Renting a car in Varna: licence, age, deposit and vignette
Car hire in Varna: licence, ID and a credit card in the driver's name; most suppliers want 21+. E-vignette from €5.30 a day; Romania needs prior approval.
To rent a car in Varna you need a valid driving licence, a passport or ID card and a credit card in the main driver’s name; most suppliers set the minimum age at 21. The car must have a Bulgarian e-vignette, which according to BNT News costs €5.30 a day since 1 August 2026, and driving to Romania needs the supplier’s prior approval. Conditions vary between suppliers, so check the terms of your booking.
What documents do I need to rent a car?
According to VIPCars, suppliers in Bulgaria ask for a full driving licence, photo ID and a credit card; photocopies and digital licences are usually refused. Auto Europe says the card must be in the main driver’s name with enough funds for the deposit. An International Driving Permit is sometimes requested, mainly for non-EU licences, but it is only a translation and never valid without your national licence.
How old do I have to be?
Auto Europe reports that most suppliers in Bulgaria require drivers to be 21, while a few accept 18-year-olds with one year’s licence. Drivers under 26 usually pay a young-driver surcharge at the desk, and some suppliers also charge extra above a certain age.
How does the deposit work?
The supplier blocks a deposit on your credit card and releases it when the car comes back in the same condition. Amounts depend on the car and the insurance you choose. VIPCars notes that where a debit card is accepted you may have to show a return ticket. Read what the excess is before you sign.
What is the e-vignette and how much does it cost?
The e-vignette is an electronic road fee linked to the number plate. Prices for cars rose on 1 August 2026, as reported by BNT News and Novinite:
| Vignette | Price |
|---|---|
| One day | €5.30 |
| Weekend | €6.60 |
| Week | €10.00 |
| Month | €19.90 |
| Quarter | €35.90 |
| Year | €64.50 |
A rental car should already have one; ask the supplier to confirm. If not, buy it at the official bgtoll.bg or in the BGTOLL app and type the plate carefully. According to BNT News, the compensatory charge for a car without a vignette is €46.50.
Can I drive into Romania?
Bulgaria and Romania are both in Schengen, but a rental contract is a separate matter. VIPCars says suppliers charge a cross-border fee and some forbid crossing altogether; Auto Europe warns that undeclared trips can void the insurance. Romania also requires its own vignette (rovinieta), sold at etoll.ro, according to Fuel-prices.eu. Routes and crossings are in driving to Varna.
What about winter tyres?
From 15 November to 1 March, cars must have winter tyres or tyres with at least 4 mm of tread, as the Sofia Globe reports. Ask whether your car has real winter tyres if you head inland, and read driving in Bulgaria in winter before a mountain trip.
Where to next
Desks at the terminal are covered in our Varna Airport guide. For parking in town see the Blue and Green Zones and car parks in Varna on Varna Daily. Good drives: Balchik, Cape Kaliakra and Madara and Shumen.
Sources
- BNT News – Government approves new vignette prices from 1 August 2026
- Novinite – Bulgaria raises vignette prices by 30% from 1 August
- Sofia Globe – One-day vignette on sale from 3 February 2026
- BG TOLL – official e-vignette sales
- Sofia Globe – Tyres suitable for winter from 15 November
- Auto Europe – Car hire in Bulgaria (supplier conditions)
- VIPCars – Car rental in Bulgaria (documents and cross-border)
- Fuel-prices.eu – Romania's vignette from 1 October 2026
Frequently asked questions
What is the minimum age to rent a car in Varna?
Most suppliers ask for 21, according to Auto Europe; a few accept 18-year-olds who have held a licence for one year. Drivers under 26 usually pay a young-driver surcharge. Check the supplier's terms before booking.
Do I need an International Driving Permit to rent a car in Bulgaria?
Some suppliers ask for one, especially for licences issued outside the EU. An IDP is only a translation and is never valid on its own: always bring your national licence as well.
Does a rental car in Bulgaria come with a vignette?
It normally should, but ask the supplier to confirm at pick-up. If it is missing, buy one for the plate at bgtoll.bg or in the BGTOLL app: €5.30 a day or €10 a week since 1 August 2026.
Can I drive a rental car from Varna to Romania?
Only if the supplier allows it in writing. Expect a cross-border fee and often a higher deposit; some suppliers forbid it. Romania also requires its own vignette (rovinieta).
Do rental cars in Varna have winter tyres?
From 15 November to 1 March Bulgarian law requires winter tyres or tyres with at least 4 mm of tread. Ask whether the car has real winter tyres and whether snow chains are available.
