Rules for overlanding in Romania

Our summary of the country advice published by the Italian Ministry of Foreign Affairs (Viaggiare Sicuri) on 18 August 2026.

Which licence you need

All vehicles — An Italian licence is what the ministry lists. Check what applies to the licence you hold.

An International Driving Permit states the categories it covers: check yours covers what you will actually drive. A car licence does not cover a motorcycle, and a heavy camper or a truck can need a higher category.

At the wheel

Insurance and temporary import — Italian insurance is sufficient, and vehicles can be imported temporarily with no particular formalities if the stay does not exceed 30 days. Check what applies to the cover you hold.
Driving someone else's vehicle — If the vehicle is not yours it is advisable to carry a letter of authority from the owner with the signature notarised.
Alcohol — The permitted level is 0%, and any measurable amount can mean the licence is withdrawn for up to 90 days, cut to 30 if the driver sits at least seven days of driving lessons and passes an exam. Up to 0.40 mg/l of breath alcohol brings a six-month suspension and 21 to 50 penalty points; above that the licence is taken and criminal proceedings are opened. Police run breath tests from time to time.
No tolerance for foreigners — There is no leniency for offences committed by foreign motorists, and very many have had their licence confiscated. Getting it back is a complicated procedure that can take some months.
Compulsory equipment — Seatbelts are compulsory, children under 12 cannot travel in the front seats and those up to 3 need a seat matched to their weight. Helmets are compulsory for motorcyclists and their passengers. Every vehicle with more than two wheels must carry a red warning triangle, private cars must also carry a fire extinguisher and a first-aid kit, and all vehicles need a reflective vest, to be worn whenever you have to get out, day or night.
Lights — Dipped headlights must be on outside built-up areas, by day as well as at night, and motorcycles must run with dipped beams around the clock. Main beams are allowed at night in towns on unlit roads and at junctions, and outside towns, but must be dipped for an oncoming vehicle or a pedestrian.
Road rules — Drive on the right and overtake on the left, but pass trams on the right. Using a handheld phone while driving is prohibited unless it is hands-free.
Electronic road toll — The rovinieta road-use charge is now an electronic toll, payable at border posts, post offices and some service stations and agencies. It is free for one day, then EUR 3 for 7 days, 7 for 30 days, 13 for 90 days and 28 for 12 months. Not paying, or paying too little, brings fines from 250 to 4,500 RON.
Roads and hazards — About 1,120 km of motorway are in use and more is being built, but poor maintenance means potholes and sometimes very bad surfaces, and crashes follow. Roadside assistance is weak and there are no SOS phones along the motorways. Watch for pedestrians crossing away from the markings, for horse-drawn carts, still common, which ignore priority on rural roads, and for stray dogs on the edges of towns.

What catches travellers out

Drugs — Law 45/2023 stiffened the penalties: possession of any quantity and trafficking carry 3 to 10 years, or 5 to 15 for high-risk drugs. International trafficking carries 5 to 15 years, rising to 10 to 20 for high-risk substances, and supplying drugs that lead to the user's death carries 15 to 25 years.
Declare at the border — You may bring in up to EUR 10,000 or the equivalent; more has to be declared. Weapons and ammunition including hunting guns, explosives, narcotic and psychotropic medicines, chemical and toxic products, cultural, historical or artistic goods, and precious-metal items beyond normal personal use must be registered on entry, as must more than 2 litres of spirits or 200 cigarettes. Anyone going to Romania to hunt should check the local rules on carrying the weapon and its cartridges, and cultural goods or precious metals bought locally need Romanian authorisation to leave.
Schengen and stay — Romania is an EU country and joined the Schengen area fully on 1 January 2025, with controls removed at land borders too. A valid ID card or passport covers a stay of up to 90 days; beyond that you need a residence permit from the immigration inspectorate.
Minors at the border — Romania restricts minors leaving the country. A child with dual Romanian citizenship counts as Romanian even if the birth was never registered there, so travelling out with one parent needs the other parent's consent given before a notary. The exception is a child travelling back to their own country of residence.

Before you rely on this

This is our summary of advice written by the Italian Ministry of Foreign Affairs for Italian travellers, published on 18 August 2026. We summarise in good faith, but we cannot guarantee it is accurate, current or complete, and we take no responsibility for decisions made on the basis of it. Rules change without notice and are applied by officials at the border, not by websites. Always read the original source and the travel advice your own government publishes for Romania before you travel. GuideMeet has no way of checking whether an individual guide meets any standard mentioned here — ask them directly.

Source: Viaggiare Sicuri — Italian Ministry of Foreign Affairs, updated 18 August 2026. Last checked by GuideMeet on 2026-09-20.