Toll System in Bulgaria

Toll System in Bulgaria

Since 2019, electronic charging of road taxes – vignettes and toll, is introduced in Bulgaria as a modern way of toll collection for the usage of the republican road network. The funds raised from the electronic fee collection will be used for maintenance and development of existing and construction of new roads, as well as road safety.

The toll collection system is based on the latest technologies, which grant for convenient payment methods and control while keeping the normal flow of road vehicles. The system establishes fair and European-based charging model, based on GNSS technology. In Europe, Five other countries have built a similar toll system, namely Germany, Belgium, Slovakia, Hungary and the Czech Republic. 

What is the Bulgarian Toll System?  

The Bulgarian toll system is technologically advanced and it is one of the most modern in whole Europe. It uses GNSS (Global Navigation Satellite System) technology based on the "free flow" principle. This means that if the driver chooses to use a GNSS onboard device, the charging is done automatically and there is no need for drivers to stop somewhere to pay. 

The TollPass on-board unit, as part of the integrated system, utilizes the latest generation of GNSS positioning technology with a high level of accuracy. When a GNSS-equipped vehicle travels on a paid road network, the satellite detects it in real time. The on-board unit sends the position data to the TollPass system, where it is processed and sent for evaluation to the central RIA system. 

Stationary cameras and mobile control units recognize the license plate numbers of the vehicle, detect its passage and, after verification in the central system, register the correct or incorrect use of the paid road network. 

The data is transmitted to the central RIA system on a regular basis. ITS provides 24/7 real-time monitoring. 

The correctness of the information submitted about the toll-related parameters of the vehicles is monitored by cameras and built in the road "weight-in-motion" devices. 

Which categories of vehicles are subject to toll? 

Road vehicles for the carriage of goods or passengers of a total technical permissible maximum mass exceeding 3.5t. 

How is the toll calculated?  

The price per kilometer for heavy goods vehicles and buses is determined by the gross weight of the vehicle, the number of axles, the emission standard and the class of the road along which the vehicle is driving.  

How the toll can be paid? 

Paying the toll can happen in two ways.  

For transit through the country or occasional trips, a pre-selected route pass can be used. The service is prepaid both online at TollPass.bg and at partners’ sites. 

For frequent or regular journeys, the automatic charging with an on-board unit is recommended. 

The GNSS device is available against deposit and works in 8 languages, including Bulgarian. For the convenience of customers, tolls can be paid with fuel cards, bank transfer, debit or credit card online, as well as in cash at TollPass partners’ sites. 

TollPass also provides toll detection with certified GPS devices by contracting with a Toll Declaration Provider.