International Driving Permit Romania

Non-EU/EEA visitors need an International Driving Permit alongside their valid original licence to drive legally in Romania, while EU/EEA (and UK) licence holders don't need one at all.

• EU and EEA driving licences are valid in Romania with no IDP required, and UK licences are also accepted without one.
• Visitors on a non-EU/EEA licence must obtain an International Driving Permit before travelling — Romania does not issue IDPs to foreign visitors.
• Romanian police, rental companies, and insurers are all described as expecting both your IDP and your original licence together, not one or the other.
• The IDP is a translation aid, not a standalone document or a substitute for your original licence.
• Romania drives on the right, with the driver's seat on the left side of the vehicle.

Romania has a zero-tolerance drink-driving law, a mandatory electronic road vignette, and seasonal mountain-road closures worth planning around.

• Romania has a strict zero-tolerance drink-driving policy, with a legal blood alcohol limit of 0.00% for all drivers.
• A rovinieta — an electronic road vignette linked to your licence plate — is mandatory on national roads, expressways, and motorways, with roadside cameras checking compliance automatically.
• Speed limits are 130 km/h on motorways, 100 km/h on expressways, 90 km/h outside built-up areas, and 50 km/h in built-up areas.Commonly reported
• Drivers who've held their licence for less than a year face limits 20 km/h lower outside built-up areas, on dual carriageways, and on motorways.
• Winter tyres or snow chains are required whenever snow, ice, or sleet is present on the road, typically between November and March.Commonly reported
• Road conditions vary considerably outside major routes, with potholes, double-parked vehicles, and in rural areas, horse-drawn carts and livestock all common hazards.Commonly reported
• High-altitude mountain roads including the Transfăgărășan and Transalpina close for winter, reopening between June and July most years depending on snowpack.Commonly reported

Self-drive car rental is available across Romania, with Bucharest's main airport the busiest pickup point and most providers setting requirements above the legal minimum.

• The legal minimum driving age is 18, but rental companies typically require drivers to be at least 21, with some setting the bar higher for larger vehicles.Commonly reported
• Bucharest's Henri Coandă Airport (OTP) has rental counters from major providers including Avis, National, and Enterprise reachable from the arrivals area.Commonly reported
• Romanian rental cars usually already carry a valid rovinieta — a car picked up in a neighboring country like Hungary or Bulgaria will not, and one must be bought before crossing into Romania.Commonly reported
• Taking a rental car across Romania's borders requires telling your rental company in advance, since not every provider or plan permits it, and a cross-border fee is common.Commonly reported
• Typical documents requested at pickup include your original licence, an IDP if applicable, your passport, and a credit card for the deposit.Commonly reported

Keep your original driving licence and your International Driving Permit, if you need one, together as your standard document set any time you're driving in Romania.

• Your original licence, and your IDP if your licence needs one, should be kept together and accessible at all times.
• The Poliția Rutieră (road police) conduct roadside checks and sobriety tests, especially on weekends and around larger cities like Bucharest, Cluj-Napoca, and Constanța.Commonly reported
• Emergency services across Romania can be reached on 112.Commonly reported