman amphitheatre in Plovdiv at lunch, a mountain monastery by evening — the same loop by bus is slow and exhausting; by car it fits a relaxed week.
An Edinburgh couple last May picked their hatchback up at SOF Terminal 2, drove the A1 to Plovdiv before lunch, and were swimming off Sozopol by sunset. The shuttle queue at the global chains was still moving when they checked in.
We keep separate pages for each main base: car hire in Sofia for the mainland, the mountains and the run up to Rila; rent a car in Burgas for the southern coast and Nessebar; and car rental in Varna for Golden Sands, Balchik and the north.
Bulgaria is one of the most straightforward EU countries to hire in. Low deposits, simple paperwork, clear rules. The only real surprise tends to be the weather in the mountains in late autumn.
Documents and who can drive
For driving licences from the EU, the UK, the US, Canada, Australia and most other countries with Latin-script credentials, no International Driving Permit is needed in Bulgaria — the home licence is enough. Bulgaria itself is in full Schengen since 1 January 2025, which means a single Schengen visa covers Bulgaria, Greece, Romania and the rest of the Area without internal land checks. UK and other visa-exempt visitors use the standard 90 days in any 180; the new EU ETIAS authorisation, due in late 2026, will apply on top once it goes live.
From documents you really only need a passport, a driving licence with at least one year on it, and any bank card — credit or debit. The rest we explain at pickup.
The minimum age with most local operators is 21 with one year of driving experience; a few will hire from 20 with a small young-driver fee. Premium cars, large SUVs and minivans usually start at 25, sometimes with three years of experience required for off-roaders. The upper limit is around 70–75.
On most of our cars one year on the licence is enough. If the driver is under 23 the young-driver surcharge is a few dollars per day — nothing dramatic.
Most tourists in Bulgaria start their trip here
Prices, payment and deposits
Bulgaria is one of the cheapest EU countries for car hire. In low season (November–April) economy cars start at $17–27 a day; in peak summer (July–August) on the coast they rise to $27–50. Compact cars run $27–43, crossovers and SUVs $49–87, premium from $87. Booking two to three months ahead of peak summer for Burgas or Varna can save up to 30% — coastal supply runs out early.
Payment is flexible. All major Visa and Mastercard networks are accepted online for prepayment, including debit cards. Remaining balances and the deposit can be settled in cash. Both euros and Bulgarian leva are taken at the desk. The lev is fixed to the euro (1 BGN ≈ $0.55), so there are no awkward exchange-rate surprises when you plan a road trip.
Local Bulgarian operators usually take $200–500 as a deposit, often in cash. The big global chains tend to block $500–1,500 on a credit card in the driver's name. The difference is real.
A growing share of our cars come on a zero-deposit tariff, typically with full insurance bundled in. The amount and the payment method show up before booking, so there are no nasty surprises at the desk.
The motorway vignette for cars under 3.5 t is normally already on the car when you collect it. No app, no border kiosk — but worth a five-second check before you drive off.
In short: low deposits, flexible payment, hard currency stability via the BGN-EUR peg. The trip planning side of car hire here is unusually predictable.
Toyota Proace Verso in Bulgaria
Everything was great!
Volkswagen Jetta in Bulgaria
everything went without problems and fast. But i was not happy with the skoda bec. Expected audi. So i get a lower class car abd paid the same price.
Opel Zafira in Bulgaria
We were very satisfied. The car is in good condition. It is also important that the car owner has insurance, which greatly reassures the tenant in a foreign country.
Toyota Yaris in Bulgaria
I received the car right after arrival, good car and very nice lady who handed the car over to me.
Skoda Rapid in Bulgaria
Everything's great, I'm happy with the car.
Volkswagen Polo in Bulgaria
Unfortunately, it wasn't a VW Polo. I had a Renault Clio. But it was still good. Sincerely
Opel Zafira in Bulgaria
everything was fine. The car is tired, but for such a cost the condition is adequate. From minuses, it is absolutely impossible to make overtaking, on the third gear gas in the floor and it alas did not accelerate.
Ford Fiesta in Bulgaria
Everything went well👍the car was provided clean, everything is fine in its operation, it didn’t let me down, and I also noticed that the fuel consumption is small, it made me very happy, so we will use the services,,,, thank you
Volkswagen Touran in Bulgaria
The car was replaced by Turan. Yes, it turned out to be a little more spacious. But at the same time more expensive. Apart from this moment, there are no complaints. Thanks!
Toyota Yaris in Bulgaria
Everything was great! We will rent a car there again! The car was new 2000km mileage.
Toyota Corolla Sedan in Bulgaria
The rental process went very well. The car is very good, the service is excellent. Close to the airport. I was contacted by Viber, agreed on a meeting point, transfer to the rental car park and back to the airport. Thanks a lot. I will use it again next time.
Toyota Yaris Cross in Bulgaria
Everything is perfect. I am very satisfied with the service and the car. I extended the lease for another month:) I will recommend to all my friends to rent a car through you. Thank you
Renault Clio 4 in Bulgaria
The website, the rental and the car were perfect! If you add more locations, you can reach the top, localcarhires.com is a great idea!
Take Cars in Bulgaria
Every supplier on this page sits under a direct contract with us: cars are vetted, each one carries real reviews from past renters, and you can see who you are hiring from before you book. If anything goes off-script, we sort it out for you.
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Book the coast early
In July and August demand for Burgas and Varna doubles, and prices two to three weeks before pick-up can rise by 20–40%.
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Film the car at pick-up and drop-off
A quick walkaround video — bumpers, wheels, windscreen, interior, fuel level — settles almost any later dispute about scratches.
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Check the vignette is included
It almost always is on our cars, but a five-second confirmation at pick-up means no automatic fines from the motorway cameras.
Rules of the road
Speed limits are simple: 50 km/h in towns, 90 km/h outside built-up areas and 140 km/h on the A1 "Trakia" and A2 "Hemus" motorways — one of the highest limits in the EU. The 350 km from Sofia to Burgas on the A1 take roughly four hours.
On the A1 you can sit at 140 km/h, which is rare in Europe. Since 7 September 2025 there is average-speed enforcement on more than 22 stretches, so steady pace beats lead-foot bursts.
Vignette instead of tolls
For cars under 3.5 t there are no per-kilometre tolls in Bulgaria — only an electronic vignette. Prices from May 2025: weekend ≈ $5, week ≈ $8, month ≈ $17, year ≈ $53. The vignette is linked to the number plate; no sticker is involved. Driving without one carries a fine from $165, and the cameras pick everyone up.
The vignette is normally already on hire cars, which makes life easy: nothing to pay at the border or in an app, you just drive straight onto the motorway.
Alcohol, lights, seats
The legal blood-alcohol limit is 0.5‰ for experienced drivers and zero for anyone with under two years on the licence. Roadside checks are common, so most renters skip the drink-with-driving question altogether. Daytime running lights are required all year, day and night; modern hire cars switch them on automatically, but it is worth a glance before you pull away.
Children under 12 must travel in the back, in an appropriate child seat. We can add the seat to your booking — a few dollars per day, and saves a roadside argument with the patrol.
Speeding by 40 km/h or more carries a fine of up to $165, and the camera networks now cover most of the A1 and A2.
Where to drive
Bulgaria splits neatly into three zones, each with its own natural base.
Sofia routes
From car hire in Sofia the easy day trips are Rila Monastery (120 km, about two hours, UNESCO), Plovdiv (150 km on the A1, Roman amphitheatre and Old Town) and the ski town of Bansko. A long weekend links Rila, Melnik wine country and Bansko comfortably.
Rila Monastery from Sofia is two hours along the A3 and a mountain road. Leave at 7am and you'll have the cloister courtyard to yourself; by ten the first tour buses are already pulling into the lot.
Coast routes
Rent a car in Burgas is the obvious base for the southern coast: Nessebar (UNESCO), Sozopol, Pomorie and Sunny Beach. From car rental in Varna the day trips are Golden Sands, Balchik and Albena. Burgas to Varna is about two hours, so both ends fit comfortably into one rental.
In summer, guests often string Burgas, Nessebar, Sozopol and Pomorie together — 100 km of coast with a swim at every stop.
Greece and Romania
Bulgaria's full Schengen status is the headline change for road trippers: you can now drive into Greece (Thessaloniki ≈ 320 km from Sofia) or Romania (Ruse–Giurgiu bridge) with no border stop. Most policies cover the EU automatically.
A family of four crossed into Greek Macedonia at Promachonas last August without slowing down for the booth. Thessaloniki for dinner, back in Sandanski for breakfast — a year ago the same trip meant a 40-minute queue.
For trips that go further — Turkey, Serbia, North Macedonia — you still need written permission from the supplier and usually an insurance extension. Tick the cross-border filter at booking and we will only show suitable cars.
Seasons, parking, airports
Winter and shoulder
Winter tyres in Bulgaria follow a situational rule rather than fixed dates: not required on dry lowland roads, but required as soon as there is snow or ice. Suppliers fit them by default from November to March. Snow chains in the boot are compulsory from 1 November to 1 March, and they really are used in the mountains. Studded tyres are banned — worth knowing if you are driving your own car from elsewhere.
A guest collected a Skoda Fabia at SOF on 12 March last year, expected the Bansko road to be clear, hit a snow squall above Razlog. The default winter tyres were the reason the car got down without a chain.
Parking
Sofia's centre is split into Blue and Green zones — Blue $1/hour, Green $0.55. Payment is by app or SMS, in force 08:30–19:00 on weekdays and Saturday mornings. Most hotels include guest parking. Free spaces with the white 'P' sign exist, but within a kilometre of the centre they are rare — paid zones or hotel parking is usually easier.
In Burgas the central zone is about $1 per hour, with secure underground parking near the Sea Garden. On Sunny Beach and Golden Sands hotels usually include free parking for guests, and in high season the free roadside spots near popular beaches are taken before 9am.
Airports
Main airports: Sofia (SOF), Burgas (BOJ), Varna (VAR), Plovdiv (PDV). About Sofia: terminals 1 and 2 are not directly connected — there is a short free shuttle.
A couple flying Wizz from Luton booked a pickup at Sofia T1, then their flight diverted to T2 on arrival. A quick text rerouted the driver in three minutes; without the heads-up they'd have lost half an hour to the shuttle.
Plovdiv (PDV) has a small but growing summer schedule — useful if you're heading straight to the Rhodopes or the Old Town.
Rates in Bulgaria vary throughout the year depending on the season and the rental length in days.
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How expensive is renting a car in Bulgaria: average daily rates for a one-week car rental, across all car classes. Delivery across Bulgaria not included.
Frequently asked questions
For driving licences from the EU, the UK, the US, Canada, Australia and most other Latin-script countries, no IDP is needed in Bulgaria — your home licence is enough. An IDP is recommended only when the original licence is in non-Latin script. It is never a substitute for a visa or for the upcoming EU ETIAS authorisation.
Since 1 January 2025 there are no internal border checks with Greece or Romania, so a Bulgarian hire car can cross into either country with no stop. Most insurance policies extend automatically across the EU. Trips into Turkey, Serbia or North Macedonia still need written permission from the supplier and usually an insurance extension.
Yes. With us and most local Bulgarian operators a credit card is not required: a debit card, cash in euros or leva, or a bank transfer all work. Big international chains usually still insist on a named credit card at the desk — that is the main difference. The "no credit card" filter at booking shows compatible cars.
For online prepayment all major Visa and Mastercard networks are accepted, both credit and debit. Remaining balances and the deposit are usually settled in cash or by card at the desk. The Bulgarian lev is fixed to the euro, so currency conversions stay predictable across the trip.
Economy starts at $17–27 a day in low season (November–April) and climbs to $27–50 in peak summer (July–August). Compact cars run $27–43, crossovers and SUVs $49–87, premium from $87. Bulgaria is one of the most affordable EU countries for car hire — booking two to three months ahead for the summer coast saves around 30%.
Local Bulgarian operators usually take $200–500, often in cash. Big international chains block $500–1,500 on a credit card in the driver's name. On TakeCars listings the amount and the payment method are shown before you book, so there are no surprises at the desk.
Yes — a number of cars on TakeCars come with a zero-deposit tariff, normally with full insurance included. Before booking it is worth checking the excess on glass, wheels and the underside: mountain routes through Rila and the Rhodopes carry more risk for those parts than the flat coastal roads.
For cars under 3.5 t Bulgaria uses an electronic vignette covering motorways and main roads — there are no per-kilometre tolls. Prices from May 2025: weekend ≈ $5, week ≈ $8, month ≈ $17, year ≈ $53. On our cars the vignette is normally already included — confirm at pickup.
50 km/h in towns, 90 km/h outside built-up areas and 140 km/h on the A1 and A2 motorways — one of the highest motorway limits in the EU. Average-speed enforcement has applied on more than 22 motorway sections since 7 September 2025. Exceeding the limit by 40 km/h or more carries a fine of up to $165.
Yes, and there are no internal border checks any more — both countries entered full Schengen in 2025. Most of our insurance policies cover both countries automatically with no extra fee. Some suppliers add a small cross-border fee — it is always shown in the rental conditions before you book.
TPL (third-party liability) is mandatory and always included. Basic CDW typically excludes glass, wheels, rims, the underside, the interior, keys, off-road damage and accidents involving alcohol over 0.5‰. Trips outside Schengen usually need an extension. Super CDW or Full Insurance removes most of these gaps and is shown on each car's page.
The rule is situational rather than tied to fixed dates: when there is snow or ice on the road, winter tyres are mandatory. Hire suppliers fit them by default from November to March. Studded tyres are banned in Bulgaria. Snow chains in the boot are compulsory from 1 November to 1 March.
Call 112 immediately — it is the single European emergency number, and operators speak English. Do not move the car until the police arrive, even if the damage looks small. Photograph everything, exchange details with the other driver, notify the rental supplier within 24 hours. The police report is essential — without it the insurance does not pay out.
Sofia (SOF) — mainland, mountains, Rila and Plovdiv, the largest fleet. Burgas (BOJ) — southern coast: Nessebar, Sozopol, Sunny Beach. Varna (VAR) — Golden Sands, Balchik and Albena. Sofia has two terminals connected only by a short shuttle — check in advance which terminal your driver will meet you at.
November to April is low season, with prices roughly 30–50% lower than July–August. Peak summer on the coast (Burgas, Varna) is the most expensive, driven by package-tour demand. April–June and September–October offer the best price-to-weather balance, especially for combined trips through Sofia, Plovdiv, Rila and the coast.