Driving Licences and Driver Obligations
Core concepts
A Bulgarian driving licence is issued after passing theory and practical tests and meeting medical fitness requirements. Candidates must know the validity periods: category B typically ten years (five years for drivers over 60 in many cases), C and D five years, and medical checks at defined ages. The licence must be carried when driving and produced on request to police. Points system: the Bulgarian penalty points system (наказателни точки) adds points for offences; accumulation can lead to loss of entitlement and retraining. Obligations include notifying address changes, not driving when unfit through alcohol, drugs, illness or fatigue, and the zero-tolerance alcohol limit for novice and professional drivers. Professional drivers also need a driver qualification card (CPC) and periodic training.
Traps in questions
A frequent trap is the alcohol limit: for ordinary drivers the limit is 0.5 per mille blood alcohol, but novice drivers (under two years' experience) and professional drivers are subject to zero tolerance. Another trap is the validity of the licence versus the validity of the medical certificate. Questions also test who may request documents and whether a foreign licence is valid for a Bulgarian resident. Do not confuse the penalty points system with the fine - both can apply.
Worked example / rule of thumb
Rule of thumb: "Novice and professional = zero alcohol." Example: a driver with 18 months' experience is stopped with a breath reading corresponding to 0.3 per mille. Although under the general 0.5 limit, the novice rule means this is an offence and can cost the licence.