Key Takeaways
- Go through a step-by-step guide from registering a business in the Bulgarian Commercial Register to submitting the licence application via the Automobile Administration Executive Agency website. Pay state fees and monitor your application to react promptly to observations.
- Satisfy fundamental legal requirements such as good repute, a stable base in Bulgaria, and its financial standing. Arrange proof of EUR 9,000 for the first vehicle and EUR 5,000 for each additional vehicle and be ready with neat paperwork for audits.
- Employ a qualified transport manager with a professional competency certificate. Guarantee exam completion, continuous training, and documented accountability for safety, drivers, and fleet.
- Own or long-term lease vehicles in the EU and Bulgaria must comply with safety standards and have valid registration, roadworthiness, and insurance. Specialized equipment and ADR-certified drivers are required for dangerous goods, and appropriate vehicles are necessary for passenger transport.
- Choose the licence that corresponds with your activities. Have a community licence for international transport within the EU and a national licence for domestic services within Bulgaria. Maintain certified copies in every vehicle.
- Renew on time, keep your financial and vehicle documents up to date, and be inspection ready. Manage your documentation and keep ahead of changing EU rules such as environmental and safety standards through digital tools.
Transport licence Bulgaria is the license that enables a business or sole trader to operate remunerated road haulage or passenger journeys in and out of Bulgaria under EU legislation. The Executive Agency “Automobile Administration” provides it pursuant to Regulation (EC) No 1071/2009. Core regulations include good repute, a certified transport manager, a Bulgarian-based office, and financial evidence. Typical reference figures are EUR 9,000 for the initial lorry or coach and EUR 5,000 for every additional one. Companies require CPC evidence, pristine records, and vehicles that clear roadworthiness tests. Common procedures consist of submitting applications, an insurance certificate, and a vehicle roster. Most cases close within 2 to 4 weeks, although inspections may prolong them. The following sections outline every step, cost, and documentation list.
Your Bulgarian Transport Licence Guide
Transport of goods and passengers by road, along with international carriage, must comply with the Road Transport Act and EU transport license regulations. To operate as a legitimate international transport company, it requires a Bulgarian-registered operator, financial standing, a certified transport manager, compliant vehicles, and insurance. A Community license for international carriage lasts five years, necessitating submission to the Automobile Administration Executive Agency (IAAA) while maintaining complete regulatory compliance.
1. Company Formation
Establish a legal entity in the Bulgarian Commercial Register (EOOD/OOD – LLC, ET – sole proprietor, AD – JSC). Choose a distinctive company name, registered seat, and scope of activity such as ‘road transport.’ Then you have to decide on the appropriate legal form, which impacts your liability, taxes, and capital.
Basic filings cover articles of association or ownership agreement, specimen signatures, management resolution, proof of capital where relevant, UIC request, and notarized documents as appropriate. Have founder IDs and address verification on hand.
Prepare a quick comparison before filing:
Legal form | Min. capital | Setup speed | Liability | Typical fees (EUR) |
|---|---|---|---|---|
EOOD/OOD (LLC) | 1 | Fast | Limited | 80–250 |
ET (Sole) | 0 | Fast | Unlimited | 40–120 |
AD (JSC) | 25,000 | Slower | Limited | 300–700 |
2. Financial Standing
Show economic stability with audited accounts or bank letters: EUR 9,000 for the first vehicle and EUR 5,000 for each extra vehicle for goods or passenger operations, aligned with EU transport license minimums. Acceptable proofs include bank guarantees, blocked funds, balance sheets, and insurer certificates if permitted. Provide declarations, tax clearance where required, and proof of no insolvency. It’s crucial to meet the licensing requirements to avoid suspension or revocation, especially for international transport companies relying on a community license during its 5-year validity.
3. Professional Competence
At least one transport manager must have a valid CPC (Certificate of Professional Competence) issued by a competent authority. This individual manages daily transport operations.
You must pass an exam at a licensed training center. Refresh knowledge with training every five years. Keep CPC, ID, appointment contract, clean record, and proof of ongoing CPD.
4. Vehicle Acquisition
Own or long-term lease vehicles that comply with EU safety and environmental rules.
Carry registration certificates, valid roadworthiness (periodic technical inspection), and CMR/Green Card where applicable. Have motor third-party liability and carrier liability cover.
Buses for passenger lines, refrigerated trucks for perishables, and ADR-equipped units for dangerous goods. Designate an ADR safety consultant to supervise compliance and the emergency plan.
5. Licence Application
Submit through the IAAA portal accompanied by evidence of establishment, financial status, professional qualifications, vehicle inventory and registrations or leases, insurance, safety policies, and declarations of conformity. Include the CPC along with any ADR paperwork.
State fees must be paid, and receipts should be kept. A community licence for international passenger or goods carriage, once granted, runs for 5 years.
Trace status online, respond to queries immediately and give your staff access to up-to-date international regulations, complete with transit-country requirements to prevent delays or refusals. In cross-border work, this is required.
Understanding Licence Types
License types regarding Bulgarian road transport licensing divide into EU-wide access and domestic-only rights. The scope varies for shipments, passengers, and specialty hauls such as toxic cargo. Rules reside in the Law on Road Transport and subsidiary by-laws, with a defined procedure, fees, and verifications.
Licence type | Eligibility basics | Permitted activities | Key notes |
|---|---|---|---|
Community (EU) | CPC for transport manager (written exam), financial standing: €9,000 first vehicle + €5,000 each next, good repute, suitable base | International carriage of goods and passengers across all EU Member States | 5-year validity; certified copy in each vehicle; must meet EU and Bulgarian rules |
National (BG only) | Same CPC and capital rules, proof of vehicles and drivers registered in BG, operating center | Carriage of goods and passengers within Bulgaria only | 5-year validity; no cross-border or transit rights |
Specialized endorsements | ADR training for drivers, vehicle approvals, route permits where needed | Dangerous goods, oversized/overweight cargo | Extra gear and periodic inspections required under BG/EU law |
Note passenger carriage: public passenger transport, including occasional trips, needs a public passenger transport licence held by each carrier. Voilets on the smaller side, five plus one seats or six plus one may come under taxi rules, but any more capacity likely requires the public passenger transport licence.
Community Licence
A Community licence entitles you to operate international transport in all EU Member States for both freight and passengers. For passenger carriage across borders, it is the mandatory document.
Grant depends on conforming to the EU rules and Bulgarian legislation. The firm needs to demonstrate professional competence of the transport manager via a successful written exam, financial standing of a minimum of €9,000 for the first vehicle and €5,000 per unit, and good repute.
Each motor vehicle is to carry a certified copy while in service. Carriers maintain copies that are current and on hand at inspections.
National Licence
A national transport license confines activities to domestic routes within Bulgaria and prohibits cross-border transport or even transit. Applicants must provide business details, vehicle registration and inspection history, driver license and medical records, an operating center, insurance, and ensure that the transport manager possesses a professional competence certificate. This license is valid for five years, with renewal subject to the same Bulgarian traffic law and safety requirements, anticipating continuous observance of hours of service and roadworthiness of the vehicle.
Specialised Transport
Movements of hazardous materials or very large freight require additional clearances on top of the base licence. Drivers transporting dangerous goods have valid ADR certificates and vehicles have ADR approvals, placards, fire extinguishers, spillage kits, and sealed load equipment. For oversize shipments, drivers obtain route clearances, pilot cars when necessary, and utilize tie-down equipment certified to the weight.
Fleets schedule routine inspections, maintain training and record compliance verifications. These records assist with roadside control and licence renewal.
The Mandatory Transport Manager
Bulgarian law mandates that all licensed road carriers, including those in the international transport market, have a transport manager. This role ensures compliance with regulatory requirements, safety standards, and the operational oversight of the transport activity.
Role
Manage daily operations and fleet plans, load balancing, routing decisions, and scheduling. Ensure that vehicles and drivers are dispatched in accordance with capacity and duty-time regulations.
Set and enforce safety measures: pre-trip checks, speed and load control, and fatigue management. Harmonize procedures to EU rules on driving times and rest, then check actual practice.
Maintain live records for drivers, vehicles, and journeys, including tachograph data, maintenance, insurance, and permits. Utilize this data to highlight hazards and schedule repairs.
Including reporting accidents, near misses, and defects and to cooperate with inspections by the Executive Agency ‘Automobile Administration’. Make internal audits and publish an annual safety report.
Certificate
The manager needs to have a valid Certificate of Professional Competence from an approved Bulgarian authority, demonstrating expertise in transport legislation, technical issues, road safety, and business management. Obtaining the certificate entails passing theoretical and practical exams covering EU and Bulgarian legislation, safe operations, cost control, and risk response. According to EU access to occupation rules and Bulgarian law, the manager must fulfill the ‘good repute’ requirement, demonstrating a clean record for serious crimes. Certification is not one-and-done. Periodic training is required every five years to keep knowledge current, reflecting updates to Regulations (EC) No 1071/2009 and 561/2006, including the necessary licenses for an international transport company and national acts. Maintain audit and roadside check friendly copies of the CPC, refreshers, and any specialized training.
Responsibilities
Be compliant with Bulgarian and EU transport law on all trips, deposits, and vehicles. Ensure drivers have valid licenses, DQ cards, and training. Keep an eye on breaks and working time and intervene when tachograph data reveals risks.
Manage service schedules, MOTs and insurance. Impound vehicles that don’t pass. Submit documents when audited, for example proof of maintenance, driver rosters, log sheets, incident records, and the annual safety report. For freight haulage, you need a transport manager. It’s compulsory for fairies and to keep everyone safe on the road.
Essential Company Requirements
Licensing in Bulgaria rests on three pillars: good repute, stable establishment, and vehicle standards. Authorities verify fundamental legal and administrative fundamentals prior to issuing a transport licence and during operations. They maintain a living compliance list and update it following any alterations in staff, fleet, or scope.
Compliance checklist (core documents and controls):
- Constitutive act or company contract
- Certificate of Contributed Capital (bank-issued)
- Certificate of Professional Competence for the transport manager
- Lease or ownership of office and operating center
- Local tax registration proof
- Carrier Liability insurance and accident action plan
- Driver hours records and maintenance logs
- Safety consultant (if moving dangerous goods)
Good Repute
Owners, directors, the transport manager, and key staff must demonstrate clean criminal records, free of convictions for fraud, corruption, serious traffic offenses, or violent crimes. Additionally, the bulgarian transport license is crucial for compliance. Previous bankruptcies, disqualifications, and proven breaches of transport or commercial law can prevent the license from being issued unless fully resolved and disclosed. The regulator expects full disclosure of previous sanctions, including those under Bulgarian or foreign transport regulations, ADR, or tachograph fraud. Keep a file for each relevant person: recent criminal record extracts, signed declarations of no conflicts, evidence of financial rehabilitation where relevant, and past enforcement correspondence. Refresh these files on personnel shifts and set calendar reminders for document refresh cycles, as certificates usually have an expiration date. Good repute isn’t a one-off, good-for-now check — lapses can trigger suspension.
Stable Establishment
You require a registered office and operating base in Bulgaria. Submit a lease or deed for the office and operating center. Keep accessible company records on-site or in a secure digital vault with local access. These records include contracts, licenses, insurance, driver rosters, training records, and accounting.
Sign up for Bulgarian taxes and maintain evidence of this. The operations center needs room and equipment to inspect freight, secure it for storage, and stage vehicles for departure.
Vehicle Standards
All vehicles need to comply with technical and safety standards, have a current roadworthiness certificate, and be insured. Carrier liability insurance is required, along with a dangerous goods risk and accident action plan on file.
Maintain inspection and maintenance records. Install and calibrate tachographs, utilize GPS where mandated, and document drivers’ working hours according to EU and Bulgarian regulations.
If you transport hazardous materials, hire a qualified safety officer. Process drill and incident reports.
Beyond the Paperwork: A Strategic View
Licensing, including the Bulgarian transport license and EU transport license, is table stakes. Deep down, profits stem from detailed organization and management schemata, fierce control of cash, consistent adherence to regulations, and strategic deployment of technology. Stay ahead of the curve. Align operations with Bulgarian and EU regulations, establish connections with trusted consultants and service providers, and monitor market changes to keep your fleet, drivers, and routes prepared.
Common Pitfalls
Incomplete or wrong files delay approvals. Verify IDs, vehicle documents, insurance, proof of solvency, and the professional aptitude certificate when you apply for a Community or national license for passengers or freight.
Many teams underestimate what it costs to comply. Plan for training, vehicle maintenance, tachograph assistance, audit hours, and working capital to launch and sustain. The law anticipates adequate means to ensure the initiation and continuity of the transportation service.
Non-compliance invites fines and downtime. Vehicle technical condition, driver hours and rest, and cargo safety are all the manager’s responsibility. Establish a service schedule with monthly brake, tire, and engine health checks. Keep drivers educated on safety and provide employees with up-to-date regulations for global shipping.
Last minute preparation is where last minute delays come from! Design a document tracker, pre-book inspections, and set renewal alerts for community licenses, which are good for five years.
The EU Advantage
An EU transport license unlocks cross-border routes with a single authorized permit to carry passengers and goods internationally, making it easier for Bulgarian transportation companies to enter markets and expand across the Union. Harmonized standards on safety, driver hours, and vehicle condition eliminate guesswork and enable you to scale routes from Sofia to Vienna or Thessaloniki under the same baseline rules. With that cohesion, you can cost more competitively through planning loads and backhauls, utilizing digital tools for route and fuel planning, and collaborating with EU-wide service providers for roadside assistance, parts, and compliance checks. Combine the license with career mastery, strong accounting, and trusted collaborators to provide additional services, such as cooled parcels or JIT runs, in one controlled license.
Future Trends
Licensing and compliance will go digital. E-portals, e-seals, telematics will show driver hours and maintenance history, and automated alerts will notify for renewals.
Anticipate tougher environmental and safety bars. Electric vehicles and other clean options will grow, aided by charging along main EU corridors. Keep on top of the Bulgarian and EU laws, refresh standard operating procedures, retrain staff, and be agile with data-driven route and fleet optimization.
Maintaining Your Licence
Keeping your transport license renewal on time and rigorous day-to-day compliance ensures your transportation company remains operational and minimizes your risk.
Renewal Process
File the renewal before the licence expires so you don’t have a gap in operations.
Community licence is for 5 years, which you can renew pre-expiry with a routine application. If you operate public passenger transport solely in Bulgaria, this licence does not apply to international routes, for which you require a Community licence.
Gather current documents: updated financial statements showing stability, vehicle lists with registration and roadworthiness data, valid insurance policies, proof of professional competence, and evidence of reliability. Traders in public passenger transport must continue to pass the tests of dependability, craftsmanship, and solvency.
Responsible for your title. Keep payment confirmation and filing receipts on file.
To keep your licence up-to-date, track deadlines in a shared calendar, set alerts 90, 60 and 30 days ahead and assign a backup staff owner. For mixed fleets, record separate timers for national and Community licences.
Compliance Checks
Be prepared for occasional checks by the Automobile Administration Executive Agency and traffic police, particularly regarding your transport license and company registration. They might check things like transport contracts, vehicle roadworthiness, and tachograph control, along with driver files and working-time records. Keeping organized files for quick review is essential: company registry extracts, necessary documents, and insurance policies are crucial. Following Bulgarian transportation regulations and maintaining valid compulsory insurance on every vehicle is imperative to comply with EU transport license requirements. For drivers, a valid medical certificate is essential to demonstrate fitness to drive. Keep renewal dates on the same reminder cycle as licenses, and if auditors flag gaps, such as an expired vehicle inspection, address them immediately and document the fix to prevent suspension.
Potential Penalties
Breaches of regulations can lead to fines, temporary suspension, or even revocation of your transport license. Carrying missing documents during a roadside check, such as your EU transport license or a certified copy, may result in a BGN 100 fine. The risk increases significantly if you drive without the necessary insurance or training certificates, as well as your vehicle papers.
If you are operating as an international transport company and carry passengers without a public transport certificate or a certified copy of a community license, the fine escalates to BGN 2000 for a first offense and BGN 4000 for repeated offenses. Serious or repeated breaches may lead to closer monitoring and more frequent checks of your transport activity.
Act quickly: cease the non-compliant service, rectify the cause, document the fix, and notify the licensing authority if necessary.
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- ✅ Vehicle leasing or ownership documentation guidance
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Conclusion
A transparent strategy turns the licence trail in Bulgaria much less jagged. Crucially, select the appropriate licence. Name a suitable transport licence in Bulgaria. Establish a pristine company record. Keep receipts on file. Transport licence in Bulgaria. Keep the trucks in safe shape. Keep up with renewals.
The little van crew who hauls in Sofia arranges local hire work in advance. Heavy haul hauls to Greece or Romania stick on the EU bits and slap tachos on. New company with a single truck begins with a lean plan and expands as work flourishes.
Regulations change, so check updated dispatches from the highway bureau once in a while. Maintain tidy files. Run fair operations. Earn the trust of every load.
Want a quick checklist or jump start plan? Contact us and receive a step by step roadmap for your situation.
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Frequently Asked Questions
What is a Bulgarian transport licence and who needs it?
A transport license is a government permission necessary for operating a cargo or passenger service. If your firm engages in road transport in Bulgaria or within the EU, this license is a requirement for compliance with EU transport regulations.
What licence types are available in Bulgaria?
The usual types of transport licenses include national (domestic only) and EU transport licenses (international within the EU/EEA). These licenses are essential for both goods carriage and passenger transport, particularly for light commercial vehicles weighing between 2.5 and 3.5 tons, which require permits for international operations under EU regulations.
Do I need a Transport Manager?
Yes, you will need a licensed qualified Transport Manager to comply with EU licensing requirements. They must demonstrate professional ability, maintain a good reputation, and ensure efficient management of transport activities, whether through an in-house manager or an outsourced one.
What are the core company requirements?
To obtain a Bulgarian transport license, you must demonstrate establishment in Bulgaria, good repute, professional competence, and financial health. Additionally, vehicle management, whether owned or leased, must comply with insurance, maintenance regimes, and tachograph standards, ensuring adherence to EU licensing requirements and financial standing.
Which authority issues the licence and how long does it take?
The Executive Agency “Automobile Administration” under the Ministry of Transport issues the necessary licenses, including the transport license Bulgaria, which depends on workload and paperwork.
What documents do I need to apply?
Anticipate evidence of establishment, such as an office in Bulgaria. The transport license in Bulgaria requires financial documents like a bank guarantee, good repute certificates, vehicle titles or leases, insurance, and compliance protocols. Provide precise, up-to-date paperwork to prevent hold ups.
How do I maintain and renew the licence?
To maintain compliance in the transport sector, ensure vehicle maintenance, monitor driver hours, and manage tachographs, insurance, and financial standing. Update any changes within your international transport company promptly. Remember, EU transport licenses are valid for a specific period; renew them before expiration and keep copies in every vehicle.
Daniel Malbašić is a business expert with extensive experience in the field of business consulting, organization and business optimization. His expertise includes market analysis, strategic planning, and implementation of effective business solutions. Daniel is dedicated to helping companies grow and improve their operations, providing them with comprehensive support in making key business decisions.
