Any alcohol at the wheel is an offence: a class IV fine and a 90-day licence suspension. Above 0.80 g/l in the blood it is a crime (Penal Code, art. 336).
Under OMTI 959/2026, the vignette price depends on the emissions standard: 228 lei for electric cars, up to 330 lei for Euro 3 and older.
A fine point is 5% of the gross minimum wage, now 4,325 lei. A class IV fine, such as for missing winter tyres, is 9 to 20 points.
Driving in Romania: the short answer
Five rules cover most of what a newcomer needs. Winter tyres are compulsory whenever the road is covered with snow, ice or frost, whatever the date. A car on national roads outside city limits needs a rovinieta, the electronic road vignette: 254 lei a year for a Euro 6 car under the rates now in force. The speed limit is 50 km/h in towns, 90 km/h on ordinary roads outside them, 100 km/h on European roads, 120 km/h on expressways and 130 km/h on motorways. Romania has no legal alcohol allowance for drivers. And every registered car on a public road must have compulsory third-party insurance, called RCA.
The fines are calculated in "fine points", and since 1 July 2026 one point is worth 216.25 lei. That is why a winter tyre or alcohol fine can reach several thousand lei.
In plain words: buy the vignette online, fit winter tyres before the first snow, never drink and drive, and keep the RCA valid. Those four habits avoid almost every expensive surprise.
The question of which licence you can drive on, and how to exchange it, is covered in our guide to an Israeli driving licence in Romania. This article is about the rules on the road.
The rules at a glance
| Topic | The rule | Legal basis |
|---|---|---|
| Winter tyres | Compulsory on roads covered with snow, ice or frost | OUG 195/2002, art. 102(1) pt. 28 |
| Rovinieta | Compulsory on national roads, except inside city limits | CNAIR; tariff order OMTI 959/2026 |
| Speed | 50 / 90 / 100 / 120 / 130 km/h by road type | OUG 195/2002, art. 49 |
| Alcohol | Any amount is an offence; over 0.80 g/l in blood is a crime | OUG 195/2002, art. 102(3); Penal Code, art. 336 |
| Insurance | RCA compulsory for every registered vehicle on public roads | OUG 195/2002, art. 76; Law 132/2017 |
Winter tyres: when they are compulsory
The rule is tied to the state of the road, not to the calendar. The Road Code makes it an offence to drive "on public roads covered with snow, ice or frost" without winter tyres (art. 102(1), point 28). For heavy goods vehicles over 3.5 t and buses with more than 9 seats, the requirement is winter tyres on the drive axle, or certified snow chains on those wheels.
What happens if you are stopped without them:
- The fine is in class IV, 9 to 20 fine points (art. 98). At 216.25 lei per point, that is about 1,946–4,325 lei by our calculation.
- The registration certificate can be retained by the traffic police (art. 112(1)(h¹)), so the car cannot be driven on until the problem is fixed.
The law defines winter tyres by type approval, under Directive 92/23/EEC or UNECE Regulations 30 or 54. In practice, ask the tyre fitter to confirm in writing that your tyres qualify. If you live in Ilfov or drive to the mountains, the practical answer is simple: fit winter tyres in late autumn and keep them on until spring. Our Bucharest weather guide explains what a typical winter looks like.
The rovinieta: what it costs
The rovinieta is the road-use fee for national roads. It is sold only in electronic form and recorded in the database of CNAIR, the national road company. It applies on the whole national road network, except the sections inside municipalities (between the entry and exit signs). In practice, the DN1 between Bucharest and Ploiești needs a vignette once you leave the city.
Under the tariff order now in force, OMTI 959/2026 of 8 October 2026, the price depends on the car's emissions standard. The rates for passenger cars (category A) on CNAIR's official portal:
| Car (category A) | 1 day | 10 days | 30 days | 60 days | 12 months |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Electric | 20 lei | 27 lei | 43 lei | 68 lei | 228 lei |
| Euro 6 | 22 lei | 30 lei | 48 lei | 76 lei | 254 lei |
| Euro 4 and 5 | 26 lei | 35 lei | 55 lei | 87 lei | 292 lei |
| Euro 3 and older | 29 lei | 39 lei | 62 lei | 99 lei | 330 lei |
Buy it online on the official portal or from an authorised distributor, and check the plate number carefully before you pay: the vignette is issued for that plate.
Speed limits
Under art. 49 of the Road Code, for cars:
Buy the vignette online, fit winter tyres before the first snow, never drink and drive, and keep the RCA valid.
| Road | Limit |
|---|---|
| Inside towns and villages | 50 km/h (some sections may be signed up to 80 km/h) |
| Other roads outside towns | 90 km/h |
| European roads (E) | 100 km/h |
| Expressways | 120 km/h |
| Motorways | 130 km/h |
Two extra rules matter for families. A driver with less than one year of experience must drive 20 km/h below these limits outside towns (art. 50(4)). And a car towing a trailer drives 10 km/h below the limit for its category.
The big penalties start with large excesses: more than 50 km/h over the limit means a class IV fine plus a 90-day licence suspension; more than 70 km/h over means 120 days (art. 102(3)(e) and 102(4)(a)).
Alcohol: no allowance at all
Romania has no "one drink" margin. Driving under the influence of alcohol, when it is not a crime, is an offence with a class IV fine and a 90-day licence suspension (art. 102(3)(a)). Above 0.80 g/l of pure alcohol in the blood, it becomes a crime under art. 336 of the Penal Code, punishable by prison of 1 to 5 years or a fine.
The police test breath first. A driver who tests above 0.40 mg/l in exhaled air must give a blood sample; a driver at up to 0.40 mg/l may ask for one (art. 88).
The practical rule for a dinner in Bucharest: if you drink anything, take a taxi.
RCA: the compulsory insurance
Every registered vehicle that drives on public roads must have compulsory civil liability insurance for damage to third parties (art. 76 of the Road Code; the insurance itself is governed by Law 132/2017). RCA covers damage you cause to others, not damage to your own car. That needs a separate, optional CASCO policy.
Three practical points:
- Check the policy is valid before you drive a car you bought or borrowed. ASF, the financial supervisor, links to an online RCA policy lookup on its site.
- The price depends on the car, the owner and the insurer. Ask for several quotes.
- A Romanian residence and a Romanian-registered car usually go together; if you bring a foreign-plated car, see the rules in our licence guide.
Before your first winter: a checklist
- Check which licence you can drive on, and for how long.
- Fit winter tyres before the first snow, and keep the fitter's receipt.
- Buy a 12-month rovinieta online for the exact plate.
- Confirm the RCA policy is valid, and add CASCO if you want cover for your own car.
- Save the number 112 for emergencies.
- Learn the 50 / 90 / 100 / 120 / 130 limits, minus 20 km/h for new drivers.
- Agree on a rule at home: whoever drives does not drink.
- Check Bucharest's planned low-emission zone if your car is older.
Frequently asked questions
Are winter tyres compulsory in Romania from a specific date?
No. The obligation applies whenever you drive on a road covered with snow, ice or frost, whatever the date. Without winter tyres, the fine is 9 to 20 fine points, and the police can retain the registration certificate.
How much is the rovinieta in 2026?
Under the order now in force (OMTI 959/2026), it depends on the emissions standard. For a car, 12 months cost 228 lei for an electric car, 254 lei for Euro 6, 292 lei for Euro 4 or 5, and 330 lei for Euro 3 or older, according to CNAIR's portal.
Is there any alcohol allowance for drivers in Romania?
No. Any alcohol is an offence, with a class IV fine and a 90-day licence suspension. Above 0.80 g/l in the blood, it is a crime under art. 336 of the Penal Code.
What are the speed limits in Romania?
For cars, 50 km/h in towns, 90 km/h on other roads outside towns, 100 km/h on European roads, 120 km/h on expressways and 130 km/h on motorways. Drivers with less than one year of experience drive 20 km/h slower outside towns.
Does RCA cover damage to my own car?
No. RCA is compulsory third-party liability insurance: it pays for damage you cause to others. Cover for your own car requires an optional CASCO policy.
The bottom line
Driving in Romania is straightforward once you know the five rules: winter tyres when the road is white, an electronic rovinieta, the speed limits, zero alcohol and a valid RCA. The fines are high because they are tied to the minimum wage, so prevention is much cheaper than a mistake.
If you are moving to Romania and planning daily life around a house outside Bucharest, with us or elsewhere, book a half-hour call with me. We will go through the commute, the car and the practical details.
Moti Azulay, Compass Group Romania
Sources: OUG 195/2002 on road traffic, consolidated form at 14.03.2024 (legislatie.just.ro export, copy hosted by Apahida town hall), art. 49, 50, 76, 88, 98, 102, 112 · CNAIR, official rovinieta tariffs (portal.etoll.ro) and general information · HG 146/2026 on the minimum wage from 1 July 2026, quoted by StartupCafe · Penal Code, art. 336 (legeaz.net) · ASF, Financial Supervisory Authority
This article is general information only and is not legal, tax or financial advice. Rules and rates are current as of 22 October 2026. The fine amounts are our calculation from the fine-point value; the police officer's report decides the actual amount.
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This article is general information, not legal, tax or financial advice. Consult local professionals before any transaction.
