In Bulgaria, the fine for refusing to pay a compensatory fee for the lack of a vignette (for cars up to 3.5 is 153.39 € / 300 BGN. According to the proposed changes, the amount of the fine depends on when you pay it. If you pay the vignette fee within the same calendar day, the sanction may be 49.60 € / 97 BGN. In other cases, the fine for a car up to 3.5 t would be€99.19 / BGN 194 according to the new proposals.These changes are part of a bill and are not yet the standard practice for every fine.
What are the steps to be fined for not having a car vignette?
1️⃣ Establishing the violation
The control is carried out by the Traffic Police or through automated cameras that check the number plates of the cars.If the car is without a valid vignette or the toll, the system or the policeman registers the violation.If the violation is registered through the cameras, the data is sent to the Road Infrastructure Agency (API), which issues a notification.
2️⃣ Driver Notification
When a violation is detected, a compensatory fee (notice/invoice) is issued, which makes it possible to pay the vignette with a minimal penalty.Typically, the notification contains:
- Type of violation (lack of vignette);
- Amount for the compensation fee;
- Payment period (often 14 days);
- Payment instructions.
3️⃣ Payment or refusal to pay
If you pay within the specified period, the state gives you the right to pay only the compensatory fee, which is lower than the maximum fine.In this case, no legal proceedings are initiated.If you do not pay or refuse, API sends a violation report to the Traffic Police.The police authority can impose a fine, the amount depending on the type of car and whether the payment was made quickly (if it is a new bill — 49.60 €/97 BGN for payment on the same day or 99.19 €/194 BGN for delay).In some cases, the fine can be imposed directly by an act of a body of the Ministry of Internal Affairs.
4️⃣ Issuance of an act or criminal decree
The police report is an official document that certifies the violation.After the certificate is issued, the fine can be paid voluntarily (often with a 5-10% reduction if paid within a certain period) or appealed to an administrative court.
5️⃣ Finalize
If the fine is not paid and not appealed, it becomes mandatory.
The lack of a valid vignette or toll for a passenger car is considered an administrative offense according to the Road Traffic Act.The process begins with the detection of the violation by the Traffic Police or automated cameras and leads to the issuance of a compensatory fee or a police report.
Tip: Always check the validity of the vignette before traveling and use official purchase channels to avoid a fine.