Foreigners may drive in Bulgaria using their national driving licence (though, should you stay longer than six months, it must be translated and legalized), but most of the neighbouring countries require an international licence. It is obligatory to have third-party insurance plus a "Green" or "Blue" card - the latter can be bought at the frontier. Entering Bulgaria, your vehicle will be registered with a special " visa tag " or carnet de passage which must be presented on leaving - a rule intended to prevent foreigners from selling their cars. As car theft is endemic and Bulgaria is a major transit route for stolen vehicles, drivers bringing their own car should be sure to carry their log book (and make photocopies of it), their driving licence and carnet de passage , and take every precaution against the documents and the vehicle being stolen. Use guarded parking lots wherever possible, and never leave vehicles on sidestreets unless fitted with wheel locks and immobilizers.

Upon arrival in Bulgaria, an entrance fee is payable on all motor vehicles (car/van US$10; minibus seating 8 or more US$60), plus a disinfection fee (car US$2; van/minibus US$4) - though EU citizens are exempt from the former charge.