Can I drive without a road vignette?
Not on national roads: the vignette (rovinietă, the road tax) is mandatory. In 2026, the vignette remains mandatory for all vehicles driving on national roads and motorways in Romania. For a car, tariffs are set in euro (paid in lei at the BNR rate) and start at about EUR 3.5 a day, reaching about EUR 50 a year. Checking is done electronically, by cameras, with no need to be stopped in traffic. If you drove without a vignette but pay the tax the same day, you aren't sanctioned. From 1 July 2026, the taxation system changes, and the vignette value will be calculated based on the vehicle's pollution standard. On ordinary city streets the vignette isn't needed, but on national roads and motorways — yes.
📋 The rules
- Vignette mandatory on national roads and motorways
- Car: from ~EUR 3.5/day up to ~EUR 50/year
- Paid in lei, at the BNR rate on the purchase day
- Electronic checking, by cameras, no stopping in traffic
- From 1 July 2026: tariff by pollution standard
🔓 Exceptions
- Paying the tax the same day as detection: no sanction
- Ordinary city streets: the vignette isn't needed
- Certain vehicle categories may have a special regime
⚠️ Penalties & fines
Driving without a valid vignette on national roads or motorways is fined, for a car, between 500 and 1,000 lei. For freight vehicles, sanctions are much higher (for trucks they can exceed 20,000 lei). Checking is automatic, based on cameras reading the plate, so you don't have to be stopped to get the fine. If you forgot and drove without a vignette but pay the tax the same day, you aren't sanctioned. To avoid trouble: buy the vignette online (the CNAIR platform), at petrol stations or via apps, check the validity and keep proof of payment. Remember that on motorways and national roads the vignette is always required.
📎 Official sources
- CNAIR · National Company for Road Infrastructure Administration →
- GO 15/2002 on the road-network usage tariff →
- Roviniete · official payment platform →
❓ Frequently asked
Is the vignette mandatory everywhere?
No. The vignette is mandatory to drive on national roads and motorways in Romania. On ordinary city streets it isn't needed. In practice, if you leave town on a national road or get on a motorway, you need a valid vignette for your vehicle.
How much does the vignette cost for a car?
Tariffs are set in euro, with payment in lei at the BNR rate on the purchase day. For a car, the price starts at about EUR 3.5 a day and reaches about EUR 50 for a year's validity. There are intermediate options too, for 10, 30 or 60 days.
What fine do I risk driving without a vignette?
For a car, the fine is between 500 and 1,000 lei. For freight vehicles, sanctions are much higher, exceeding 20,000 lei for trucks. Checking is automatic, by cameras reading the plate, with no need to be stopped in traffic by the police.
Can I still avoid the fine by paying the tax?
Yes, under certain conditions. According to CNAIR, if you drove without a vignette but pay the road tax the same day, you won't be sanctioned. So, if you realise your vignette has expired, it's best to renew it immediately, that same day, before getting the fine.
Is anything changing about the vignette in 2026?
Yes. From 1 July 2026, the taxation system changes, and the vignette value will be calculated based on the vehicle's pollution standard. So more polluting cars will usually pay more, while low-emission ones may get lower tariffs, in the logic of green taxation.
🔎 Common searches
What people search to land here:
- “vignette mandatory national road”
- “car vignette cost 2026”
- “fine no vignette 500 1000 lei”
- “vignette camera check”
- “pay vignette same day”
- “vignette pollution standard july 2026”