🇧🇬 Bulgaria — truck driving restrictions 2026
Unlike most of its neighbours, Bulgaria does not impose systematic bans on weekends or public holidays. However, it enforces mandatory routes on its mountain roads, closes certain passes in winter, strictly regulates Sofia, and deploys strong summer restrictions. Here are the details, road by road.
1. General rule
Bulgaria does not apply a general network closure on Saturdays, Sundays or public holidays. Heavy goods vehicle traffic therefore remains permitted, subject to the specific restrictions below.
🌫️Driving conditions. Any HGV whose weight or dimensions exceed the authorised limits is prohibited from driving as soon as visibility falls below 50 m (fog, rain, snow), in the event of black ice, or during peak hours.
✓Exceptions. This rule does not apply to emergency and rescue vehicles, nor to operations related to natural disasters.
2. Permanent mandatory routes
On certain mountain links, HGVs may not use the direct road: they must detour via a route fixed by the authorities.
Road II-81 — HGVs over 10 t may not cross the section between Petrohan and Sofia. They must use the mandatory route I-1 / E79: Montana – Vratsa – Botevgrad – Sofia.
Road I-5 — HGVs over 15 t are banned from Chernoochen to Kardzhali. Three alternative routes are imposed depending on the starting point:
View the 3 bypass routes to Kardzhali ▾
From Haskovo: I-5 – III-505 – Manastir – III-507 – Voyvodino – Most – Tchiflik – Kardzhali.
From Asenovgrad: II-58 – I-5 towards Haskovo – III-505 – Manastir – III-507 – Voyvodino – Most – Tchiflik – Kardzhali.
From Mineralni Bani: III-506 – III-806 – I-5 – III-505 – Manastir – III-507 – Voyvodino – Most – Tchiflik – Kardzhali.
3. Restrictions from November to March
Varbishki Pass (I-7). From 1 November to 31 March — and even from 1 October to 30 April if conditions are poor — crossing is prohibited. An alternative pass must be used: Kotlenski (I-4), Rijki (II-73) or Prohod Na Republikata (II-55).
From 1 November to 31 March, HGVs over 10 t are also banned on:
I-5, from km 155 to km 184 (Shipka Pass) — mandatory route: Radnevo – II-57 – Pet Mogili – Novoselez – II-55 – Mlekarevo – Radevo – Nova Zagora – Mir Road – Tchervena Mogila – I-6 – Gurkovo – Prohod na Republikata – Veliko Tarnovo.
II-82 — between Samokov and Kostenets.
4. Restrictions in Sofia
The capital imposes two separate zones, with different weight thresholds and time windows.
Sofia city centre — over 4 t and buses over 22 seats (07:00–21:00) ▾
HGVs over 4 t and buses with more than 22 seats are banned in Sofia city centre from 07:00 to 21:00.
The zone is bounded by Opalchenska street and boulevards Slivnitza, Nikolaev Danail, Gueorguiev Evlogui, Bulgaria, Slaveikov Pencho, Totleben and Skobelev.
Extended zone — over 15 t (07:00–22:00) ▾
HGVs over 15 t are banned from 07:00 to 22:00 in a zone bounded by streets Gabrovo, Skopie, 202, Kamenodelska, Malashevska, Parva Balgarska Armia, Rezbarska, Vassil Kanchev, Reka Veleka, Alexander Ekzarh, Jitnitza, the junction of Nadejda and boulevards Konstantin Velichkov, Madrid, Sitniakovo, Peio Iavorov, Nikola Vaptzarov, Cherni Vrah, Srebarna, Gotze Delchev, Nikola Mushanov and Vazkresenie.
Exceptions (roads remaining open): streets Vladajska Reka, Zidarska, Gradinarska, Rezbarska, Kamenodelska, Zletovo; boulevards Slivnica, Danail Nikolaev, Konstantin Stoilov, Vladimir Vazov; and the Chavdar bridge.
5. Public holidays 2026
These dates do not trigger a general closure, but they serve as reference dates for the summer restrictions (section 6).
1 January — New Year's Day
3 March — National Day
12 April — Orthodox Easter
13 April — Orthodox Easter Monday
1 May — Labour Day
6 May — St George's Day
24 May — Bulgarian Education and Culture Day
6 September — Unification Day
22 September — Independence Day
24 December — Christmas Eve
25 December — Christmas Day
26 December — Second Day of Christmas
6. Summer bans and public holidays
🚫Over 12 t. From 1 July to 15 September (on Fridays from 18:00 to 21:00 and Sundays from 14:00 to 20:00), as well as on public holidays (from 14:00 to 20:00, and the eve from 18:00 to 21:00), HGVs over 12 t are banned on all motorways, except the section between Harmanli and the Kapitan Andreevo roundabout (Turkish border).
🌡️Extreme heat. In summer, whenever the temperature exceeds 35°C, HGVs over 20 t are banned from 13:00 to 21:00.
In addition to motorways, several sections of the national road network are subject to the summer ban for vehicles over 12 t:
View the list of banned road sections ▾
I-1 — between Rebarkovo and Botevgrad (mandatory route II-16: Rebarkovo – Svoge – Sofia).
I-1 — between the Dupnitsa Nord / Struma motorway junction and the Kulata roundabout (Greek border).
I-4 — along the entire relevant section.
I-5 — between Ruse and Veliko Tarnovo.
I-8 — between Plovdiv and Harmanli.
I-9 — between Durankulak and Varna, and between Varna and Burgas.
II-18 — Sofia ring road, from km 26 to km 62.
II-19 — between Simitli and Gotse Delchev.
II-86 — between Plovdiv and Smolyan.
II-99 — between Burgas and Tsarevo.
These summer bans do not apply to the transport of perishable goods, fresh or frozen products, live animals or dangerous goods (ADR).
7. Good to know
🍺Blood alcohol limit: maximum 0.5 g of alcohol per litre of blood.
💡Lights: dipped headlights compulsory all year round, 24/7.
📞Useful numbers: 166 (police), 160 (fire brigade), 150 or 112 (emergency), +359 2 980 3308 — or +359 2 91 146 from a mobile — for UAB roadside assistance.
🛠 Drive with confidence, wherever you are in Europe
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