Car Rental in Bulgaria
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Cheapest Car Rental Rates
Sofia Airport
Mini
Kia Picanto
or similar
$7.40
per day
Burgas Airport
Economy
Dacia Sandero
or similar
$7.79
per day
Burgas Airport
Economy Elite
Renault Clio *Branded Vehicle*
or similar
$11.47
per day
Sofia Airport
Compact
Skoda Rapid
or similar
$13.29
per day
Most Popular Car Rental Deals
Sofia Airport
Intermediate
Fiat Tipo STW
or similar
$20.22
per day
Sofia Airport
Intermediate Elite
Citroën C Elysee
or similar
$20.50
per day
Burgas Airport
Full-size Elite Van
Opel Zafira 5+2
or similar
$28.98
per day
Burgas Airport
Full-size
Skoda Octavia Estate
or similar
$28.98
per day
The above prices are only approximate and were last updated at 5:08 AM on 9/26/24. Prices may vary based on the booking dates, length of rental, and car class.
Travel Information
Languages
Bulgarian, Macedonian, Turkish, Albanian
Currency
BGN
Drive on
Right-hand side
Country code
+359
Average car rental price
$17 per day
Average car rental length
8 days
Speed limit within town
20 - 50 km/h or 12 - 31 mph
Speed limit out of town
90 - 130 km/h or 56 - 81 mph
Acceptable limit of BAC
0.05%
Average gas price
$1.19 per liter or $4.52 per gallon
Lowest gas price
$1.01 per liter or $3.82 per gallon
Highest gas price
$1.32 per liter or $4.98 per gallon
Why rent a car in Bulgaria?
Although not as well known as some other European countries, Bulgaria is a great place to explore by car. From ancient cities to stunning mountains, sunny beaches on the Black Sea coast and easy access to other interesting destinations in Europe, it is a place to miss at your own peril.
Whn you're in Bulgaria, don't miss these local specialities:
-
Banitsa - Bulgarians' favorite breakfast. A traditional flaky pastry filled with eggs, cheese, and butter. It goes well with Airyan (a salty yogurt drink) or Boza (a fermented wheat beverage
-
Meshana Skara - Bulgarian BBQ, including kufte (meatballs with onion), kebapche (long meatballs with spices), and various meat stakes.
-
Tarator - cold soup made of yogurt, cucumbers, dill, garlic, and walnuts.
-
Shopska Salata - salad with cucumbers, tomatoes, peppers, onion, olives, and white cheese.
-
Shkembe Chorba - tripe soup heavily spiced with garlic, red paprika and milk.
-
Moussaka - a potato-based dish with minced meat with a yogurt-egg-based layer on the top.
One-way Car Rentals in Bulgaria
Here are the most popular one-way rental options for pickup in Bulgaria and drop off in another country:
- From Bulgaria to Croatia - 143 offers from $58.58 per day
- From Bulgaria to Romania - 15 offers from $37.32 per day
- From Bulgaria to Serbia - 70 offers from $41.02 per day
- From Bulgaria to North Macedonia - 15 offers from $37.32 per day
- From Bulgaria to Bosnia and Herzegovina - 21 offers from $54.29 per day
Top ways to enter Bulgaria
- Sofia Airport: Bulgaria’s largest international airport that serves flights to and from most European countries as well as other continents.
- Burgas Airport: A small and cozy international airport located on the Black Sea.
- Varna Airport: Another international airport on the Black Sea Coast.
- By land: It’s possible to rent a car in a neighboring country and then drive to Bulgaria. It should be noted, however, that different visa requirements may be in place for citizens of different countries, so contact your embassy in advance to find out about any international borders you would like to cross. Some large cities with international airports near Bulgaria include Istanbul in Turkey, Thessaloniki in Greece, and Bucharest in Romania.
Top cities and places to visit
- Plovdiv. One of the oldest continuously inhabited cities in Europe, Plovdiv is a historic gem of a city. Attractions include the Ancient Roman stadium that was only uncovered in the 1970s, the Archaeological Museum with its famous Thracian gold, and a number of old churches, mosques, and synagogues.
- Sofia. Rougher around the edges than many other European capitals, Sofia can nonetheless be a fascinating destination. A hub of culture and commerce, it is notable for its many museums, the impressive St. Aleksander Nevski Cathedral, and the nearby Vitosha Mountain that’s just south of the capital.
- Varna. The golden Black Sea beaches of Bulgaria are one of the country’s main attractions, making the city of Varna a real tourism hotspot. Varna’s coastline is undoubtedly impressive, but so are its landmarks like the Naval Museum, Varna Aquarium, and Nicolaus Copernicus Observatory and Planetarium.
- Burgas. One of the biggest cities on the Black Sea coast offers lovely beaches, yummy street food, lively nightlife and also acts as a gateway to some of Bulgaria's most popular resort towns, such as Kiten, Primorsko, and Sozopol.
Most popular rental car
The most popular rental car in Bulgaria is the VW Polo, but the Renault Clio and the Ford Fiesta are also often picked by travelers.
Driver's license requirements
Bulgaria accepts all driver licenses issued in the European Union (EU).
If your driver license is issued by a non-EU country, for it to be considered valid you’ll need a Bulgarian visa. Another requirement is to have been in the EU for no more than six months at the time of the rental. If you’ve been in the EU longer, you’ll need a driver license issued by an EU country.
Bulgaria uses the Cyrillic alphabet and also accepts driver licenses written in the Latin alphabet. However, if your driver license is printed in neither Cyrillic nor Latin, but in some other alphabet (e.g., Japanese, Arabic, Devanagari, etc.), you’ll need an International Driving Permit (IDP) or an official translation of your license into Bulgarian.
You must carry your driver license, not its copy, with you at all times.
You need to have had your driver license for at least one or two years, depending on the car provider’s requirements.
There may be additional requirements depending on the car provider and car category, so make sure to check the terms and conditions before booking.
Crossing borders
Bulgaria is bordered by Romania, Turkey, Greece, Macedonia, and Serbia. Each of these countries has its own visa policy, so you may or may not need a visa to enter them, depending on your citizenship. If you plan to visit Bulgaria’s neighbor during your rental period, we strongly advise you to get in touch with your Ministry of Foreign Affairs in advance to find out about the visa requirements.
Some car rental providers allow you to cross national borders and even drop off your car in a different country, while others don’t. If you’d like to cross a national border during your rental period, make sure to check the terms and conditions before booking a car. Learn more about cross-border rentals in our Help Center.
Most popular types of rental car
The type of car rented most often in Bulgaria is an economy, but standard and compact are also quite popular.
Top driving routes
- Strandzha Nature Park. A large nature area near the Black Sea and the border with Turkey, Strandzha is one of the nicest protected areas in the country. Made up of five smaller, distinct reserves, it is characterized by wetlands, primeval forests, and traditional wooden architecture. Inhabitants of the park include golden jackals, red deer, and Egyptian vultures.
- The Rhodopes. A mountain range in the south-central part of the country, the Rhodopes is one of the most interesting regions in Bulgaria. The area is known for its protected nature areas, spas, ancient sites, and unique traditions that include the famous Rhodope music.
- Bansko. A historically and culturally significant town for Bulgarians, nowadays Bansko is best known as a large winter sports base that attracts thousands of skiing and snowboarding enthusiasts every winter. The town can be just as lovely to visit during the warmer months, too, not least for its well-preserved old town, hiking trails, and the nearby brown bear sanctuary.
- The Seven Rila Lakes. Located in Rila National Park, the Seven Rila Lakes are a group of glacial lakes that offer some of the most stunning views on the continent. On your way, you can also see Bulgaria's most famous UNESCO World Heritage site - the Rila monastery.
- Koprivshtica. A historic little town that preserved Its traditional colorful houses and cobbled streets. Koprivschtica is also, a great place to find traditional and organic Bulgarian food.
- Bulgarian Seacoast. The most popular coast on the Black Sea offers everything from charming little villages like Tsarevo, historical towns like Nessebar, or party hubs like Sunny Beach.
Car rental prices
- Convertibles - from $40 per day
- Station wagons - from $10 per day
- Large cars - from $14 per day
- Medium cars - from $13 per day
- Vans - from $22 per day
- Premium cars - from $40 per day
- Small cars - from $7 per day
- SUVs - from $11 per day
Money-saving and other tips
You can do a number of things to get a good car rental deal in Bulgaria:
- Compare rates
- Book your rental car well in advance
- Plan your route before you go
- Know your fuel and mileage requirements
The 20 most popular cities in Bulgaria
The 5 most popular locations in Bulgaria
Map of Car Rental Locations
What is the cheapest month to rent a car in Bulgaria?
The cost of renting a car in Bulgaria varies by season. The table and graph below can help you find the best time of year to save on a rental car.
Average rental costs per day in Bulgaria
The cheapest month of the year to rent a car in Bulgaria is November — when rental costs average $12.71 per day. This is 42% cheaper than the yearly average and 72% cheaper than renting a car in August (when prices average $45.20 per day).
This information can help you identify the low season. But these are only average numbers. How much your car rental will cost will depend on the type of vehicle you rent, how long you’ll rent it for, and how far ahead you book. Simply enter your dates in the form at the top of the page to see the exact prices.
This information can help you identify the low season. But these are only average numbers. How much your car rental will cost will depend on the type of vehicle you rent, how long you’ll rent it for, and how far ahead you book. Simply enter your dates in the form at the top of the page to see the exact prices.
What’s the average rental length in Bulgaria?
How long renters typically keep their vehicle sometimes varies depending on the time of year. Travelers tend to keep their rental cars longer in July — an average of 11 days. They tend to keep them for a shorter time in February — an average of 7 days.
Average number of rental days in Bulgaria
What's the most popular month to rent a car in Bulgaria?
Based on how many customers search for a car in Bulgaria, the most popular month is August, while the least popular is January.
Monthly searches in Bulgaria by pick-up date relative to the average
Car rental information
| Car rental locations | 97 |
| Airport locations | 4 |
| Popular suppliers | Top Rent A Car, BOJONE, Low Cost Cars, Green Rent A Car, Speed Rent A Car |
| Popular car categories | Small cars, Medium cars, SUVs, Station wagons |
| Lowest price | $7 per day |
| Cheapest supplier | WheeGo |
Most popular car models of rental suppliers
| Rental Supplier | Model | Doors | Luggage | Type |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Top Rent A Car | Citroen C3 | 5 | 1 | Small cars |
| Low Cost Cars | Dacia Sandero | 5 | 1 | Small cars |
| Speed Rent A Car | Opel Corsa Hatchback | 5 | 2 | Small cars |
| Low Cost Cars | Renault Clio Grandtour | 5 | 2 | Station wagons |
| Top Rent A Car | Opel Mokka | 5 | 2 | SUVs |
| Green Rent A Car | Toyota Aygo X | 5 | 1 | SUVs |
| Top Rent A Car | Renault Clio | 5 | 1 | Small cars |
| Autounion | Peugeot 208 | 5 | 1 | Small cars |
| Top Rent A Car | Hyundai i20 | 5 | 1 | Small cars |
| Speed Rent A Car | Ford Fiesta | 5 | 2 | Small cars |
Our customers' reviews
Because we want to make sure each review listed here is left by a real customer, we don’t have the option to post a review here. Instead, we ask each and every customer to leave a review after they return their rental car. This way, you know that all reviews are authentic.
FD
United Arab Emirates
Kia Picanto
8/10/24
Everyone should try Happy Grill restaurant, great food with English speaking staff.
On my way to the seaside from Sofia, the restaurants were on both sides of the road.
TS
Israel
Peugeot 2008
7/22/24
excellent
ER
United Kingdom
Hyundai i20
7/11/24
We stayed at Byala and had one of the best holidays ever. People were lovely, food was amazing and supermarkets were well stocked and good value for money.
beaches were beautiful and you cannot beat the Black Sea
MJ
United States of America (USA)
Peugeot 301
6/15/24
Bulgaria and Romania are wonderful, great nature, history, good food, half to a third the price of Western Europe, highly recommended.
BS
Israel
Opel Corsa Hatchback
6/4/24
המצלמה
We traveled in Bulgaria and Romania, stunning countries that surprised us a lot, we are already waiting to come back again 🙂
GK
Lithuania
Renault Megane
5/12/24
PK
Australia
Dacia Duster
5/5/24
This was my first time visiting Bulgaria and I can say that it was the best value country in Europe that I have ever visited.
Food/drinks/hotel accommodation is FAR cheaper than in western Europe, most people speak English, the food is great, the highway system is very good (there is no speed limit on many of the major highways - esp. the main road going east from Sofia to the Black Sea).
I could sit comfortably on around 140-160 km/h and occasionally nudging 200 km/h.
The drivers are very courteous in Bulgaria, the food is great, and the hotels we stayed in were amazing for the price*.
(*We stayed in a hotel room in the Pulse Tower in Sofia that was absolutely huge. It had a large kitchen/dining room, a living room that was twice as large (I do not exaggerate) as many hotel rooms I've stayed in.
In addition it had two very large bedrooms, two spacious bathrooms with toilets and a third toilet, and all the fittings/fixtures were 5 star quality. And it cost around AUD $280 (around USD $180) per night. The overall size of the room (more accurate to call it an apartment), was probably 6 or 7 times larger than the hotel rooms I stayed at in western Europe in the earlier part of my vacation.
The same type of hotel room would cost $1000-$1500 per night here in Australia.
And if all that wasn't enough, the hotel staff were all friendly, courteous and spoke a English pretty well.
Lastly, to give you an idea of the quality of the hotel, it had a bunch of prestige cars that it owned parked out front (I presume to be used for picking up VIP guests from the airport and taking them to the premises), like a Bentley, several Porsche SUV's and not one, but TWO Mercedes Maybachs.
I've never see a single Maybach on the road in Australia and only saw one on the roads in the previous week I spent in Germany and France before visiting Bulgaria, so that will give you an idea of how upmarket this hotel was.
Whilst in Bulgaria we also stayed in a great hotel in Plovdiv (Europe's oldest city) and visited the well preserved Roman era amphitheatre there. The hotel in Plovdiv was very spacious and cost something like AUD $100-$120 per night (around USD $65-$78), which was incredible cheap for such a quality room.
In the hotel room we stayed near Burgas (we were in a place that was a couple of km from the famous Sunny Beach), our hotel was right on the beach facing the majestic Black Sea - which is not black at all but was a brilliant turquoise/blue and as nice as anything you'd find in the Mediterranean.
Our room had a balcony that opened to face the Black Sea with a magnificent unimpeded view.
This room cost less than AUD $200 from memory (around USD $130), so once again it was fantastic value. The same room in a hotel in Australia would certainly cost multiples more.
We figured that one reason for the low prices was because we visited Bulgaria in late April (the water in the Black Sea is still quite chilly in April - as my daughter found out first hand when she attempted to go for a swim), so still a few weeks out from the tourist season and warmer weather in June and thereafter.
But when we inquired about the hotel room costs in summer we were told they were only a little more expensive.
Lastly, for those visiting the city of Varna on the Bulgarian Black Sea coast, I recommend the restaurants on the beach front there which all looked excellent. We visited the El Kapan restaurant for lunch, and it was a great experience. It had this Caribbean/Cuban vibe and music and the food was superb while still being modestly priced. Certainly the best restaurant experience I'd had for many years (great meat and seafood dishes on offer - the beef was the most tender I can recall eating in a long time).
My wife found out this place by checking out the reviews beforehand, and judging from what people were saying it appeared amazing.
Well, it did not disappoint. This is what Tripadvisor had to say about it:
https://www.tripadvisor.com/ShowUserReviews-g295392-d10626868-r887224409-El_Kapan-Varna_Varna_Province.html
Bulgaria offers incredible value for money. I recommend it to anyone thinking of visiting Europe who doesn't want to get ripped off by what's on offer in France/Italy/England etc.
EB
Israel
Peugeot 208
3/2/24
We went to the snowboarding trip to Bansko
We enjoyed very much
HB
United States of America (USA)
Renault Clio
10/15/23
The roads were very nice in Bulgaria
MD
United Kingdom
Citroen C3
10/13/23
PC
Ireland
Mitsubishi Lancer
9/16/23
Just used the car for social and domestic purposes.
AS
Poland
Mitsubishi Lancer
9/12/23
Trip to Warna, Kaliakra, Sunny beach and Sozopol, a lot of sightseeing
LB
Ireland
Citroen C3
9/10/23
Just had relaxing holiday restaurants all good
JD
Ireland
Nissan Note
9/1/23
AW
Canada
Renault Clio
8/20/23
Drove from Sofia to Black sea, stayed at our apartment by the sea & sand. Took a couple of trips inland to see the country & visit friends. There is lots to do & see in Bulgaria, or you can just take it easy for a couple of weeks & enjoy the wonderful weather, as we did. Had peace of mind with the car knowing it was neary new & well maintained.
ER
Azerbaijan
Chevrolet Cruze
8/13/23
Shopping in Burgas.
MS
United Kingdom
Suzuki Splash
7/30/23
Great trip to Kiten with wonderful beach.
MW
United Kingdom
Volkswagen Up
7/29/23
First time in Bulgaria beautiful scenery
MA
United Kingdom
Ford Fiesta
7/29/23
Plovdiv is worth a weekend visit.
GT
United Kingdom
Peugeot 208
7/25/23
Central Balkans, Karlovo, Rose Valley, Troyan Pass, Plovdiv. If you like to drive around a country then visit this area, you won't be disappointed.
KA
United Kingdom
Toyota Yaris Cross
7/21/23
ND
Norway
Hyundai i20
7/13/23
Overall good but the gas should be full tank to full tank
NI
United Kingdom
Citroen C3
7/9/23
Traveled a lot for leisure and had amazing time
VR
Israel
Toyota Corolla
7/2/23
nature spots
DG
Lithuania
Toyota Aygo X
6/21/23
Nature parks
YB
Israel
Peugeot 308
5/22/23
Great car
MI
United Kingdom
Seat Ibiza
4/25/23
Relax
JT
Germany
Toyota Yaris
1/31/23
It was much more affordable for us to rent the car and drive up to the Rila Monastery from Sofia. This also gave us the freedom to explore without being on someone else’s time schedule.
PM
Ireland
Volkswagen Golf
1/30/23
Skiing was great but people were very rude wherever we went
RT
Israel
Opel Zafira 5+2
12/28/22
Nice views
SG
United Kingdom
Hyundai i20
12/24/22
I was in Bansko for a few days. Very nice place to rest, and a good restaurants too.
KS
Bulgaria
Ford Fiesta
11/26/22
My trip was purely business and I have already recommended the car agency to my colleagues. Car was in perfect condition, the agent very polite and helpful and definitely will continue taking car from the same agency in the future.
IS
Greece
Honda Civic
11/20/22
Of course I would
PW
Austria
Fiat Panda
10/20/22
Second time I took a car from surprice and I was always positivly surpriced :)
SR
Spain
Volkswagen Up
9/30/22
good food, excellent nature ( trekking 7 lakes of Rila )
AG
Italy
VW Polo
9/6/22
The trip was 12 days. 3 were the main stages:
- Plovidiv steeped in antiquity, pretty and clean;
- Obsorn in the middle of the Black Sea coast, quiet and good location to see the surroundings, such as very delightful Nesembar and a good sea.
- Velico Tarnovo pleasant, ancient center to see and sites to visit;
RN
Netherlands
Opel Zafira 5+2
8/29/22
We had a house with a pool and did not visit a lot of places
JM
Spain
Ford Custom Tourneo
8/24/22
Bulgaria is interesting but not very ready for tourism. (Lack of English speakers, few touristic spots)
ED
Netherlands
Peugeot 208
8/22/22
Mountains and black sea.
LA
United States of America (USA)
Peugeot 208
8/7/22
Very good
VH
Bulgaria
Toyota Yaris
7/30/22
We went across Bulgaria, I highly recommend the Canyon of Waterfalls near Smolyan if you don't mind a light hike. The Belogradchik fortress and rocks were amazing, so were the Devetashka and Prohodna caves. Near Prohodna there is a rock monastery but that requires a light hike as well. Make sure to carry water tho as it gets quite hot in the summers. Also, make sure to visit one of the nice beaches, don't go to the famous ones, if you go down the cost to Primorsko or Ahtopol or Tsarevo, the sea and sand are just as good but there's less people. Carry cash, very little places offer card payments when you stray off of the tourist's paths.
MM
United States of America (USA)
Hyundai i10
5/23/22
No A/C
RV
Netherlands
Renault Clio
2/20/22
Veliko Tarnovo is great!
ET
United States of America (USA)
Opel Zafira 2011
8/7/21
I would definitely rent from this company again.
AS
Estonia
Renault Clio
7/31/21
Travelled from Sofia to Plovdiv, to Vidin and to some other small places around. Awesome road trip, liked it a lot.
TM
United Kingdom
Peugeot 208
9/10/20
beatiful nature and mountains
AJ
United Kingdom
Fiat Tipo STW
3/5/20
Sophia itself has only a few attractions to see. Would highly recommend leaving the city and visiting other destinations in the country like Bansko.
Great country to visit it you are a group of friends looking for a fun long weekend away
JD
Bulgaria
Hyundai i30
2/17/20
Sofia is a v interesting city with a long history ..for eg one of the first church councils was held at Serdika 334 AD prompting a split within THE church which led to a walkout by many bishops in order to have their own council meeting at Plovdiv. Goodbye
BS
United Kingdom
Seat Ibiza 5d
1/11/20
Driving in Sofia is experience, you need to be mindful that road traffic laws not followed by most drivers. Parking on street mostly needs scratch cards . Theses need to be bought from a parking attendant or some cigarette or mini market sells them.
RS
United Kingdom
Renault Clio
9/29/19
Bulgaria is very beautiful and easy to drive. Just be mindful of road conditions.
Car Rental Statistics
Highest-rated company
Lucky Rent A Car
9.6 / 10
Lowest-rated company
NUCarrentals
5.2 / 10
Total number of reviews
117
Total rental companies
33
Average daily price
$17.33
Lowest daily price
$7.40
Total cars available
4552
Top 33 suppliers in Bulgaria in 2024
Lucky Rent A Car
2 locations
$22 - $61
WheeGo
1 location
$7 - $248
Ride Rent A Car
2 locations
$18 - $100
Lion Rent A Car
5 locations
$26 - $118
BOJONE
3 locations
$18 - $58
Speed Rent A Car
1 location
$17 - $70
Green Rent A Car
37 locations
$16 - $125
Sky Rent A Car
44 locations
$23 - $70
SIXT
10 locations
$14 - $248
Thrifty
4 locations
$23 - $33
Hertz
6 locations
$25 - $55
CarRent
2 locations
$18 - $74
Alamo
1 location
$24 - $41
Top Rent A Car
81 locations
$11 - $306
Low Cost Cars
83 locations
$8 - $140
Enterprise
1 location
$26 - $46
Dives Rent a car
7 locations
$32 - $130
Drive Rent A Car Bulgaria
3 locations
$16 - $204
Autounion
6 locations
$13 - $247
Goldcar
4 locations
$13 - $43
Europcar
5 locations
$17 - $189
National
1 location
$29 - $48
Optimo Rent
3 locations
First Rent A Car
1 location
$21 - $66
EXER
1 location
$20 - $21
GreenMotion
6 locations
$17 - $198
AddCar
3 locations
$18 - $767
ACARENT
9 locations
$18 - $368
Surprice
1 location
$10 - $89
ABBYCAR
4 locations
Sharr Express
1 location
$11 - $206
EasyRentBulgaria
4 locations
$26 - $625
NUCarrentals
3 locations
Why book with us?
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