Toll system costs in Bulgaria
As of 1 March 2020 in Bulgaria is put in operation an electronic system for the collection of distance-based road charges (Toll system) for vehicles with total technically permissible maximum weight over 3.5 tons.
All other vehicles with total technically permissible maximum weight less than 3.5 tons will continue to pay vignette charges as follows: monthly, weekly and daily (no toll system charges will aplly).
According to the valid legal basis, the payment of the toll entitles gives the vehicle for which the toll is paid for unimpeded passage along the republican toll road network. The charge due is determined depending on the distance traveled by the vehicle and on its technical characteristics (category, number of axles incident to the road, emission class).
The road toll network is expected to cover nearly 6,000 kilometers of roads including the motorways, first category and second category roads.
Categories of road vehicles to pay toll charges in Bulgaria
Catergory of vehicles |
Description |
Options of toll products |
Buses, 2 axlesBuses, 3 axlesBuses, 4 or more axles |
Vehicles intended for passengers transport with mass over 3.5 tons |
(1) Tolls Charge based on the distance travelled mesured by a GNSS onboard unit |
Heavy vehicles, 2 axlesHeavy vehicles, 3 axlesHeavy vehicles, 4 or more axles |
Vehicles for transportation of goods with mass over 3.5 tons (in combination with the trailer) |
(1) Tolls Charge based on the distance travelled mesured by a GNSS onboard unit |
Price of toll charges in Bulgaria
Toll payment options
Vehicles with a total technically permissible maximum weight over 3.5 tons will have the following options for payment of the due charges when using the republican toll road network:
Through a GNSS on-board unit
Determination of toll charges will be made through an on-board unit mounted in the vehicle which generates data (toll declarations) necessary for the calculation of the due toll. The data is processed by the National toll service providers (NSPs) or by the European electronic toll service providers (EETS providers) with which both the user and the toll charger – the Road Infrastructure Agency, have signed contracts. After processing the data, the service providers (NSPs and EETS) send them to RIA. RIA calculates the due charge for the relevant vehicle and the service providers guarantee its payment by the end-user.
Holiday villas in Bulgaria
Through a GPS device
In the case the user of the republican toll road network has decided to use a GPS device, it is necessary that he/she has signed a contract with a Toll Declaration Data Provider (the so-called toll declarations), which is entered in the public list of the Road Infrastructure Agency. The Toll Declaration Service Providers for their part should have a contract with a NSP to whom they should send the generated “raw” data from the GPS device. After processing the data, the service providers send them to RIA. RIA calculates the due charge for the relevant vehicle and the service providers guarantee its payment by the end-user.
Route pass
Owners and users of a vehicle with a technically permissible maximum weight over 3.5 tons which have no on-board units or GPS devices may use the toll road network upon purchasing a route pass. The route pass is issued when the person wishing to use it states initial and final point of his route with up to four interim points of the declared route as well as the technical characteristics of the vehicle (plate number, nationality of the vehicle, category of the vehicle, emission class, number of axles incident to the road). This type of service is a prepaid service. The route pass allows the road user for a single trip on the route he has declared.
Route passes can be purchased from the Road Infrastructure Agency through the existing channels for sale of e-vignettes:
- at the cashiers of the provincial road administrations – by cash payment, card payment, including by fuel card
- at a self-service terminal – by card payment, including by fuel card
- via electronic means – on the internet on site www.bgtoll.bg and through the mobile application.
The issuance of a route pass is subject to preliminary calculation and payment of the toll due. It will be valid 24 hours from the moment of its activation and can be purchased up to 7 days in advance by registered users (the registration follows by electronic mail through the route pass purchasing platform) or up to 24 hours in advance – by non-registered users.
Tariffs and scope of the road network
In regard to the implementation of the toll system in Bulgaria. the Road Infrastructure Agency (RIA) is in the process of determining the tariffs as well as the road network to be tolled. For this purpose, RIA has signed a contract with the World Bank which will offer consultancy services for the determination of the tariffs and the scope of the toll road network. They will be proposed for public discussion and will be adopted by the Council of Ministers after preliminary approval of the European Commission.
MAP OF THE TOLLED SECTIONS IN BULGARIA
POINTS OF TOLL SALES IN BULGARIA