Driving in Estonia vs Romania: Key Differences Explained
When exploring the roads of Estonia and Romania, drivers should be aware of critical distinctions in regulations and practices. From variable speed limits and lane usage to alcohol tolerance levels, understanding these variations is essential for ensuring a secure journey. Prepare for diverse driving environments as you travel through these unique countries.
Lanes
| Estonia | Romania | |
|---|---|---|
| Cycle Lanes: Presence | Yes | Limited, mainly in urban areas |
| High- Occupancy Lanes: Requirements | N/A | Not applicable |
| Variable Speed Limits: Presence | Yes | No |
| Variable Speed Limits: Indications | Electronic signs display current limits. | Not commonly used |
Cycle Lanes: Presence
estonia:
Yes
romania:
Limited, mainly in urban areas
High- Occupancy Lanes: Requirements
estonia:
N/A
romania:
Not applicable
Variable Speed Limits: Presence
estonia:
Yes
romania:
No
Variable Speed Limits: Indications
estonia:
Electronic signs display current limits.
romania:
Not commonly used
Speeds Limits
| Estonia | Romania | |
|---|---|---|
| Rural Areas: Buses And Vans | 90 km/h | 80 km/h |
| Highways: Cars And Motorcycles | 110 km/h (summer period: May to October) | 130 km/h |
| Highways: Buses And Vans | 110 km/h (summer period: May to October) | 100 km/h |
| Highways: Trucks And Trailers | 80-90 km/h | 90 km/h |
| Variable Speed Limits: Presence | Yes | No |
| Variable Speed Limits: Indications | Electronic signs display current limits | Not commonly used |
| Enforcement: On-the- Spot Fines | Yes | Yes, common practice |
Rural Areas: Buses And Vans
estonia:
90 km/h
romania:
80 km/h
Highways: Cars And Motorcycles
estonia:
110 km/h (summer period: May to October)
romania:
130 km/h
Highways: Buses And Vans
estonia:
110 km/h (summer period: May to October)
romania:
100 km/h
Highways: Trucks And Trailers
estonia:
80-90 km/h
romania:
90 km/h
Variable Speed Limits: Presence
estonia:
Yes
romania:
No
Variable Speed Limits: Indications
estonia:
Electronic signs display current limits
romania:
Not commonly used
Enforcement: On-the- Spot Fines
estonia:
Yes
romania:
Yes, common practice
Signals
| Estonia | Romania | |
|---|---|---|
| Traffic Lights: Standard Sequence[ Index 1] | Yellow | Amber |
| Traffic Lights: Red And Amber Together | Not used in Estonia | Not used in Romania |
| Horn Usage: Prohibited Times | Unnecessary use discouraged; local ordinances may apply | Unnecessary use discouraged; restrictions apply in some areas |
| Traffic Signs: Language | Estonian; symbols are standard | Romanian; symbols are standard |
| Traffic Signs: Warning | Diamond-shaped with yellow background | Triangular-shaped with a red border |
Traffic Lights: Standard Sequence[ Index 1]
estonia:
Yellow
romania:
Amber
Traffic Lights: Red And Amber Together
estonia:
Not used in Estonia
romania:
Not used in Romania
Horn Usage: Prohibited Times
estonia:
Unnecessary use discouraged; local ordinances may apply
romania:
Unnecessary use discouraged; restrictions apply in some areas
Traffic Signs: Language
estonia:
Estonian; symbols are standard
romania:
Romanian; symbols are standard
Traffic Signs: Warning
estonia:
Diamond-shaped with yellow background
romania:
Triangular-shaped with a red border
Turns
| Estonia | Romania | |
|---|---|---|
| Right Turn On Red | Prohibited unless indicated by a sign | Not allowed |
| U- Turns Allowed | Allowed unless prohibited by signs | Generally allowed unless signed otherwise |
Right Turn On Red
estonia:
Prohibited unless indicated by a sign
romania:
Not allowed
U- Turns Allowed
estonia:
Allowed unless prohibited by signs
romania:
Generally allowed unless signed otherwise
Documentation
| Estonia | Romania | |
|---|---|---|
| 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; International Driving Permit recommended | International Driving Permit required |
| Vehicle Inspection: Requirement | Required every year; proof must be carried | Yes, periodic inspections required |
Driver's License: Foreign: E U/ E E A
estonia:
Accepted for short visits; International Driving Permit recommended
romania:
Accepted; International Driving Permit recommended
Driver's License: Foreign: Non- E U
estonia:
Accepted for short visits; International Driving Permit recommended
romania:
International Driving Permit required
Vehicle Inspection: Requirement
estonia:
Required every year; proof must be carried
romania:
Yes, periodic inspections required
Road Etiquette
| Estonia | Romania | |
|---|---|---|
| Use Of Horn: Cultural Norm | Less frequent use compared to some countries | Moderate use expected |
Use Of Horn: Cultural Norm
estonia:
Less frequent use compared to some countries
romania:
Moderate use expected
Alcohol
| Estonia | Romania | |
|---|---|---|
| Limits: General Drivers | 0.02% | 0.00% to 0.05%; new drivers may have stricter limits |
| Limits: Underage Drivers | 0.00%; zero tolerance | 0.00% |
| Enforcement: Random Checks | Common; checkpoints used | Common; checkpoints used regularly |
| Enforcement: Fines | Varies; can be substantial | Considerable fines for offenses |
Limits: General Drivers
estonia:
0.02%
romania:
0.00% to 0.05%; new drivers may have stricter limits
Limits: Underage Drivers
estonia:
0.00%; zero tolerance
romania:
0.00%
Enforcement: Random Checks
estonia:
Common; checkpoints used
romania:
Common; checkpoints used regularly
Enforcement: Fines
estonia:
Varies; can be substantial
romania:
Considerable fines for offenses
Emergency Services
| Estonia | Romania | |
|---|---|---|
| Contact: Traffic Police | 112 | Call 112 for police assistance |
| Contact: Roadside Assistance | Check with your insurance provider | Call your insurance provider or a local service |
| Emergency Equipment: Warning Triangles | Mandatory | Mandatory; must be carried in the vehicle |
| Emergency Equipment: Reflective Vest | Mandatory | Mandatory; must be worn when outside the vehicle on the road |
Contact: Traffic Police
estonia:
112
romania:
Call 112 for police assistance
Contact: Roadside Assistance
estonia:
Check with your insurance provider
romania:
Call your insurance provider or a local service
Emergency Equipment: Warning Triangles
estonia:
Mandatory
romania:
Mandatory; must be carried in the vehicle
Emergency Equipment: Reflective Vest
estonia:
Mandatory
romania:
Mandatory; must be worn when outside the vehicle on the road
Penalties And Fines
| Estonia | Romania | |
|---|---|---|
| Common Fines: Speeding | Varies; substantial fines apply | Varies; fines increase with speed over the limit |
| Common Fines: Alcohol | Varies; substantial fines, possible jail time | Hefty fines and possible license suspension |
| Common Fines: Seat Belts | Fines apply, points on license | Fine applicable; mandatory for all passengers |
| Common Fines: Phone Use | Fines apply, points on license | Fines apply; using a phone without a hands-free kit is prohibited |
| Common Fines: Traffic Light Violation | Fines apply, points on license | Fines applicable; license points may be added |
| Payment: On The Spot | Yes | Possible; payment can be immediate or through the bank |
| Payment: Deadline | Varies; typically must pay within specified period to avoid additional penalties | Varies; typically within 15 to 30 days |
| Foreign Drivers: Vehicle Impoundment | Possible if fines are not paid | Possible if fines are not paid or immediate safety concerns exist |
Common Fines: Speeding
estonia:
Varies; substantial fines apply
romania:
Varies; fines increase with speed over the limit
Common Fines: Alcohol
estonia:
Varies; substantial fines, possible jail time
romania:
Hefty fines and possible license suspension
Common Fines: Seat Belts
estonia:
Fines apply, points on license
romania:
Fine applicable; mandatory for all passengers
Common Fines: Phone Use
estonia:
Fines apply, points on license
romania:
Fines apply; using a phone without a hands-free kit is prohibited
Common Fines: Traffic Light Violation
estonia:
Fines apply, points on license
romania:
Fines applicable; license points may be added
Payment: On The Spot
estonia:
Yes
romania:
Possible; payment can be immediate or through the bank
Payment: Deadline
estonia:
Varies; typically must pay within specified period to avoid additional penalties
romania:
Varies; typically within 15 to 30 days
Foreign Drivers: Vehicle Impoundment
estonia:
Possible if fines are not paid
romania:
Possible if fines are not paid or immediate safety concerns exist