Driving in Bulgaria vs Georgia: Key Differences Explained
When traversing the roads of Bulgaria and Georgia, understanding their distinct traffic regulations is crucial for ensuring a safe journey. Key differences include speed limits, lane usage, and alcohol thresholds. While Bulgaria maintains higher speed limits, Georgia introduces variable speed signs, making awareness essential for travelers navigating these diverse landscapes.
Lanes
| Bulgaria | Georgia | |
|---|---|---|
| Bus Lanes: Usage | Primarily reserved for public transport. | Reserved for buses and sometimes taxis. |
| High- Occupancy Lanes: Presence | No | Yes |
| High- Occupancy Lanes: Requirements | N/A | Minimum two or three occupants |
| Variable Speed Limits: Presence | No | Yes |
| Variable Speed Limits: Indications | N/A | Electronic signs display current limits. |
Bus Lanes: Usage
bulgaria:
Primarily reserved for public transport.
georgia:
Reserved for buses and sometimes taxis.
High- Occupancy Lanes: Presence
bulgaria:
No
georgia:
Yes
High- Occupancy Lanes: Requirements
bulgaria:
N/A
georgia:
Minimum two or three occupants
Variable Speed Limits: Presence
bulgaria:
No
georgia:
Yes
Variable Speed Limits: Indications
bulgaria:
N/A
georgia:
Electronic signs display current limits.
Speeds Limits
| Bulgaria | Georgia | |
|---|---|---|
| Urban Areas: Standard | 50 km/h | 30-50 km/h |
| Urban Areas: Residential Zones | 30 km/h | 20-40 km/h |
| Rural Areas: Cars And Motorcycles | 90 km/h | 80-100 km/h |
| Rural Areas: Buses And Vans | 80 km/h | 80-100 km/h |
| Highways: Cars And Motorcycles | 140 km/h | 110-120 km/h |
| Highways: Buses And Vans | 100 km/h | 100-110 km/h |
| Highways: Trucks And Trailers | 100 km/h | 90-100 km/h |
| Variable Speed Limits: Presence | No | Yes |
| Variable Speed Limits: Indications | N/A | Electronic signs display current limits |
Urban Areas: Standard
bulgaria:
50 km/h
georgia:
30-50 km/h
Urban Areas: Residential Zones
bulgaria:
30 km/h
georgia:
20-40 km/h
Rural Areas: Cars And Motorcycles
bulgaria:
90 km/h
georgia:
80-100 km/h
Rural Areas: Buses And Vans
bulgaria:
80 km/h
georgia:
80-100 km/h
Highways: Cars And Motorcycles
bulgaria:
140 km/h
georgia:
110-120 km/h
Highways: Buses And Vans
bulgaria:
100 km/h
georgia:
100-110 km/h
Highways: Trucks And Trailers
bulgaria:
100 km/h
georgia:
90-100 km/h
Variable Speed Limits: Presence
bulgaria:
No
georgia:
Yes
Variable Speed Limits: Indications
bulgaria:
N/A
georgia:
Electronic signs display current limits
Signals
| Bulgaria | Georgia | |
|---|---|---|
| Traffic Lights: Red And Amber Together | Not used in Bulgaria | Not used |
| Traffic Signs: Language | Bulgarian; symbols are standard | Georgian; symbols are standard |
| Traffic Signs: Warning | Triangle-shaped with a red border | Diamond-shaped with yellow background |
Traffic Lights: Red And Amber Together
bulgaria:
Not used in Bulgaria
georgia:
Not used
Traffic Signs: Language
bulgaria:
Bulgarian; symbols are standard
georgia:
Georgian; symbols are standard
Traffic Signs: Warning
bulgaria:
Triangle-shaped with a red border
georgia:
Diamond-shaped with yellow background
Turns
| Bulgaria | Georgia | |
|---|---|---|
| Right Turn On Red | Not generally allowed | Allowed unless prohibited by a sign |
| U- Turns Allowed | Permitted unless indicated otherwise by signs | Varies by location; check for signs |
Right Turn On Red
bulgaria:
Not generally allowed
georgia:
Allowed unless prohibited by a sign
U- Turns Allowed
bulgaria:
Permitted unless indicated otherwise by signs
georgia:
Varies by location; check for signs
Documentation
| Bulgaria | Georgia | |
|---|---|---|
| Driver's License: Foreign: Non- E U | Accepted for short visits with International Driving Permit | Accepted for short visits; International Driving Permit recommended |
| Vehicle Inspection: Requirement | Yes, proof required | Required; proof may be required |
| Emergency Equipment: Reflective Vest | Mandatory | Recommended |
Driver's License: Foreign: Non- E U
bulgaria:
Accepted for short visits with International Driving Permit
georgia:
Accepted for short visits; International Driving Permit recommended
Vehicle Inspection: Requirement
bulgaria:
Yes, proof required
georgia:
Required; proof may be required
Emergency Equipment: Reflective Vest
bulgaria:
Mandatory
georgia:
Recommended
Alcohol
| Bulgaria | Georgia | |
|---|---|---|
| Limits: General Drivers | 0.05% | 0.03% |
| Enforcement: Random Checks | Common; checkpoints used | Common; checkpoints used frequently |
| Enforcement: Fines | Substantial | Varies; can be substantial |
Limits: General Drivers
bulgaria:
0.05%
georgia:
0.03%
Enforcement: Random Checks
bulgaria:
Common; checkpoints used
georgia:
Common; checkpoints used frequently
Enforcement: Fines
bulgaria:
Substantial
georgia:
Varies; can be substantial
Emergency Services
| Bulgaria | Georgia | |
|---|---|---|
| Contact: Traffic Police | Varies by region | 112 |
| Contact: Roadside Assistance | Check with your insurance provider or local providers | Check with your insurance provider or local services |
| Emergency Equipment: Reflective Vest | Mandatory | Recommended |
Contact: Traffic Police
bulgaria:
Varies by region
georgia:
112
Contact: Roadside Assistance
bulgaria:
Check with your insurance provider or local providers
georgia:
Check with your insurance provider or local services
Emergency Equipment: Reflective Vest
bulgaria:
Mandatory
georgia:
Recommended
Penalties And Fines
| Bulgaria | Georgia | |
|---|---|---|
| Common Fines: Speeding | Varies; often €20 to €150, points on license | Varies; 80 to 500 GEL |
| Common Fines: Seat Belts | Up to €50 | 50 GEL |
| Common Fines: Phone Use | Up to €50 | 10 GEL |
| Common Fines: Traffic Light Violation | Varies; typically fined and points on license | 200 GEL |
| Payment: On The Spot | Common; fines often paid onsite | Possible; but usually paid later |
| Payment: Deadline | Varies; typically 30 days to pay | Varies; typically within 30 days |
Common Fines: Speeding
bulgaria:
Varies; often €20 to €150, points on license
georgia:
Varies; 80 to 500 GEL
Common Fines: Seat Belts
bulgaria:
Up to €50
georgia:
50 GEL
Common Fines: Phone Use
bulgaria:
Up to €50
georgia:
10 GEL
Common Fines: Traffic Light Violation
bulgaria:
Varies; typically fined and points on license
georgia:
200 GEL
Payment: On The Spot
bulgaria:
Common; fines often paid onsite
georgia:
Possible; but usually paid later
Payment: Deadline
bulgaria:
Varies; typically 30 days to pay
georgia:
Varies; typically within 30 days