Bulgaria

2025:

There is no general driving ban for international transport. However, there are regional driving bans:
All day for HGVs over 15 t GVW on the section of Road I-5 between Tchernootchene and Kardjali.

The affected vehicles should use the following alternative routes:

• Direction Haskovo–Kardjali: Road I-5 – Road III-505 – Manastir – Road III-507 – Voy-vodino – Most – Tchiflik – Kardjali.
• Direction Assenovgrad–Kardjali: Road II-58 – Road I-5 – direction Haskovo – Road III-505 – Manastir – Road III-507 – Voyvodino – Most – Tchiflik – Kardjali.
• Direction Mineralni Bani–Kardjali: Road III-506 – Road III-806 – Road I-5 – Road III-505 – Manastir – Road III-507 – Voyvodino – Most – Tchiflik – Kardjali.

For HGVs over 12 t GVW and articulated vehicles over 10 t GVW, a permanent driving ban applies on the I-5 between km 155 and km 250, as well as towards Shipka Pass from km 184 to km 000.
The affected vehicles should use the following alternative routes: Radnevo – Road II-57 – Pet mogili – Novoselez – Road II-55 Mlekarevo – Radevo – Nova Zagora, or Road I-6 Gurkovo – Prohod na Republikata – Veliko Tarnovo.
In addition, for the above-mentioned vehicles and period, the section Petrohan – Sofia (Road II-81) is closed. The affected vehicles should divert via Road I-1 (E-79): Montana – Vratsa – Botevgrad – Sofia.
For HGVs over 10 t GVW, a permanent driving ban applies on the section of II-82 between Samakov and Kostenez.
During the summer holidays from 1 June to 15 September, a driving ban applies to HGVs over 12 t GVW on Fridays from 17:00 to 20:00 and on Sundays from 14:00 to 20:00 on the following sections:

• Road I-1 between Rebarko and Botevgrad. The affected vehicles should divert via route II-16 Rebarkovo – Svoge – Sofia.
• Road I-1 between Blagoevgrad and the border crossing to Greece at Kulata, in both directions.
• Road I-5 between Ruse and Veliko Tarnovo in both directions.
• Road I-9 between Varna and Burgas in both directions.
• Road II-99 section Burgas – Tsarevo, in both directions.

From 7 July to 15 September, the following sections are also closed for HGVs over 12 t GVW:

• Trakia Motorway direction Sofia – Plovdiv on Fridays from 18:00 to 20:00, direction Burgas – Sofia on Sundays from 16:00 to 20:00,
• Struma Motorway direction Junction Daskalovo – Kulata border crossing on Saturdays from 10:00 to 14:00,
• Maritsa Motorway direction Svilengrad – Trakia Motorway on Sundays from 16:00 to 20:00 closed.
On public holidays, a full-day driving ban applies to HGVs over 12 t GVW on all motorways and the
• I-1 between Rebarkovo and Botevgrad. The affected vehicles should divert via route II-16 Rebarkovo - Svoge - Sofia.
• I-1 between Blagoevgrad and the border crossing to Greece at Kulata,
• I-4  on the section Koritna - Veliko Tarnovo – Shumen,
• I-5 between Ruse and Veliko Tarnovo,
• I-8 from the Serbian border crossing Kalotina to Sofia,
• I-9 between Varna and Burgas,
• II-18 Sofia Ring Road
• II-99 between Burgas and Tsarevo.

The routes affected by the public holiday driving ban are also closed to the above-mentioned vehicles on the day before a public holiday from 16:00 to 20:00 and on the first day after a public holiday from 14:00 to 20:00.

Public holidays: 1 January, 3 March, 18 April (Good Friday*), 19 April (Holy Saturday*) 20/21 April (Easter Sunday/Easter Monday*) 1 May (Labour Day),  6 May, 6 and 22 September, 24 to 26 December.
 

Association of the Bulgarian Enterprises for international Road Transport (AEBTRI), 1680 Sofia - BG; 6 Iskarski prolom str., Tel. 359 (0)2958 14 75; aebtri@aebtri.com; www.aebtri.com