Driving in Bulgaria vs. New Zealand: Key Differences
Explore the contrasting road rules and regulations between Bulgaria and New Zealand to ensure a secure driving experience abroad. Key distinctions include driving on opposite sides of the road, varying speed limits, and unique signage practices. Understanding these nuances is essential for every traveler looking to navigate safely and confidently in unfamiliar territories.
Lanes
| Bulgaria | New zealand | |
|---|---|---|
| Driving Side | Right | Left |
| Markings: Solid Yellow Line | Marks the left edge on divided roads. | Marks the right edge on divided roads. |
| Overtaking: On Right | Allowed on multi-lane roads or when the vehicle ahead is turning left. | Allowed on multi-lane roads or when the vehicle ahead is turning right. |
| Lane Usage: Slow Vehicles | Use rightmost lane. | Use leftmost lane. |
| Bus Lanes: Usage | Primarily reserved for public transport. | Reserved for buses during certain hours. |
| Cycle Lanes: Markings | Bicycle symbols and colored pavement. | Bicycle symbols and green pavement. |
| High- Occupancy Lanes: Requirements | N/A | Not applicable |
| Variable Speed Limits: Presence | No | Yes |
| Variable Speed Limits: Indications | N/A | Electronic signs display current limits. |
Driving Side
bulgaria:
Right
new zealand:
Left
Markings: Solid Yellow Line
bulgaria:
Marks the left edge on divided roads.
new zealand:
Marks the right edge on divided roads.
Overtaking: On Right
bulgaria:
Allowed on multi-lane roads or when the vehicle ahead is turning left.
new zealand:
Allowed on multi-lane roads or when the vehicle ahead is turning right.
Lane Usage: Slow Vehicles
bulgaria:
Use rightmost lane.
new zealand:
Use leftmost lane.
Bus Lanes: Usage
bulgaria:
Primarily reserved for public transport.
new zealand:
Reserved for buses during certain hours.
Cycle Lanes: Markings
bulgaria:
Bicycle symbols and colored pavement.
new zealand:
Bicycle symbols and green pavement.
High- Occupancy Lanes: Requirements
bulgaria:
N/A
new zealand:
Not applicable
Variable Speed Limits: Presence
bulgaria:
No
new zealand:
Yes
Variable Speed Limits: Indications
bulgaria:
N/A
new zealand:
Electronic signs display current limits.
Speeds Limits
| Bulgaria | New zealand | |
|---|---|---|
| Urban Areas: Residential Zones | 30 km/h | 50 km/h |
| Rural Areas: Cars And Motorcycles | 90 km/h | 100 km/h |
| Rural Areas: Buses And Vans | 80 km/h | 100 km/h |
| Rural Areas: Trucks And Trailers | 80 km/h | 90 km/h |
| Highways: Cars And Motorcycles | 140 km/h | 100 km/h |
| Highways: Trucks And Trailers | 100 km/h | 90 km/h |
| Variable Speed Limits: Presence | No | Yes |
| Variable Speed Limits: Indications | N/A | Electronic signs display current limits |
| Enforcement: On-the- Spot Fines | Yes | No; fines are usually mailed after citation |
Urban Areas: Residential Zones
bulgaria:
30 km/h
new zealand:
50 km/h
Rural Areas: Cars And Motorcycles
bulgaria:
90 km/h
new zealand:
100 km/h
Rural Areas: Buses And Vans
bulgaria:
80 km/h
new zealand:
100 km/h
Rural Areas: Trucks And Trailers
bulgaria:
80 km/h
new zealand:
90 km/h
Highways: Cars And Motorcycles
bulgaria:
140 km/h
new zealand:
100 km/h
Highways: Trucks And Trailers
bulgaria:
100 km/h
new zealand:
90 km/h
Variable Speed Limits: Presence
bulgaria:
No
new zealand:
Yes
Variable Speed Limits: Indications
bulgaria:
N/A
new zealand:
Electronic signs display current limits
Enforcement: On-the- Spot Fines
bulgaria:
Yes
new zealand:
No; fines are usually mailed after citation
Signals
| Bulgaria | New zealand | |
|---|---|---|
| Traffic Lights: Red And Amber Together | Not used in Bulgaria | Not used in New Zealand |
| Use Of Indicators: Roundabouts | Signal when exiting | Signal when entering and exiting |
| Traffic Signs: Language | Bulgarian; symbols are standard | English; 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
new zealand:
Not used in New Zealand
Use Of Indicators: Roundabouts
bulgaria:
Signal when exiting
new zealand:
Signal when entering and exiting
Traffic Signs: Language
bulgaria:
Bulgarian; symbols are standard
new zealand:
English; symbols are standard
Traffic Signs: Warning
bulgaria:
Triangle-shaped with a red border
new zealand:
Diamond-shaped with yellow background
Turns
| Bulgaria | New zealand | |
|---|---|---|
| Right Turn On Red | Not generally allowed | Not allowed |
| U- Turns Allowed | Permitted unless indicated otherwise by signs | Permitted unless prohibited by a sign |
Right Turn On Red
bulgaria:
Not generally allowed
new zealand:
Not allowed
U- Turns Allowed
bulgaria:
Permitted unless indicated otherwise by signs
new zealand:
Permitted unless prohibited by a sign
Documentation
| Bulgaria | New zealand | |
|---|---|---|
| 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 | Regular inspection required; proof may be required |
| Emergency Equipment: Warning Triangles | Mandatory | Not mandatory |
| Emergency Equipment: Reflective Vest | Mandatory | Not mandatory |
Driver's License: Foreign: Non- E U
bulgaria:
Accepted for short visits with International Driving Permit
new zealand:
Accepted for short visits; International Driving Permit recommended
Vehicle Inspection: Requirement
bulgaria:
Yes, proof required
new zealand:
Regular inspection required; proof may be required
Emergency Equipment: Warning Triangles
bulgaria:
Mandatory
new zealand:
Not mandatory
Emergency Equipment: Reflective Vest
bulgaria:
Mandatory
new zealand:
Not mandatory
Road Etiquette
| Bulgaria | New zealand | |
|---|---|---|
| Pedestrians Priority | Pedestrians have right of way at crosswalks | Pedestrians have right of way at marked crossings |
| Emergency Vehicles: Protocol | Pull over to the right and stop if necessary | Move to the left and stop if necessary |
Pedestrians Priority
bulgaria:
Pedestrians have right of way at crosswalks
new zealand:
Pedestrians have right of way at marked crossings
Emergency Vehicles: Protocol
bulgaria:
Pull over to the right and stop if necessary
new zealand:
Move to the left and stop if necessary
Alcohol
| Bulgaria | New zealand | |
|---|---|---|
| Enforcement: Random Checks | Common; checkpoints used | Common; checkpoints used regularly |
| Enforcement: Fines | Substantial | Substantial fines, can vary widely |
| Test Refusal | Can result in license suspension | Can result in license suspension and other penalties |
Enforcement: Random Checks
bulgaria:
Common; checkpoints used
new zealand:
Common; checkpoints used regularly
Enforcement: Fines
bulgaria:
Substantial
new zealand:
Substantial fines, can vary widely
Test Refusal
bulgaria:
Can result in license suspension
new zealand:
Can result in license suspension and other penalties
Roundabouts
| Bulgaria | New zealand | |
|---|---|---|
| Signaling: Entering | Signal if turning immediately upon entry | Signal left if making an immediate left turn upon entry |
Signaling: Entering
bulgaria:
Signal if turning immediately upon entry
new zealand:
Signal left if making an immediate left turn upon entry
Emergency Services
| Bulgaria | New zealand | |
|---|---|---|
| Contact: General Emergency | 112 | 111 |
| Contact: Traffic Police | Varies by region | 111 |
| Contact: Roadside Assistance | Check with your insurance provider or local providers | 0800 500 222 for AA (Automobile Association) |
| Emergency Equipment: Warning Triangles | Mandatory | Not mandatory, but recommended |
| Emergency Equipment: Reflective Vest | Mandatory | Not mandatory, but recommended |
Contact: General Emergency
bulgaria:
112
new zealand:
111
Contact: Traffic Police
bulgaria:
Varies by region
new zealand:
111
Contact: Roadside Assistance
bulgaria:
Check with your insurance provider or local providers
new zealand:
0800 500 222 for AA (Automobile Association)
Emergency Equipment: Warning Triangles
bulgaria:
Mandatory
new zealand:
Not mandatory, but recommended
Emergency Equipment: Reflective Vest
bulgaria:
Mandatory
new zealand:
Not mandatory, but recommended
Penalties And Fines
| Bulgaria | New zealand | |
|---|---|---|
| Common Fines: Speeding | Varies; often €20 to €150, points on license | Varies; $30 to $630, points on license |
| Common Fines: Seat Belts | Up to €50 | $150, points may also apply |
| Common Fines: Phone Use | Up to €50 | $80 to $150, points in some circumstances |
| Common Fines: Traffic Light Violation | Varies; typically fined and points on license | $150, points on license |
| Payment: On The Spot | Common; fines often paid onsite | No; fines usually paid online or by mail |
| Payment: Deadline | Varies; typically 30 days to pay | Varies; typically 28 days to pay |
Common Fines: Speeding
bulgaria:
Varies; often €20 to €150, points on license
new zealand:
Varies; $30 to $630, points on license
Common Fines: Seat Belts
bulgaria:
Up to €50
new zealand:
$150, points may also apply
Common Fines: Phone Use
bulgaria:
Up to €50
new zealand:
$80 to $150, points in some circumstances
Common Fines: Traffic Light Violation
bulgaria:
Varies; typically fined and points on license
new zealand:
$150, points on license
Payment: On The Spot
bulgaria:
Common; fines often paid onsite
new zealand:
No; fines usually paid online or by mail
Payment: Deadline
bulgaria:
Varies; typically 30 days to pay
new zealand:
Varies; typically 28 days to pay