In
Bulgaria
Bulgaria (; bg, България, Bǎlgariya), officially the Republic of Bulgaria,, ) is a country in Southeast Europe. It is situated on the eastern flank of the Balkans, and is bordered by Romania to the north, Serbia and North Macedon ...
the driving licence ( bg, Свидетелство за управление на моторно превозно средство ''(Certificate for driving a motorized vehicle)'', abbreviated ''СУМПС'') is a governmental right given to those who request a license for any of the categories they desire. It is required for every type of
motorized vehicle
A motor vehicle, also known as motorized vehicle or automotive vehicle, is a self-propelled land vehicle, commonly wheeled, that does not operate on rails (such as trains or trams) and is used for the transportation of people or cargo.
The veh ...
. The minimum age to obtain a driving license is: 16 years for a motorcycle, 18 years for a car, and 21 years for buses and cargo vehicles.
In addition to the
plastic card
A debit card, also known as a check card or bank card is a payment card that can be used in place of cash to make purchases. The term ''#Plastic card, plastic card'' includes the above and as an identity document. These are similar to a credi ...
, each holder of a Bulgarian driving licence is in possession of a second document, named control card (''контролен талон''). It is made of blue paper, is filled in by hand and is stamped. When a driver is fined for road violation, the counterfoil is taken by the authorities and is replaced by а breach act (''акт за нарушение''). The driver may continue driving for a limited period of time, stated in the document. The check counterfoil is returned only after the fine is paid.
Since 1999, the Bulgarian driving license format was changed from that of a pink booklet to a credit-card sized card. The pink booklet had been used for several decades and thus the driving license was and still is informally called in bg, шофьорска книжка ''(driver's booklet)''.
Obtaining a driver's licence
The Bulgarian driving licence can be obtained after finishing a
driving school
''Driving School'' is a docusoap that was broadcast on BBC1 in the summer of 1997, which followed a group of learner drivers around Bristol and South Wales. The series was made on a reduced budget but shown in primetime, it created one of the ...
and passing a two-stage test, the theory test and road test. A first aid course for drivers and a primary school diploma is also required to obtain valid driver's licence. A medical certificate by a GP is also necessary.
Gallery of historic images
Image:Driver`s licence -Bulgaria, 1938.jpg,
See also
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European driving licence
The European driving licence is a driving licence issued by the member states of the European Economic Area (EEA); all 27 EU member states and three EFTA member states; Iceland, Liechtenstein and Norway, which give shared features the various ...
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Vehicle registration plates of Bulgaria
Standard Bulgarian vehicle registration plates display black glyphs (alphanumeric characters) on a white background, together with – on the left-hand side of the plate – a blue vertical "EU strip" showing the flag of Europe (or, for older-reg ...
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Vehicle registration plates of the European Union
A vehicle registration plate, also known as a number plate (British English), license plate or licence plate (American English and Canadian English respectively), is a metal or plastic plate or plates attached to a motor vehicle or trailer for of ...
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Bulgarian identity card
The Bulgarian identity card ( bg, лична карта, , ) is a compulsory identity document issued in Bulgaria. The document is issued by the police on behalf of the Ministry of Interior and is the main form of identification on the territory ...
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Bulgarian passport
A Bulgarian passport ( bg, Български паспорт, Bŭlgarski pasport) is an international travel document issued to nationals of Bulgaria, and may also serve as proof of Bulgarian nationality law, Bulgarian citizenship. Besides enabl ...
External links
Bulgarian road legislation
{{Europe topic, Driving licence in
Bulgaria
Bulgaria (; bg, България, Bǎlgariya), officially the Republic of Bulgaria,, ) is a country in Southeast Europe. It is situated on the eastern flank of the Balkans, and is bordered by Romania to the north, Serbia and North Macedon ...
Road transport in Bulgaria