Car Hire in Romania
A short guide to Driving in Romania and Car Hire in Romania.
Are you going on holiday to Romania? To see as much as possible and to get the most out of Romania, the best way of transport is certainly by car. But of course you will have to abide by Romania's law of driving. Below you will find some useful information about driving in Romania.
Documents you need when driving in Romania
To drive a foreign registered car legally in Romania you must have the following documents with you, which are your current full driving licence, valid insurance certificate a minimum Third Party cover, A Green Card is required if you bring your own car, theses Green cards may be purchase for a month's cover at the border. Failure to produce these documents on request to the authorities will result in on-the-spot cash fine.
Special rules you must follow
When driving in Romania all vehicles must carry a warning triangle, it is also recommended to carry a fire extinguisher, spare bulb kit and a first aid kit in all vehicles. The police are able to issue and collect 'on the spot fines' for not obeying these rules. For all passengers it is compulsory to wear both front and rear seatbelts.
Minimum age
The minimum age of a driver in Romania is 18 years. Children under 12 years of age and must not be seated in the front of a vehicle.
Parking
Parking in Romania is similar to Britain with car parks and parking meters. Parking in Romania is allowed only on the right side of the street, remember to only park your vehicle in the same direction as traffic flow. Also do not park alongside national highways. Be aware as Illegally parked cars will be wheel clamped.
A few basic rules
In Romania, they drive on the right hand side and overtake on the left, pay full attention especially at roundabouts as traffic joining roundabouts has priority. You must carry your driving licence, passport and vehicle documents at all times. The flashing of headlights is used as a warning. Your dipped headlights should be used in built-up areas at night. All accidents are to be reported to the Police. Vehicle damage must be notified to the police before entering the country also if damage occurs while you are in Romania, as you will not be able to leave without appropriate paperwork. Driving under the influence of alcohol is forbidden.
Speed limits
In cities: 50kph (30mph)
In built-up areas: 60kph (37mph)
On main roads: up to 90kph (57mph)
On motorways: 120kph (75mph).
Coach
There are local coach services, which operate to most towns and villages.
Taxi
All the taxis can be hailed in the street or called from hotels. The prices are relatively low and the taxi drivers appreciate and expect a 10 per cent tip. Most drivers in Romania are honest, but it is a good idea that prices should be agreed beforehand, especially at the airport
Urban
There are good public transports facilities, which provide in the main centres. In Bucharest there is a good bus, tram system and a metro. Tickets must be pre-purchased from agents, there are also stamping machines on board of the buses and trains. Also available are daily, weekly and fortnightly passes.
Driving in Romania will be a pleasurable experience as long as you remember you are in their country and abide by their laws. Please remember it is not a good enough excuse to plead ignorance, as you are a foreigner, you are the driver and it's your responsibility to know the law.