Driving in Austria vs. Bulgaria: Key Differences Explained

When traveling through Austria and Bulgaria, understanding the nuances of their road regulations is essential for a safe journey. Key distinctions include speed limits, lane usage, and alcohol restrictions. While Austria enforces variable speed limits, Bulgaria permits higher speeds on highways. Familiarizing yourself with these driving variations enhances your overall driving experience abroad.

austriabulgaria

RIGHT

Driving Side

The driving side in austria is the Right Side of the road

Driving Safety Score

The driving Driving Safety Score in austria is 86

1.628 $

Gas Price in USD

The driving Driving Safety Score for austria is 1.628 US Dollars

While the driving side of a country remains the same, the driving safety score is updated annually based on each countries car accident fatality rate. Lastly, the gas price is only an estimate. Due to frequent fluctuations, it serves as a general reference rather than an exact figure for each country.

Lanes

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	Austria	Bulgaria
Markings: Solid Yellow Line	Used primarily near tram lines or in temporary roadworks.	Marks the left edge on divided roads.
Markings: Dashed Yellow Line	Marks temporary lane changes or works in progress.	Centerline on two-way roads; passing permitted when safe.
Overtaking: On Right	Allowed only in certain situations such as when the vehicle ahead is signaling a left turn.	Allowed on multi-lane roads or when the vehicle ahead is turning left.
Bus Lanes: Usage	Reserved for buses, taxis, and sometimes bicycles.	Primarily reserved for public transport.
High- Occupancy Lanes: Requirements	N/A	N/A
Variable Speed Limits: Presence	Yes	No
Variable Speed Limits: Indications	Electronic signs display current limits.	N/A

Markings: Solid Yellow Line

austria:

Used primarily near tram lines or in temporary roadworks.

bulgaria:

Marks the left edge on divided roads.

Markings: Dashed Yellow Line

austria:

Marks temporary lane changes or works in progress.

bulgaria:

Centerline on two-way roads; passing permitted when safe.

Overtaking: On Right

austria:

Allowed only in certain situations such as when the vehicle ahead is signaling a left turn.

bulgaria:

Allowed on multi-lane roads or when the vehicle ahead is turning left.

Bus Lanes: Usage

austria:

Reserved for buses, taxis, and sometimes bicycles.

bulgaria:

Primarily reserved for public transport.

High- Occupancy Lanes: Requirements

austria:

N/A

bulgaria:

N/A

Variable Speed Limits: Presence

austria:

Yes

bulgaria:

Variable Speed Limits: Indications

austria:

Electronic signs display current limits.

bulgaria:

N/A

Speeds Limits

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	Austria	Bulgaria
Rural Areas: Cars And Motorcycles	100 km/h	90 km/h
Rural Areas: Buses And Vans	80-100 km/h	80 km/h
Rural Areas: Trucks And Trailers	70-80 km/h	80 km/h
Highways: Cars And Motorcycles	130 km/h	140 km/h
Highways: Trucks And Trailers	80-100 km/h	100 km/h
Variable Speed Limits: Presence	Yes	No
Variable Speed Limits: Indications	Electronic signs display current limits	N/A
Enforcement: On-the- Spot Fines	Common; fines may also be mailed.	Yes

Rural Areas: Cars And Motorcycles

austria:

100 km/h

bulgaria:

90 km/h

Rural Areas: Buses And Vans

austria:

80-100 km/h

bulgaria:

80 km/h

Rural Areas: Trucks And Trailers

austria:

70-80 km/h

bulgaria:

80 km/h

Highways: Cars And Motorcycles

austria:

130 km/h

bulgaria:

140 km/h

Highways: Trucks And Trailers

austria:

80-100 km/h

bulgaria:

100 km/h

Variable Speed Limits: Presence

austria:

Yes

bulgaria:

Variable Speed Limits: Indications

austria:

Electronic signs display current limits

bulgaria:

N/A

Enforcement: On-the- Spot Fines

austria:

Common; fines may also be mailed.

bulgaria:

Yes

Signals

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	Austria	Bulgaria
Traffic Lights: Red And Amber Together	Indicates upcoming green light; prepare to move.	Not used in Bulgaria
Use Of Indicators: Roundabouts	Signal when entering and exiting	Signal when exiting
Traffic Signs: Language	German; symbols are standard	Bulgarian; symbols are standard
Traffic Signs: Warning	Triangular with red border	Triangle-shaped with a red border

Traffic Lights: Red And Amber Together

austria:

Indicates upcoming green light; prepare to move.

bulgaria:

Not used in Bulgaria

Use Of Indicators: Roundabouts

austria:

Signal when entering and exiting

bulgaria:

Signal when exiting

Traffic Signs: Language

austria:

German; symbols are standard

bulgaria:

Bulgarian; symbols are standard

Traffic Signs: Warning

austria:

Triangular with red border

bulgaria:

Triangle-shaped with a red border

Turns

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	Austria		Bulgaria
Right Turn On Red	Not allowed unless indicated by a sign or traffic light		Not generally allowed
U- Turns Allowed	Prohibited in urban areas unless a sign permits it		Permitted unless indicated otherwise by signs

Right Turn On Red

austria:

Not allowed unless indicated by a sign or traffic light

bulgaria:

Not generally allowed

U- Turns Allowed

austria:

Prohibited in urban areas unless a sign permits it

bulgaria:

Permitted unless indicated otherwise by signs

Documentation

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	Austria	Bulgaria
Driver's License: Foreign: E U/ E E A	Accepted; International Driving Permit not needed	Accepted for short visits; International Driving Permit recommended
Driver's License: Foreign: Non- E U	Accepted for short visits; International Driving Permit recommended	Accepted for short visits with International Driving Permit
Vehicle Inspection: Requirement	Yes, proof may be required	Yes, proof required
Vehicle Inspection: Sticker	Displayed on license plate	Displayed on license plate or windshield

Driver's License: Foreign: E U/ E E A

austria:

Accepted; International Driving Permit not needed

bulgaria:

Accepted for short visits; International Driving Permit recommended

Driver's License: Foreign: Non- E U

austria:

Accepted for short visits; International Driving Permit recommended

bulgaria:

Accepted for short visits with International Driving Permit

Vehicle Inspection: Requirement

austria:

Yes, proof may be required

bulgaria:

Yes, proof required

Vehicle Inspection: Sticker

austria:

Displayed on license plate

bulgaria:

Displayed on license plate or windshield

Alcohol

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	Austria	Bulgaria
Limits: Professional Drivers	0.01%	0.00%
Limits: Underage Drivers	0.01%	0.00%
Enforcement: Random Checks	Common	Common; checkpoints used
Enforcement: Fines	Substantial; varies by offense	Substantial

Limits: Professional Drivers

austria:

0.01%

bulgaria:

0.00%

Limits: Underage Drivers

austria:

0.01%

bulgaria:

0.00%

Enforcement: Random Checks

austria:

Common

bulgaria:

Common; checkpoints used

Enforcement: Fines

austria:

Substantial; varies by offense

bulgaria:

Substantial

Emergency Services

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	Austria		Bulgaria
Contact: Traffic Police	133		Varies by region
Contact: Roadside Assistance	120 (ÖAMTC) or 123 (ARBÖ)		Check with your insurance provider or local providers

Contact: Traffic Police

austria:

133

bulgaria:

Varies by region

Contact: Roadside Assistance

austria:

120 (ÖAMTC) or 123 (ARBÖ)

bulgaria:

Check with your insurance provider or local providers

Penalties And Fines

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	Austria	Bulgaria
Common Fines: Speeding	Varies; €30 to €2,180, points on license	Varies; often €20 to €150, points on license
Common Fines: Seat Belts	Fines apply	Up to €50
Common Fines: Phone Use	Fines apply, points on license	Up to €50
Common Fines: Traffic Light Violation	Fines apply, points on license	Varies; typically fined and points on license
Payment: On The Spot	Common	Common; fines often paid onsite
Payment: Deadline	Varies; typically 14 days to pay	Varies; typically 30 days to pay

Common Fines: Speeding

austria:

Varies; €30 to €2,180, points on license

bulgaria:

Varies; often €20 to €150, points on license

Common Fines: Seat Belts

austria:

Fines apply

bulgaria:

Up to €50

Common Fines: Phone Use

austria:

Fines apply, points on license

bulgaria:

Up to €50

Common Fines: Traffic Light Violation

austria:

Fines apply, points on license

bulgaria:

Varies; typically fined and points on license

Payment: On The Spot

austria:

Common

bulgaria:

Common; fines often paid onsite

Payment: Deadline

austria:

Varies; typically 14 days to pay

bulgaria:

Varies; typically 30 days to pay