Driving in Romania vs. Serbia: Key Differences Explained
Explore the essential distinctions in road regulations and driving practices between Romania and Serbia. This comparison highlights crucial factors such as speed limits, lane usage, and alcohol regulations, ensuring travelers are well-informed about their driving experience. Understanding these variations is vital for a secure and enjoyable journey in either country.
Lanes
| Romania | Serbia | |
|---|---|---|
| Bus Lanes: Markings | Labeled 'BUS' or 'BUS ONLY'; often with road signs. | Labeled 'BUS'; often with road signs. |
| Cycle Lanes: Presence | Limited, mainly in urban areas | Yes |
| High- Occupancy Lanes: Requirements | Not applicable | N/A |
| Variable Speed Limits: Presence | No | Yes |
| Variable Speed Limits: Indications | Not commonly used | Electronic signs display current limits. |
Bus Lanes: Markings
romania:
Labeled 'BUS' or 'BUS ONLY'; often with road signs.
serbia:
Labeled 'BUS'; often with road signs.
Cycle Lanes: Presence
romania:
Limited, mainly in urban areas
serbia:
Yes
High- Occupancy Lanes: Requirements
romania:
Not applicable
serbia:
N/A
Variable Speed Limits: Presence
romania:
No
serbia:
Yes
Variable Speed Limits: Indications
romania:
Not commonly used
serbia:
Electronic signs display current limits.
Speeds Limits
| Romania | Serbia | |
|---|---|---|
| Rural Areas: Cars And Motorcycles | 90 km/h | 80 km/h |
| Rural Areas: Trucks And Trailers | 80 km/h | 70 km/h |
| Highways: Cars And Motorcycles | 130 km/h | 120 km/h |
| Highways: Trucks And Trailers | 90 km/h | 80 km/h |
| Variable Speed Limits: Presence | No | Yes |
| Variable Speed Limits: Indications | Not commonly used | Electronic signs display current limits |
| Enforcement: On-the- Spot Fines | Yes, common practice | Yes |
Rural Areas: Cars And Motorcycles
romania:
90 km/h
serbia:
80 km/h
Rural Areas: Trucks And Trailers
romania:
80 km/h
serbia:
70 km/h
Highways: Cars And Motorcycles
romania:
130 km/h
serbia:
120 km/h
Highways: Trucks And Trailers
romania:
90 km/h
serbia:
80 km/h
Variable Speed Limits: Presence
romania:
No
serbia:
Yes
Variable Speed Limits: Indications
romania:
Not commonly used
serbia:
Electronic signs display current limits
Enforcement: On-the- Spot Fines
romania:
Yes, common practice
serbia:
Yes
Signals
| Romania | Serbia | |
|---|---|---|
| Traffic Lights: Red And Amber Together | Not used in Romania | Not used in Serbia |
| Horn Usage: Prohibited Times | Unnecessary use discouraged; restrictions apply in some areas | Unnecessary use discouraged; local ordinances may apply |
| Traffic Signs: Language | Romanian; symbols are standard | Serbian; symbols are standard |
| Traffic Signs: Warning | Triangular-shaped with a red border | Triangle-shaped with red border |
Traffic Lights: Red And Amber Together
romania:
Not used in Romania
serbia:
Not used in Serbia
Horn Usage: Prohibited Times
romania:
Unnecessary use discouraged; restrictions apply in some areas
serbia:
Unnecessary use discouraged; local ordinances may apply
Traffic Signs: Language
romania:
Romanian; symbols are standard
serbia:
Serbian; symbols are standard
Traffic Signs: Warning
romania:
Triangular-shaped with a red border
serbia:
Triangle-shaped with red border
Turns
| Romania | Serbia | |
|---|---|---|
| Right Turn On Red | Not allowed | Allowed unless prohibited by a sign |
| U- Turns Allowed | Generally allowed unless signed otherwise | Varies by city; check for signs |
Right Turn On Red
romania:
Not allowed
serbia:
Allowed unless prohibited by a sign
U- Turns Allowed
romania:
Generally allowed unless signed otherwise
serbia:
Varies by city; check for signs
Documentation
| Romania | Serbia | |
|---|---|---|
| Driver's License: Foreign: E U/ E E A | Accepted; International Driving Permit recommended | Accepted for short visits; International Driving Permit may be required |
| Vehicle Inspection: Requirement | Yes, periodic inspections required | Mandatory periodic inspections |
| Vehicle Inspection: Sticker | Displayed on the windshield | Displayed on windshield |
Driver's License: Foreign: E U/ E E A
romania:
Accepted; International Driving Permit recommended
serbia:
Accepted for short visits; International Driving Permit may be required
Vehicle Inspection: Requirement
romania:
Yes, periodic inspections required
serbia:
Mandatory periodic inspections
Vehicle Inspection: Sticker
romania:
Displayed on the windshield
serbia:
Displayed on windshield
Road Etiquette
| Romania | Serbia | |
|---|---|---|
| Use Of Horn: Cultural Norm | Moderate use expected | Less frequent use compared to some countries |
Use Of Horn: Cultural Norm
romania:
Moderate use expected
serbia:
Less frequent use compared to some countries
Alcohol
| Romania | Serbia | |
|---|---|---|
| Limits: General Drivers | 0.00% to 0.05%; new drivers may have stricter limits | 0.03% |
| Limits: Underage Drivers | 0.00% | 0.00%; zero tolerance |
| Enforcement: Random Checks | Common; checkpoints used regularly | Common; police regularly perform checks |
| Enforcement: Fines | Considerable fines for offenses | Substantial, varies by severity |
Limits: General Drivers
romania:
0.00% to 0.05%; new drivers may have stricter limits
serbia:
0.03%
Limits: Underage Drivers
romania:
0.00%
serbia:
0.00%; zero tolerance
Enforcement: Random Checks
romania:
Common; checkpoints used regularly
serbia:
Common; police regularly perform checks
Enforcement: Fines
romania:
Considerable fines for offenses
serbia:
Substantial, varies by severity
Emergency Services
| Romania | Serbia | |
|---|---|---|
| Contact: Traffic Police | Call 112 for police assistance | 192 |
| Contact: Roadside Assistance | Call your insurance provider or a local service | 1987 |
| Emergency Equipment: Warning Triangles | Mandatory; must be carried in the vehicle | Mandatory |
| Emergency Equipment: Reflective Vest | Mandatory; must be worn when outside the vehicle on the road | Mandatory |
Contact: Traffic Police
romania:
Call 112 for police assistance
serbia:
192
Contact: Roadside Assistance
romania:
Call your insurance provider or a local service
serbia:
1987
Emergency Equipment: Warning Triangles
romania:
Mandatory; must be carried in the vehicle
serbia:
Mandatory
Emergency Equipment: Reflective Vest
romania:
Mandatory; must be worn when outside the vehicle on the road
serbia:
Mandatory
Penalties And Fines
| Romania | Serbia | |
|---|---|---|
| Common Fines: Speeding | Varies; fines increase with speed over the limit | Varies; typically €20 to €100, points on license |
| Common Fines: Alcohol | Hefty fines and possible license suspension | Varies; heavy fines, possible jail time |
| Common Fines: Seat Belts | Fine applicable; mandatory for all passengers | €20 to €40 |
| Common Fines: Phone Use | Fines apply; using a phone without a hands-free kit is prohibited | €30 to €50 |
| Common Fines: Traffic Light Violation | Fines applicable; license points may be added | €30 to €50, points on license |
| Payment: On The Spot | Possible; payment can be immediate or through the bank | Yes, possible for smaller fines |
| Payment: Deadline | Varies; typically within 15 to 30 days | Varies; typically 8 days to pay |
| Foreign Drivers: Vehicle Impoundment | Possible if fines are not paid or immediate safety concerns exist | Possible if fines are not paid |
Common Fines: Speeding
romania:
Varies; fines increase with speed over the limit
serbia:
Varies; typically €20 to €100, points on license
Common Fines: Alcohol
romania:
Hefty fines and possible license suspension
serbia:
Varies; heavy fines, possible jail time
Common Fines: Seat Belts
romania:
Fine applicable; mandatory for all passengers
serbia:
€20 to €40
Common Fines: Phone Use
romania:
Fines apply; using a phone without a hands-free kit is prohibited
serbia:
€30 to €50
Common Fines: Traffic Light Violation
romania:
Fines applicable; license points may be added
serbia:
€30 to €50, points on license
Payment: On The Spot
romania:
Possible; payment can be immediate or through the bank
serbia:
Yes, possible for smaller fines
Payment: Deadline
romania:
Varies; typically within 15 to 30 days
serbia:
Varies; typically 8 days to pay
Foreign Drivers: Vehicle Impoundment
romania:
Possible if fines are not paid or immediate safety concerns exist
serbia:
Possible if fines are not paid