Romania has varied and specific laws and obligations for driver’s license requirements based on differing circumstances. Depending on your personal situation, you may, or may not need a Romanian driver’s license. If you plan to buy, register, and own a car in Romania, or are a visitor in the country, then this guide is a must read.
Some of the factors that determine if you will need a Romanian driver’s license to drive in the country are things like: foreign driver’s license acknowledgment based on country, length of individual’s stay in Romania, Convention on Road Traffic membership, and International Driving Permit requirements.
Information on the different license requirements in Romania based on unique individual situations and circumstances can be confusing and hard to obtain. Information on rules and requirements of driver’s license laws in Romania are often contradictory.
Romanian Driver’s License
Information about obtaining a Romanian driver’s license is often different even across official government websites. The best and most accurate sources on Romanian driver’s license requirements comes from the country’s official law code.
To provide the most accurate information possible, this guide will use and reference information from Romania’s official law as the primary source of information. Our guide will break down everything you need to know about driver’s license requirements in Romania.
We will also give you the most UpToDate info on obtaining a driver’s license in Romania, and the different laws and regulations pertaining to driver’s licenses in Romania.
Romania Driver’s License – Table of Contents
- Romania Driver’s License Basics
- Foreign Driver’s Licenses Validity in Romania
- International Driving Permit For Romania
- Who Needs a Romanian Driver’s License?
- Who Can Obtain a Romanian Driver’s License?
- How to Obtain a Romanian Driver’s License
- Exchange a License for a Romanian License
- Obtain a Romanian License with Driving Exam
- Driving Schools in Romania
- Romanian Driving Exams
- Romanian Driver’s License FAQ
Romanian Driver’s License Basics
Before we go into our guide on how to get a Romanian driver’s license, we’ll first go over the basics of the Romanian driver’s license.
Things to know about the Romanian Driver’s License
- You have to be at least 18 years old to have a driver’s license in Romania.
- Renewal of an expired driver’s license is done without reexamination.
- If you obtain your license with an automatic transmission, you can’t drive manuals.
- If you change your domicile, you don’t have to update it on your license.
- Licenses contain categories of vehicles you are permitted to drive.
- Categories that expire in 5 years: C1, C1E, C, CE, D1, D1E, D, DE, Tr, Tb, Tv
- Categories that expire in 10 years: AM, A1, A2, A, B, Bl BE
Romanian Driver’s License Categories
Foreign Driver’s Licenses Validity in Romania
Romania has different laws pertaining to acceptance of foreign driver’s licenses. The acceptance laws are primarily based off of three factors.
- First is if the foreign driver’s license comes from a European Union country.
- Second is if the country is a participant in the Vienna Convention on Road Traffic.
- Third is if the foreign license comes from a country that isn’t a part of the first two.
European Union Driver’s License in Romania
The European Union driver’s license is considered a “harmonized EU license.” This means the license is valid everywhere in the EU. Being a part of the EU, Romania recognizes the driver’s licenses of all other EU countries. If you have a driver’s license that was issued in an EU country, you can legally drive in Romania for an indefinite period of time, up until the expiration of the license.
If you are an EU citizen of a country other than Romania and reside within Romania longer than 185 days out of a full year, then you’re considered a legal “resident” of Romania. As a legal resident of the country, if your non-Romanian EU driver’s license expires while you are living in Romania, you are required to renew it in Romania.
Vienna Convention on Road Traffic
The Vienna Convention on Road Traffic is an international treaty that establishes standard traffic rules between participating countries. Some of the standards established during the convention are cross-border vehicle recognition, road signs and signals, and the international driving permit.
The convention, which took place on November 8th, 1968, has been ratified by 78 countries including Romania. There are also member countries which abide by the treaty as a non-state-parties. Romanian law provides driving advantages to citizens of any of the 78 countries which are apart of the Convention on Road Traffic.
A citizen of a country which ratified the treaty is allowed to drive in Romania for 90 days with a driver’s license originating from their country. If a citizen from a country which ratified the treaty wishes to drive in Romania for longer than 90 days, they are obligated to exchange their license for a Romanian one.
International Driving Permit Requirements in Romania
According to Art. 83 OUG 195/2002 (2) if an individual has a foreign driver’s license from a non-EU country, or from a country that hasn’t ratified the Vienna Convention on Road Traffic, then they must have an international driving permit (IDP) to drive in Romania. Two of the most notable countries which require IDP’s to be able to drive in Romania are the United States, and Canada.
An international driving permit is a document which consists of multi-language translations of an individual’s driver’s license. It was established by the United Nations through 4 international conventions and is valid in 174 of the world’s countries. The IDP is only valid when present alongside with the original driver’s license that it was issued for. It is not an alternative license.
International driving permits can only be issued in countries where the original driver’s license comes from. This means, for example, in order to obtain an IDP for a US driver’s license, you must get it from the US. IDPs are also only issued from official sources, usually a country’s motor club. Visit the official site to find out where to obtain an IDP for your country.
The validity length of an international driving permit is typically one year. After its one-year expiration, the IDP must be renewed in the same country it was issued from. This poses a problem for individual’s living in Romania who must either return to their home country or renew their IDP yearly through courier services. A better option is to exchange a foreign driver’s license for a Romanian one.
Who Needs a Romanian Driver’s License?
If you plan on establishing your residence in Romania from a country outside of the EU, then you’ll need a Romanian driver’s license in order to legally operate a vehicle within the country. You are considered to have residency in Romania if you live in the country at least 185 days out of a full year.
If you change your domicile to Romania and plan on living in the country as an expat, or if you’ve obtained Romanian citizenship, you will also need a Romanian driver’s license. If you are a tourist or temporarily in the country, you won’t need a Romanian driver’s license but should check your license’s validity in Romania.
Who Can Obtain a Romanian Driver’s License?
There are many individuals who wish to obtain a Romanian driver’s license for various purposes, unfortunately, there are restrictions on who can legally get a Romanian driver’s license.
Romanian driver’s licenses are only issued to four classes of individuals. The four classes are citizens, residents, students, and individuals who live in two or more countries in the EU/EEA but regularly return to a Romanian address due to personal ties to the address.
That means that under these conditions you can obtain a Romanian driver’s license under these conditions. As a resident or student who spends at least 185 out of 365 days in Romania. As a citizen who lives in the country. And, as a citizen who lives in at least two other different EU/EEA countries but returns to a Romania address on a frequent basis for personal reasons.
For each four of these conditions, a driver’s license can only be obtained with valid Romanian identification.
How to Obtain a Romanian Driver’s License
The first thing you need to know about getting a Romanian driver’s license is the two different methods available for obtaining one. The first method for receiving a Romanian driver’s license is by exchanging the license from your originating country for a Romanian one.
The second way is by taking and passing the Romanian theory and driving exams. Both options have advantages and disadvantages, and of course, based on your situation, you might be limited to one option or the other. We cover both options in great detail below.
- Exchange Foreign License for Romanian License
- Obtain a Romanian License by Passing the Driving Exams
Exchange a Foreign License for a Romanian License
If you have legal residency in Romania and a Romanian identification then you can exchange your country’s driver’s license for a Romanian one. However, the process isn’t as straightforward as it sounds.
You can Exchange a Foreign License for a Romanian License
There are different requirements for different countries. If your country is not listed in the chart below, you must take and pass the Romanian driver’s license exam in order to obtain a Romanian driver’s license. If your original driver’s license belongs to a country listed in the chart below, you can exchange it without having to take the driving exam.
The exchange process from a country in the below chart is called “preschimbarea permisului de conducere strain cu document similar Romanesc” which translates to “exchanging a foreign driver’s license with documentation similar to Romanian.”
Countries that can Exchange Driver’s License with Romania
| Country | Country | Country | Country |
|---|---|---|---|
| Austria | Armenia | Austria | Azerbaijan |
| Bahamas | Bahrain | Belarus | Belgium |
| Bosnia and Herzegovina | Brazil | Bulgaria | Canada |
| Central African Republic | China | Congo | Cote d'Ivoire |
| Croatia | Cuba | Cyprus | Czech Republic |
| Denmark | Egypt | Emir. Arab | Estonia |
| Finland | France | Georgia | Germany |
| Greece | Guyana | Hungary | Iceland |
| Iran | Ireland | Israel | Italy |
| Japan | Jersey Island | Jordan | Kazakhstan |
| Kenya | Kuwait | Kyrgyzstan | Latvia |
| Lebanon | Liberia | Liechtenstein | Lithuania |
| Luxembourg | Great Britain | Macedonia | Malta |
| Moldavia | Monaco | Mongolia | Montenegro |
| Morocco | Netherlands | Niger | Norway |
| Pakistan | Peru | Philippines | Poland |
| Portugal | Russia | San Marino | Serbia |
| Seychelles | Slovakia | Slovenia | South Africa |
| South Korea | Spain | Sweden | Switzerland |
| Syria | Tajikistan | Tunisia | Turkey |
| Turkmenistan | Ukraine | Uruguay | USA |
| Uzbekistan | Vietnam | Zimbabwe |
Chart Sources:
nr. 163/2011 – art. 2 par. (1) lit. b) and c)
Annex 1-3
Preschimbarea Permisului
How to Exchange Foreign License for Romanian License
To exchange a foreign driver’s license for a Romanian one (preschimbare permis) you must first obtain certain documents which are required by Romanian’s driver’s license bureau (DRPCIV). After you’ve obtained all the required documents, you need to make an appointment to the DRPCIV center in the jurisdiction of your domicile/residency.
Appointments for driver’s license exchanges can be booked online through the DRPCIV’s official website. You must first select the county where you are domiciled or have residency, and then select “Preschimbare permis străin” for the service. Then you have to provide some identifying information and select a date.
DRPCIV Office Inside a Mall in Romania
Most DRPCIV offices in the country are backed up at a minimum of 30 days. Be prepared to make an appointment for at least that amount of time in advance. After you’ve made the appointment, you must print out your confirmation and bring it with you, along with all the required documents (listed below), at the scheduled time and date.
When trying to make the appointment on the website, you might get the error “datele introduse nu sunt valide.” This translates to “the details you entered are not valid.” Make sure you enter everything in the form as it’s found on your ID card. Try with your middle name, and without. If the error won’t go away you won’t be able to schedule online.
Alternatively, you can show up to the DRPCIV office in your jurisdiction and wait in line. Individuals with appointments are usually called up first but often there are gaps in appointments and they take non-appointments. Your best bet for using this option is showing up to the DRPCIV office early, as soon as it opens if possible.
Documents Needed to Exchange a Driver’s License in Romania
You will need to bring all the below-listed documents with you to your DRPCIV appointment. After you provide the associate the below documents, they will either approve or deny your request. Denials are usually done when there is a document missing.
Unfortunately, speaking from personal experience, denials are also sometimes done if the associate you are dealing with is not familiar with the exchange process and would rather get rid of you then help you. This is often the case when trying to exchange an American or Canadian license for a Romanian one.
If you are denied for either of those two reasons, your best bet is to make sure you have everything needed and reschedule for another appointment. You might also be denied for not having a document that is either no longer required, or never was required. If you can, try to obtain all the documents they claim you need.
If you are approved, your old driver’s license will be taken from you and you will be given two options. You can either select to have your new driver’s license mailed to you, or you can come back to the DRPCIV to pick it up at the counter. The driver’s license will be ready in about 15 days. You might also be issued a paper temporary license.
List of Documents Required for Exchanging a Driver’s License in Romania
- Request Application – Filled out in Blue ink using all CAPITAL LETTERS and a 3×4 cm or 4×5 cm color photograph attached in the appropriate place on the document;
- Original foreign driver’s license (and copy) OR translated declaration of loss, theft, or destruction of the original license;
- Notarized translation into Romanian of the original license (not required for EU/EEA licenses);
- 68 LEI for the payment of the license – payment can be made at the DRPCIV clerk during an appointment, or at a post office;
- Romanian Identity Card – Romanian Bulletin OR Provisional Bulletin, and copy (Citizens);
- Residency Card, Residency Permit, Passport and Registration Certificate, and copies (Foreigners);
- Criminal Record Certificate (certificatul de cazier judiciar) – Background check obtained in last 6 months;
- A certificate from an educational institution that certifies study at the institution for a period of 6 months or longer (Students Only);
- Medical Certificate (fişa medicale). Can be obtained from most medical clinics. Call the clinics in your area and ask if they issue a “fişa medicale pentru permis auto.” Go to the clinic with your ID card and pay around 80 to 125 LEI for the certificate.Medical Certificate was eliminated with order nr. 58/2017 for the exchange of a Romanian driver’s licenses but is still required for exchanging foreign licences.
Countries with an Extra Requirement
The United States, Canada, and the countries listed in the chart below all have two extra requirements. In order to exchange a driver’s license for a Romanian one, the below-listed countries need to provide a notarized declaration and a copy of their driving record obtained from their country.
Countries with Notarized Declaration and Driving Record Requirement
| United States | Canada | Israel | South Africa |
|---|---|---|---|
| United Arab Emirates | Republic of Korea | Egypt | Jordan |
| Japan | Lebanon | Syria | China |
- Notarized declaration stating that:
– The driving license you are submitting for exchange is authentic
– The holder of the license does not have normal residence in another country
– The holder does not have other licenses, Romanian, other foreign, or duplicate (2 copies)
– The holder didn’t declare the license as stolen or lost in its country of origin
– The license is not suspended, canceled, or revoked
The best way to obtain this document is to go to a notary in your area and ask them to write and notarize a declaration for “preschimbare permis auto” (exchanging driver’s license). You can print out and give them this sample document as a reference.
- Driving Record from Home Country
The last needed document for exchanging a driver’s license from the United States, Canada, or other country listed on the above chart is a driving record from the foreign country translated and notarized. This step can be a bit confusing and troublesome so read this part carefully.
The best thing you can do when it comes to this step is to obtain your official driving record from your home country BEFORE you arrive in Romania. Doing that can save you LOTS of trouble. However, if you’re already in Romania, all hope is not lost. I will give you an example of how to obtain your driving record from the USA, specifically the state of Florida. Most US states should be similar, but the process might be different for other countries on the above list, like Canada or Israel.
Exchange an American License for a Romanian License
Although this example will be for an American license from the state of Florida, the general principals apply to all countries (and their states) mentioned in the chart above.
In the US, you can acquire your driving record from the DMV of the state that issued you your driving license. For the state of Florida, it’s explained here how to do so. Most options require you to visit a DMV or tax collector in person to obtain your record record. You also have the option of granting power of attorney to someone in the state to obtain the record for you.
Granting power of attorney, as well as waiting for the driving record to be mailed to you can be a long process. Your alternate option is to pay for your electronic driving record. The US grants certain companies access to driving records which they then sell to consumers. The records granted by 3rd party companies are identical to ones issued by DMVs except they don’t include personal information (address, name, etc.) protected under the “Driver Privacy Protection Act.”
Romania will accept an electronic driving record issued by a certified 3rd party. Here is an example list of certified 3rd parties that issue Florida driving records. You can purchase records of varying lengths (3, 7, 11 years) from a 3rd party provider. I recommend purchasing at least the 7 year record of your license. The record will be issued to you through email. Your next step is to print it out in color, and then have it translated, and notarized in Romania.
This last requirement might pose some other complications. You should be able to get the record translated with no problem. However, some notaries will tell you that they won’t notarize the translated digital record because they need the original. If you are told that by a notary, try a few others in your area. If you still can’t get a notary to legalize the record, take the translated version to the DRPCIV.
At your DRPCIV appointment, when you hand in all the above mentioned documents for exchanging your license, they might say the driving record needs to be notarized. You can tell them at this step that you tried many notaries and they refused to do it, and you have no other option. They should accept the document. Tell them the notaries you tried refused to notarize it because it’s in electronic form, and you have no way of obtaining the original without traveling back to your home country.
Obtain a Romanian License by Taking the Driving Exams
If your country is not on the list of countries which Romania accepts driver’s license exchanges with, then you have another option for getting a Romanian driver’s license. You can take the Romanian driver training school and courses, and then obtain the license by passing the theory and practical exams.
You may also wish to use this option even if Romania has a license exchange agreement with your country. Three reasons why you might consider this option instead of exchanging your license are:
- You will learn how to drive in Romania from a certified professional.
- You might not be able to obtain all the documents required for the exchange process.
- You might wish to hold on to your other driver’s license and not exchange it.
The best news about taking the theory driving exam in Romania is that you are allowed to take it in one of five languages. The five languages are Romanian, English, German, French, and Hungarian.
Whatever the reason may be for you wanting to take and pass the Romanian driver license exams, we got you covered on everything you will need to know to complete them successfully.
Keep in mind, however, that this guide is for B category licenses (cars). Obtaining a license for other categories are very similar but also have other requirements.
Requirements for Romanian Driver’s License Exam
In order to be able to obtain a Romanian driver’s license through examination, you must first meet some qualifications.
If you meet the first two requirements in this list, the driving school you enroll in will help you obtain/pass the other requirements.
- You must be at least 18 years old.
- Have citizenship, residency, or domicile in Romania.
- Be cleared for a physical and psychological medical evaluation.
- Have completed a criminal background check (cazier judiciar).
- Enroll and complete a certified driving school in Romania.
- Take and Pass the Theory and Practical Exams.
Driving Schools in Romania
If you’ve spent enough time in Romania you might have noticed those cars with a taxi type sign on their roofs that reads “scola”. They’re not hard to miss because they’re everywhere and they always seem to be holding up traffic. Those cars are driving school (şcoala de şoferi) cars and they usually contain students and an instructor. You will see them in all types of sizes, brands, and models.
The reason the school cars hold up traffic is that they are required by law to drive at 10km slower than the officiated speed limit. There are so many of them on the roads because Romanian law requires anyone who wants to get a driver’s license to enroll and complete a driving school first. Because they’re a mandate, driving schools have become a big business in Romania.
Completing a Romanian Driving School
To successfully finish a driving school in Romania you must have completed 30hrs of driving time with an instructor, and 24hrs of theoretical learning. Reaching the required 30 and 24hrs of learning in a Romanian driving school takes on average 2-3 months. This varies based on your and your instructor’s availability. Afterward, it can take about another 2 months to find open spots for your exam appointments.
The driving hours are split into different types of skill learning. Driving hours contain learning of things like parking, roundabouts, and highway driving. Theoretical learning hours are also split into different categories. The categories include road legislation, defensive driving, first aid, mechanics, etc. Although the above mentioned 30 and 24 hours are the minimum requirements, some driving schools provide more than the minimum.
After you complete the driving school, your instructor will help you put together a folder (dosar) of all the documents required for taking the exams. Completion of a driving school is only valid for one year, if you don’t manage to pass both the driving and theory exam within a year of completion of the driving school, you will have to re-enroll and complete the school again.
Requirements for Enrolling in a Romanian Driving School
In order to complete a driving school in Romania, you must first enroll in one. Like most everything else in the country, driving school enrollment in Romania comes with bureaucracy. You will need to have the following before you can join:
- Be 18 years or older, or 3 months until the age of majority.
- Romanian Identification (and copy).
- Criminal record certificate (certificatul de cazier judiciar).
- Medical Evaluation – (fişa medicale pentru conducătorii autovehicule).
- Psychological Evaluation (Avizul psihologic) – Your driving school will either conduct it or provide you with information where you can obtain one.
- Advance on Payment.
For the Romanian Identification, you can use a Bulletin, Residency Card/Permit, Provisional ID, or Romanian Passport. For the criminal record certificate, you can obtain it at the police station nearest to you in your jurisdiction. We have a full guide on how to obtain a criminal record certificate in Romania.
The medical examination can be obtained from any clinic in your area that issues them. You can search online for “fişa medicale pentru conducătorii autovehicule” in your city, or you can call the clinics close to you and ask if they do them. The evaluation is done quickly and costs around 150 to 200 lei.
Medical Certificate (fişa medicale) for Romanian Driver’s License
With all the above mentioned, you can sign a contract to enroll in a driving school. Most driving schools also require that you pay a deposit, usually about 20% of total price, at the signing of the contract. Most driving schools will help you obtain the required documents for enrollment if you plan to sign with them.
Prices for driving schools in Romania vary based on city, instructor, and car used to learn with. The price for the school itself is around 1,000 to 1,500 lei for lessons in Romanian, and about 2,500 to 3,000 lei for courses in English. If you look around you might be able to find better deals in your area.
English Driving Schools in Romania
Most individuals reading this guide are in need of taking the Romanian driving exams in English. As previously mentioned, Romania allows foreigners to take the theory exam in one of five languages. However, most foreigners take the exam in English because there are more driving schools offering courses in English than in the other foreign languages.
To find a driving school in Romania that offers course and training in English, you can search engine “scoala de soferi engleza” with your city name on the end. Example “scoala de soferi engleza Brasov.” Alternately, you can just search for “scola de soferi” in your area, and call the ones listed in the results and ask them if they provide courses in English.
Here is a sample list I put together of driving schools in some of the largest cities in Romania which offer driving courses in English.
Romanian Driving Exams
In order to obtain a Romanian driver’s license in Romania, you must complete two different exams. The first exam is the theoretical exam and the second is the practical exam. After you complete your driving school, your instructor will schedule your first exam, the theory exam.
Upon successful completion of the theory exam, you will be able to schedule the practical exam. Your driving school instructor will put together a folder with all the required documents you will need in order to take both exams. The folder will contain:
- Certificate of completing the driving school
- Copy of your Romanian ID.
- Request for appointment of theory exam.
- Payment receipt for theory exam.
- Criminal record certificate.
- Medical and Psychological exam.
- Receipt of 68 lei payment for the license.
Theoretical Exam
The theory exam, also known as the “sala” is a computerized test that contains 26 questions. Each question is issued randomly based on different categories of the driving law in Romania.
You have 30 minutes to answer all the questions and you can only get 4 wrong. You have to accurately answer 22 out of 26 questions to pass the exam.
Further things to know about the theory exam:
- The exam can be taken in one of 5 languages, including English.
- You will have your picture taken before the exam as evidence of who took it.
- You are monitored and recorded via video when taking the exam.
- Some questions may contain multiple correct answers.
- If you get 5 answers wrong, the exam will stop.
- You can skip answers and return to them later.
- You are shown instantly if you got an answer right or wrong.
If you fail the theory test, you will need to reschedule to take it at least 15 days in advance from the day of failing it. You will also need to pay the examination fee again.
Preparation for the theory exam is discussed in great detail below.
Practical Exam
The practical exam, also known as the “traseul,” is the drive test you have to take with a traffic police officer. The test is scheduled upon successful completion of the theory exam. The location for the practical exam can be at one of various different sites in a city. After you schedule the exam you will be notified where to present yourself.
Your driving instructor from the driving school you completed will accompany you to your practical exam. The car you used in your driving school will be lent to you by the instructor. Since 2017 driving exams are video/audio recorded with a tablet mounted on the car’s dashboard. Your driving school instructor will not be in the car with you for the exam.
Besides you and the police, there will be one other person in the car’s back seat, a witness. Witnesses to practical exams are required in Romania. They are individuals who themselves have taken the driving exam that same day. You may be asked to be a witness for another individual after you complete your practical exam.
The practical exam will last on average 25 to 45 minutes. During the drive, the police officer will be making sure you follow all the traffic laws and rules. You will be asked to perform maneuvers such as parking, turning from a stopped position, entering a roundabout, etc. Everything the police officer will ask you to do you will have practiced at your driving school.
If you fail the practical exam, you are allowed to reschedule it 15 days after the date you failed it. In order to take the practical exam a second time, you must have first completed an additional 6 hours of driving practice at your driving school. You are allowed to take the exam multiple times, and if failed, each time you will have to wait 15 days and complete 6hrs of additional training.
Preparation for the Theory Exam
For most English speakers who will be taking the theory exam, the hardest part will be understanding the translated questions. The translation from Romanian to English are done poorly and can be hard to understand. Your best bet in passing the theory exam in English is to learn the laws and regulations for driving in Romania fully so you can understand the questions.
By far your best resource in learning Romania’s traffic law is the book called The New Traffic Code for Everyone. The book comes in English as well as a few other languages. You can order it online by visiting the link or you can check at your local bookstore if they have it in stock. Try to purchase the current year’s version.
The New Traffic Code Book – English Version
The list below contains additional resources where you can learn Romania’s driving laws.
The below websites contain training and sample theory questions similar to the ones used on the official exam. You will have to use a service such as google.translate in order to translate them from Romanian to English.
- http://simulare.examenauto.net/
- https://www.odat.ro/chestionare-auto-drpciv/
- http://www.scoalarutiera.ro/chestionare-auto-b
- https://www.i-drpciv.ro/chestionare-auto-drpciv/ (requires payment)
- https://www.circulatiarutiera.ro/ (requires payment)
Romanian Driver’s License FAQ
If my foreign driver’s license is suspended, can I exchange it for a Romanian one?
No, if your foreign driver’s license isn’t valid, suspended, or expired in the country where it originates, you can not exchange it for a Romanian one until the license is yet again valid in the originating country.
If my Romanian driver’s license has a suspension, can I use my foreign driver’s license in the country?
No, if your Romanian driver’s license is suspended, the suspension will carry forward to the driver’s license of any other country. Further, Romania only recognizes one driver’s license at a time. If you have a Romanian driver’s license, as well as a foreign license, only your Romanian license will be valid in the country.
What type of driver’s licenses can’t be exchanged in Romania?
International driving permits, temporary licenses, revoked or suspended licenses, and licenses not originating from a country mentioned in this chart can’t be exchanged in Romania.
What categories will be placed on my Romanian driver’s license after exchange?
With your Romanian driver’s license, you will be allowed to drive vehicles in the same categories as of those listed on your foreign driver’s license.
How can I add new categories to my Romanian driver’s license?
If you wish to have new categories added to your Romanian driver’s license which were not present on your foreign driver’s license when you exchanged it, you will need to take Romania’s driving exams for the additional categories.
Who Needs a Romanian Driver’s License?
Any individual who has residency (lives 185 days a year in Romania) or domicile (lives in Romania indefinitely) is required to possess a Romanian driver’s license when driving in the country.
Driver’s Licenses from what Countries are Valid in Romania?
Driver’s licenses from all the countries listed in our chart are valid in Romania for a maximum of 90 days. European Union driver’s licenses are valid in Romania indefinitely. Some country’s licenses require an IDP in order to drive in Romania.
Who Can get a Romanian Driver’s License?
Citizens, Residents, and Students who have been studying in the country for at least 6 months, can all obtain Romanian driver’s licenses.
How many times can you take the theoretical exam?
Unlimited times in a year. If within a year you haven’t managed to obtain your Romanian driver’s license, you will have to complete a driving school again.
What happens if you fail the theory or practical exam?
You have to wait 15 days before you can reschedule to retake either of the exams. For the practical exam, you must also complete an additional 6hrs of drive training each time you fail the exam.
Are you required to retake the theory exam if you fail the practical exam?
No, new law removed the requirement to have to retake the theory exam if you failed the practical exam.
Can you take the practical exam with an automatic transmission car?
Yes, if your driving school offered you courses in an automatic transmission car, you can use it for your practical exam. If you pass the practical exam with an automatic transmission, your Romanian driver’s license will be restricted to driving automatic cars only.
