The compensatory fee in the absence of a vignette (or unpaid toll fee) in Bulgaria is a special fee that can be paid when the inspectors find that the driver has been driving on the national road network without a valid vignette or toll fee.Here's what it means and how it works in general:
What is compensatory fee?
The compensatory fee is an amount that the offender can voluntarily pay to compensate the state for the use of paid road infrastructure without a valid fee and thus terminate the administrative-criminal proceedings against him.
The compensation fee is an alternative to a fine
The compensatory fee enables the driver to avoid a higher administrative sanction ("fine").I.e.if he pays this fee, he is not immediately charged with a violation with a larger fine. Amount of the compensatory fee
- For a passenger car (up to 3.5 tons) it is €35.79/BGN 70;
- For heavier vehicles, the values are higher: for example, for a truck over 3.5 t to 12 t – €76.69/BGN 150;
- For the heaviest trucks (over 12 tons) the fee can be €383.47/BGN 750 according to some sources.
Deadline for payment of the compensatory fee
- If a violation is detected (for example, during an inspection), it can be paid on the spot (or through a POS terminal) — according to some sources, during control;
- If payment is not made on the spot, it is possible to make a bank transfer within 14 days, indicating the document number / electronic slip in the payment order;
- In some cases, if the fee is not paid within this period, a criminal decree (fine) is issued.
What are the consequences if you do not pay the compensation fee?
- If the driver refuses to pay the fee during the inspection, an act of administrative violation is issued to him;
- If the compensatory fee is not paid within the specified period, a fine is imposed.For passenger cars, the fine is 153.39 €/300 BGN, according to the information;
- For heavy-duty vehicles, the fine can be much larger (up to thousands of BGN depending on the weight and axles).
Number error notification
There are cases when a compensatory fee is waived if the violation is due to an error in writing the registration number when purchasing an e-vignette.
What does it mean in practice?
The compensatory charge is a 'restorative' option - that is, a kind of 'minimum penalty' as long as it is paid.It allows the driver to "clean up" the violation without incurring a heavier administrative penalty — if he acts quickly.But if you don't deal with it in time, the consequences can be significantly more unpleasant (fine, criminal decree, etc.).
- It is paid after a violation is established, but before the issuance of a criminal act/receipt;
- After payment no fine is imposed;
- The violation is considered settled;
- Its size is fixed according to the type of vehicle
A compensatory fee is the lightest possible response to a detected lack of a vignette — quick, cheap compared to a fine.