Driving in Hungary vs. Romania: Key Differences Explained
When navigating the roads of Hungary and Romania, understanding the distinct driving regulations is crucial for ensuring a safe journey. Key differences arise in lane usage, speed limits, and traffic signals. While Hungary emphasizes strict adherence to lane markings, Romania permits overtaking under specific conditions, highlighting the unique challenges drivers may face in each country.
Lanes
| Hungary | Romania | |
|---|---|---|
| Markings: Solid Yellow Line | Used for separating traffic in opposite directions. | Marks the left edge on divided roads. |
| Overtaking: On Right | Not allowed except in special cases. | Allowed on multi-lane roads or when the vehicle ahead is turning left. |
| Overtaking: Prohibited Areas | List length: 4 | List length: 5 |
| Bus Lanes: Usage | Reserved for buses and taxis. | Reserved for buses and sometimes taxis. |
| Bus Lanes: Markings | Labeled 'BUS' or 'BUSZ'. | Labeled 'BUS' or 'BUS ONLY'; often with road signs. |
| Cycle Lanes: Presence | Yes | Limited, mainly in urban areas |
| High- Occupancy Lanes: Requirements | N/A | Not applicable |
| Variable Speed Limits: Presence | Rare | No |
| Variable Speed Limits: Indications | Occasionally used, usually on electronic signs. | Not commonly used |
Markings: Solid Yellow Line
hungary:
Used for separating traffic in opposite directions.
romania:
Marks the left edge on divided roads.
Overtaking: On Right
hungary:
Not allowed except in special cases.
romania:
Allowed on multi-lane roads or when the vehicle ahead is turning left.
Overtaking: Prohibited Areas
hungary:
List length: 4
romania:
List length: 5
Bus Lanes: Usage
hungary:
Reserved for buses and taxis.
romania:
Reserved for buses and sometimes taxis.
Bus Lanes: Markings
hungary:
Labeled 'BUS' or 'BUSZ'.
romania:
Labeled 'BUS' or 'BUS ONLY'; often with road signs.
Cycle Lanes: Presence
hungary:
Yes
romania:
Limited, mainly in urban areas
High- Occupancy Lanes: Requirements
hungary:
N/A
romania:
Not applicable
Variable Speed Limits: Presence
hungary:
Rare
romania:
No
Variable Speed Limits: Indications
hungary:
Occasionally used, usually on electronic signs.
romania:
Not commonly used
Speeds Limits
| Hungary | Romania | |
|---|---|---|
| Urban Areas: Residential Zones | 20-30 km/h | 30 km/h |
| Rural Areas: Buses And Vans | 70 km/h | 80 km/h |
| Rural Areas: Trucks And Trailers | 70-80 km/h | 80 km/h |
| Highways: Buses And Vans | 80 km/h | 100 km/h |
| Highways: Trucks And Trailers | 80 km/h | 90 km/h |
| Variable Speed Limits: Presence | Yes | No |
| Variable Speed Limits: Indications | Displayed on electronic signs in controlled areas | Not commonly used |
| Enforcement: On-the- Spot Fines | Yes; issued by traffic police | Yes, common practice |
Urban Areas: Residential Zones
hungary:
20-30 km/h
romania:
30 km/h
Rural Areas: Buses And Vans
hungary:
70 km/h
romania:
80 km/h
Rural Areas: Trucks And Trailers
hungary:
70-80 km/h
romania:
80 km/h
Highways: Buses And Vans
hungary:
80 km/h
romania:
100 km/h
Highways: Trucks And Trailers
hungary:
80 km/h
romania:
90 km/h
Variable Speed Limits: Presence
hungary:
Yes
romania:
No
Variable Speed Limits: Indications
hungary:
Displayed on electronic signs in controlled areas
romania:
Not commonly used
Enforcement: On-the- Spot Fines
hungary:
Yes; issued by traffic police
romania:
Yes, common practice
Signals
| Hungary | Romania | |
|---|---|---|
| Traffic Lights: Red And Amber Together | Prepares traffic for a green signal. | Not used in Romania |
| Horn Usage: Prohibited Times | Unnecessary use is prohibited; local ordinances may apply. | Unnecessary use discouraged; restrictions apply in some areas |
| Traffic Signs: Language | Hungarian; symbols are standard | Romanian; symbols are standard |
| Traffic Signs: Warning | Triangular with a red border | Triangular-shaped with a red border |
Traffic Lights: Red And Amber Together
hungary:
Prepares traffic for a green signal.
romania:
Not used in Romania
Horn Usage: Prohibited Times
hungary:
Unnecessary use is prohibited; local ordinances may apply.
romania:
Unnecessary use discouraged; restrictions apply in some areas
Traffic Signs: Language
hungary:
Hungarian; symbols are standard
romania:
Romanian; symbols are standard
Traffic Signs: Warning
hungary:
Triangular with a red border
romania:
Triangular-shaped with a red border
Turns
| Hungary | Romania | |
|---|---|---|
| Right Turn On Red | Not allowed. | Not allowed |
| U- Turns Allowed | Restricted; only allowed at designated areas. | Generally allowed unless signed otherwise |
Right Turn On Red
hungary:
Not allowed.
romania:
Not allowed
U- Turns Allowed
hungary:
Restricted; only allowed at designated areas.
romania:
Generally allowed unless signed otherwise
Documentation
| Hungary | Romania | |
|---|---|---|
| Driver's License: Foreign: E U/ E E A | Accepted for short visits; ID card or passport needed | Accepted; International Driving Permit recommended |
| Driver's License: Foreign: Non- E U | International Driving Permit recommended | International Driving Permit required |
| Vehicle Inspection: Requirement | Annual inspection required; proof must be in the vehicle | Yes, periodic inspections required |
| Vehicle Inspection: Sticker | Displayed on the license plate or windshield | Displayed on the windshield |
| Emergency Equipment: Warning Triangles | Required | Mandatory |
| Emergency Equipment: Reflective Vest | Required | Mandatory |
Driver's License: Foreign: E U/ E E A
hungary:
Accepted for short visits; ID card or passport needed
romania:
Accepted; International Driving Permit recommended
Driver's License: Foreign: Non- E U
hungary:
International Driving Permit recommended
romania:
International Driving Permit required
Vehicle Inspection: Requirement
hungary:
Annual inspection required; proof must be in the vehicle
romania:
Yes, periodic inspections required
Vehicle Inspection: Sticker
hungary:
Displayed on the license plate or windshield
romania:
Displayed on the windshield
Emergency Equipment: Warning Triangles
hungary:
Required
romania:
Mandatory
Emergency Equipment: Reflective Vest
hungary:
Required
romania:
Mandatory
Road Etiquette
| Hungary | Romania | |
|---|---|---|
| Use Of Horn: Cultural Norm | Limited use | Moderate use expected |
| Pedestrians Priority | Pedestrians have right of way at designated crosswalks | Pedestrians have right of way at crosswalks |
| Emergency Vehicles: Protocol | Move to the side and stop if necessary | Pull over to the right and stop if necessary |
Use Of Horn: Cultural Norm
hungary:
Limited use
romania:
Moderate use expected
Pedestrians Priority
hungary:
Pedestrians have right of way at designated crosswalks
romania:
Pedestrians have right of way at crosswalks
Emergency Vehicles: Protocol
hungary:
Move to the side and stop if necessary
romania:
Pull over to the right and stop if necessary
Alcohol
| Hungary | Romania | |
|---|---|---|
| Limits: General Drivers | 0.00% - zero tolerance | 0.00% to 0.05%; new drivers may have stricter limits |
| Limits: Professional Drivers | 0.00% - zero tolerance | 0.00% |
| Limits: Underage Drivers | 0.00% - zero tolerance | 0.00% |
| Enforcement: Random Checks | Common; alcohol checkpoints are frequent | Common; checkpoints used regularly |
| Enforcement: Fines | Severe; license suspension is a possibility | Considerable fines for offenses |
Limits: General Drivers
hungary:
0.00% - zero tolerance
romania:
0.00% to 0.05%; new drivers may have stricter limits
Limits: Professional Drivers
hungary:
0.00% - zero tolerance
romania:
0.00%
Limits: Underage Drivers
hungary:
0.00% - zero tolerance
romania:
0.00%
Enforcement: Random Checks
hungary:
Common; alcohol checkpoints are frequent
romania:
Common; checkpoints used regularly
Enforcement: Fines
hungary:
Severe; license suspension is a possibility
romania:
Considerable fines for offenses
Emergency Services
| Hungary | Romania | |
|---|---|---|
| Contact: Traffic Police | 107 | Call 112 for police assistance |
| Contact: Roadside Assistance | 188 or specific insurance hotline | Call your insurance provider or a local service |
| Emergency Equipment: Warning Triangles | Required | Mandatory; must be carried in the vehicle |
| Emergency Equipment: Reflective Vest | Required | Mandatory; must be worn when outside the vehicle on the road |
Contact: Traffic Police
hungary:
107
romania:
Call 112 for police assistance
Contact: Roadside Assistance
hungary:
188 or specific insurance hotline
romania:
Call your insurance provider or a local service
Emergency Equipment: Warning Triangles
hungary:
Required
romania:
Mandatory; must be carried in the vehicle
Emergency Equipment: Reflective Vest
hungary:
Required
romania:
Mandatory; must be worn when outside the vehicle on the road
Penalties And Fines
| Hungary | Romania | |
|---|---|---|
| Common Fines: Speeding | Varies; fines start from 30,000 HUF and increase with severity | Varies; fines increase with speed over the limit |
| Common Fines: Alcohol | Severe; substantial fines, possible license suspension | Hefty fines and possible license suspension |
| Common Fines: Seat Belts | Mandatory; fines apply for non-compliance | Fine applicable; mandatory for all passengers |
| Common Fines: Phone Use | Prohibited without hands-free; fines apply | Fines apply; using a phone without a hands-free kit is prohibited |
| Common Fines: Traffic Light Violation | Severe fines and potential demerit points | Fines applicable; license points may be added |
| Payment: On The Spot | Possible; fines usually paid on the spot or online | Possible; payment can be immediate or through the bank |
| Payment: Deadline | Varies; often within 15-30 days | 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
hungary:
Varies; fines start from 30,000 HUF and increase with severity
romania:
Varies; fines increase with speed over the limit
Common Fines: Alcohol
hungary:
Severe; substantial fines, possible license suspension
romania:
Hefty fines and possible license suspension
Common Fines: Seat Belts
hungary:
Mandatory; fines apply for non-compliance
romania:
Fine applicable; mandatory for all passengers
Common Fines: Phone Use
hungary:
Prohibited without hands-free; fines apply
romania:
Fines apply; using a phone without a hands-free kit is prohibited
Common Fines: Traffic Light Violation
hungary:
Severe fines and potential demerit points
romania:
Fines applicable; license points may be added
Payment: On The Spot
hungary:
Possible; fines usually paid on the spot or online
romania:
Possible; payment can be immediate or through the bank
Payment: Deadline
hungary:
Varies; often within 15-30 days
romania:
Varies; typically within 15 to 30 days
Foreign Drivers: Vehicle Impoundment
hungary:
Possible if fines are not paid
romania:
Possible if fines are not paid or immediate safety concerns exist