A valid driving license issued in a country outside Bulgaria is valid in Bulgaria if:
The driver is 18 years or older and The license was issued by an EU member state/EEA or Switzerland, or by a country that ratified the Vienna Convention on Road Traffic
Foreign driving licenses must be accompanied by a legalized translation in Bulgarian or an international driver’s license/permit (IDL/IDP). An IDP is available from the issuing country’s road traffic authority or motoring organization such as the AA.
You can have only one EU driving license at any one time. This license is issued by the authorities of the EU country where you usually live.
If you move to another EU country and your driving license is lost, stolen, damaged or expired, you should renew, replace or exchange it in the country where you usually live.
Bulgaria driver’s license exchange
A driving license can only be exchanged in Bulgaria if the person is legally resident in the country.
Driving licenses are exchanged at the local Traffic Police offices of the Bulgarian Traffic Police. Take the original driving license and residency permit.
When a foreign driving license is exchanged for a Bulgarian one, its validity is verified and the foreign license is returned to the country of origin with an explanation of the reason for the exchange.
Renewing your license
If you move to another EU country and your EU driving license expires, you will have to renew your license in the country where you usually live.
For non-EU citizens
In case you are from a country that isn’t of the Vienna Convention on Road Traffic, unfortunately, your driving license won’t be valid in Bulgaria.
You can drive as a tourist in Bulgaria (for a maximum of 3 months) if you have a valid international driver´s permit, after that, you will necessarily need to start a driving course and follow:
The 10 steps to get a Bulgarian Driver’s license are:
1. Obtain a Bulgarian residency permit.
2. Legalize your High school diploma for Bulgaria;
3. Get a Certificate for validation of your High school diploma from the Bulgarian Ministry of Education.
4. Obtain a medical exam.
5. Enroll in a driving course: you must register with an approved driving school, take at least 40 hours of theoretical knowledge, and 31 sessions of 50 minutes of practical training (driving).
6. Pass the course: pass the internal theoretical and practical exam
7. Pass the written exam. (Try this link for the theoretical test Theory Practice online in English)
8. Pass the driving exam.
9. Pass the first aid exam: Assist and pass the first aid dictated by the Red Cross.
10. Pay the taxes and Obtain a Bulgarian driver’s license
The UK Citizens Exchanging your license after Brexit
If the UK leaves the EU with an agreement, within the transition period the driving licenses issued by the UK, will be treated as driving licenses issued by an EU Member State and the UK nationals will be able to use their UK driving licenses until their expiry date or until the end of the transition period on 31 December 2020 – whichever comes first.
If there is no agreement, from the day after the date of withdrawal, the driving licenses, issued by the UK, will be treated by the Republic of Bulgaria as driving licenses, issued by a State – Party to the Road Traffic Convention of 1968 meeting the requirements under Annex 6 to the Convention.
Therefore, the UK nationals, who have established their habitual residence in Bulgaria, can drive motor vehicles on the territory of the country with their UK driving licenses up to one year from the date of issuance of their Bulgarian residence document. Within this one year, the UK driving license can be substituted for a Bulgarian one without passing an exam. To that end, they need to present the following documents:
– Template application provided by the Traffic Police Unit;
– Physical fitness assessment card of the driver/candidate for obtaining a driving license, issued by a general practitioner or by Transport Central or Regional Medical Expert Committee;
– For categories C1, C, D1 or D – a copy of a certificate for psychological fitness
– A declaration, stating that habitual residence is not in another EU Member State and the person does not own a valid driving license issued by another Member State;
– Copy of a certificate for completed at least the first level of secondary education. If the education was completed in a foreign country – certificate under Article 110, Para 3 of Ordinance No. 11, dated 1st September 2016 on assessing students’ education results (State Gazette, issue 74/2016).
The replacement with a Bulgarian driving license takes place after presenting the UK driving license. The replaced driving license will be returned to the UK ex officio.
The replacement with a Bulgarian driving license cannot be done when the driving license issued by the UK has been lost or stolen.
The competent authority for replacement of the driving license
In order to replace a driving license issued by the UK with a Bulgarian one, the persons can submit the application in person or through an authorized representative in the Traffic Police units with the respective Regional Directorate of the Ministry of Interior as per permanent address.
Deadline for issuing of a driving license
Up to 30 days after submission of the application for normal service;
Up to 10 days after submission of the application for express service.
Fees
Driving license – 25 BGN (normal service)
Issuing or replacement of control card to the driving license – 2 BGN (normal service)
For express service, the due fees are in a double amount.
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