Driving in Bulgaria vs. Iceland: Key Differences Explained

The driving landscape in Bulgaria and Iceland presents unique distinctions that are crucial for safe travels. From varying speed limits—90 km/h in Bulgaria versus 80 km/h on gravel roads in Iceland—to the regulations surrounding bus lanes, understanding these contrasts ensures a secure experience on foreign roads. Explore these vital driving nuances to enhance your safety abroad.

bulgariaiceland

RIGHT

Driving Side

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

Driving Safety Score

The driving Driving Safety Score in bulgaria is 75

1.368 $

Gas Price in USD

The driving Driving Safety Score for bulgaria is 1.368 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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	Bulgaria	Iceland
Overtaking: Prohibited Areas	List length: 5	List length: 4
Bus Lanes: Usage	Primarily reserved for public transport.	Reserved for buses; usage by taxis is sometimes permitted.
Bus Lanes: Markings	Labeled 'BUS' or 'BUS ONLY'; often with road signs.	Labeled 'BUS'; often with road signs.

Overtaking: Prohibited Areas

bulgaria:

List length: 5

iceland:

List length: 4

Bus Lanes: Usage

bulgaria:

Primarily reserved for public transport.

iceland:

Reserved for buses; usage by taxis is sometimes permitted.

Bus Lanes: Markings

bulgaria:

Labeled 'BUS' or 'BUS ONLY'; often with road signs.

iceland:

Labeled 'BUS'; often with road signs.

Speeds Limits

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	Bulgaria	Iceland
Rural Areas: Cars And Motorcycles	90 km/h	80 km/h on gravel roads
Rural Areas: Buses And Vans	80 km/h	90 km/h on paved roads
Rural Areas: Trucks And Trailers	80 km/h	80 km/h on paved roads
Highways: Cars And Motorcycles	140 km/h	90 km/h
Highways: Buses And Vans	100 km/h	90 km/h
Highways: Trucks And Trailers	100 km/h	80 km/h

Rural Areas: Cars And Motorcycles

bulgaria:

90 km/h

iceland:

80 km/h on gravel roads

Rural Areas: Buses And Vans

bulgaria:

80 km/h

iceland:

90 km/h on paved roads

Rural Areas: Trucks And Trailers

bulgaria:

80 km/h

iceland:

80 km/h on paved roads

Highways: Cars And Motorcycles

bulgaria:

140 km/h

iceland:

90 km/h

Highways: Buses And Vans

bulgaria:

100 km/h

iceland:

90 km/h

Highways: Trucks And Trailers

bulgaria:

100 km/h

iceland:

80 km/h

Signals

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	Bulgaria	Iceland
Traffic Lights: Red And Amber Together	Not used in Bulgaria	N/A
Use Of Indicators: Roundabouts	Signal when exiting	Signal when entering and exiting
Horn Usage: Penalties	Fines may apply for misuse	N/A
Hand Signals: Common Usage	Rare, as vehicle indicators are expected	N/A
Traffic Signs: Language	Bulgarian; symbols are standard	Icelandic; symbols are standard
Traffic Signs: Warning	Triangle-shaped with a red border	Triangular with red borders

Traffic Lights: Red And Amber Together

bulgaria:

Not used in Bulgaria

iceland:

N/A

Use Of Indicators: Roundabouts

bulgaria:

Signal when exiting

iceland:

Signal when entering and exiting

Horn Usage: Penalties

bulgaria:

Fines may apply for misuse

iceland:

N/A

Hand Signals: Common Usage

bulgaria:

Rare, as vehicle indicators are expected

iceland:

N/A

Traffic Signs: Language

bulgaria:

Bulgarian; symbols are standard

iceland:

Icelandic; symbols are standard

Traffic Signs: Warning

bulgaria:

Triangle-shaped with a red border

iceland:

Triangular with red borders

Turns

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	Bulgaria		Iceland
Right Turn On Red	Not generally allowed		Not allowed
U- Turns Allowed	Permitted unless indicated otherwise by signs		Generally allowed unless prohibited by signs

Right Turn On Red

bulgaria:

Not generally allowed

iceland:

Not allowed

U- Turns Allowed

bulgaria:

Permitted unless indicated otherwise by signs

iceland:

Generally allowed unless prohibited by signs

Documentation

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	Bulgaria	Iceland
Driver's License: Foreign: E U/ E E A	Accepted for short visits; International Driving Permit recommended	Accepted; International Driving Permit recommended
Driver's License: Foreign: Non- E U	Accepted for short visits with International Driving Permit	Accepted; International Driving Permit recommended
Vehicle Inspection: Requirement	Yes, proof required	Annual inspection required
Vehicle Inspection: Sticker	Displayed on license plate or windshield	Displayed on the windshield
Emergency Equipment: Reflective Vest	Mandatory	Not mandatory

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

bulgaria:

Accepted for short visits; International Driving Permit recommended

iceland:

Accepted; International Driving Permit recommended

Driver's License: Foreign: Non- E U

bulgaria:

Accepted for short visits with International Driving Permit

iceland:

Accepted; International Driving Permit recommended

Vehicle Inspection: Requirement

bulgaria:

Yes, proof required

iceland:

Annual inspection required

Vehicle Inspection: Sticker

bulgaria:

Displayed on license plate or windshield

iceland:

Displayed on the windshield

Emergency Equipment: Reflective Vest

bulgaria:

Mandatory

iceland:

Not mandatory

Alcohol

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	Bulgaria	Iceland
Limits: Professional Drivers	0.00%	0.02%
Limits: Underage Drivers	0.00%	0.00% - zero tolerance
Enforcement: Random Checks	Common; checkpoints used	Common
Enforcement: Fines	Substantial	Substantial penalties can apply
Test Refusal	Can result in license suspension	Can result in license suspension and fine

Limits: Professional Drivers

bulgaria:

0.00%

iceland:

0.02%

Limits: Underage Drivers

bulgaria:

0.00%

iceland:

0.00% - zero tolerance

Enforcement: Random Checks

bulgaria:

Common; checkpoints used

iceland:

Common

Enforcement: Fines

bulgaria:

Substantial

iceland:

Substantial penalties can apply

Test Refusal

bulgaria:

Can result in license suspension

iceland:

Can result in license suspension and fine

Roundabouts

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	Bulgaria		Iceland
Signaling: Entering	Signal if turning immediately upon entry		Signal when entering and exiting
Signaling: Exiting	Signal right when preparing to exit		Signal when preparing to exit

Signaling: Entering

bulgaria:

Signal if turning immediately upon entry

iceland:

Signal when entering and exiting

Signaling: Exiting

bulgaria:

Signal right when preparing to exit

iceland:

Signal when preparing to exit

Emergency Services

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	Bulgaria	Iceland
Contact: Traffic Police	Varies by region	National Police number 112
Contact: Roadside Assistance	Check with your insurance provider or local providers	Contact local towing services or insurance provider
Emergency Equipment: Reflective Vest	Mandatory	Not mandatory

Contact: Traffic Police

bulgaria:

Varies by region

iceland:

National Police number 112

Contact: Roadside Assistance

bulgaria:

Check with your insurance provider or local providers

iceland:

Contact local towing services or insurance provider

Emergency Equipment: Reflective Vest

bulgaria:

Mandatory

iceland:

Not mandatory

Penalties And Fines

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	Bulgaria	Iceland
Common Fines: Speeding	Varies; often €20 to €150, points on license	Varies; fines can be substantial depending on the offense
Common Fines: Seat Belts	Up to €50	Mandatory; fines apply
Common Fines: Phone Use	Up to €50	Fines if found using without hands-free
Common Fines: Traffic Light Violation	Varies; typically fined and points on license	Fines and points on license
Payment: On The Spot	Common; fines often paid onsite	Possible; fines often need to be paid promptly
Payment: Deadline	Varies; typically 30 days to pay	Varies; typically must be paid within specific time frame

Common Fines: Speeding

bulgaria:

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

iceland:

Varies; fines can be substantial depending on the offense

Common Fines: Seat Belts

bulgaria:

Up to €50

iceland:

Mandatory; fines apply

Common Fines: Phone Use

bulgaria:

Up to €50

iceland:

Fines if found using without hands-free

Common Fines: Traffic Light Violation

bulgaria:

Varies; typically fined and points on license

iceland:

Fines and points on license

Payment: On The Spot

bulgaria:

Common; fines often paid onsite

iceland:

Possible; fines often need to be paid promptly

Payment: Deadline

bulgaria:

Varies; typically 30 days to pay

iceland:

Varies; typically must be paid within specific time frame