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Low Emission Zones in Bulgaria

2 Low Emission Zones

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Overview

Bulgaria operates two Low Emission Zones (LEZ) in Sofia, its capital city. Known locally as “Niskoemisionni zoni” (NEZ), these zones are designed to improve air quality during the winter months when pollution levels are highest. Sofia has a Small Ring (Malak ring) covering the city centre and a Big Ring (Golyam ring) covering a wider area.

The zones operate seasonally from December 1 to February 28, restricting access based on the vehicle's eco-group classification, which corresponds to the Euro emission standard. Enforcement is carried out through approximately 90 ANPR cameras positioned at entry points to the zones.

Regulations

Sofia's LEZ system uses eco-group classifications that correspond to Euro emission standards. The restrictions differ between the two ring zones:

Small Ring (city centre): Vehicles from Eco-group I and Eco-group II are prohibited. This effectively means vehicles that do not meet at least Euro 3 for petrol or Euro 4 for diesel are banned from the city centre during the active period.

Big Ring (wider area): Only vehicles from Eco-group I are prohibited. This restricts the oldest and most polluting vehicles (generally pre-Euro or Euro 1) from the broader zone.

The boundary boulevards and streets of both rings are not part of the zones — traffic along them is unrestricted. The LEZ applies every day during the active period, including weekends and public holidays.

Fines are 50 BGN for individuals (first offence) and 1,000 BGN for legal entities. Vehicles whose eco-category data is unavailable in the system are not considered violators.

Who must comply

The Sofia LEZ applies to all motor vehicles, including personal and company cars. Certain categories of vehicles and owners are exempt under specific conditions.

Zones — 2

Sofia LEZ Big Ring
Sofia LEZ Big Ring
Sofia LEZ Small Ring
Sofia LEZ Small Ring

Frequently asked questions

Is the Sofia LEZ active all year round?
No. The Sofia LEZ operates seasonally from December 1 to February 28 (or 29 in leap years). Outside this period, there are no emission-based restrictions on vehicle access.
How do I know which eco-group my vehicle belongs to?
The eco-group is determined during the annual technical inspection and certified with a sticker. Even without a sticker, the Sofia municipality system checks the vehicle's eco-category through the Executive Agency for Automobile Administration. Vehicles with no data on file are not considered violators.
Are the boundary boulevards part of the LEZ?
No. The boundary boulevards and streets that form the perimeter of both the Small Ring and Big Ring are not part of the restricted zones. All vehicles may travel along them without restrictions.
Does the LEZ apply on weekends and holidays?
Yes. The Sofia LEZ applies every day from December 1 to February 28, with no exceptions for weekends or public holidays.
What happens if my vehicle is newly imported and has no technical inspection?
The municipal system checks eco-category data through the Executive Agency for Automobile Administration. If no data is available for your vehicle (as is common for new imports without a technical inspection), you are not considered a violator.

Check your vehicle compliance

Use our API to instantly verify if your vehicle can enter Sofia's Small Ring and Big Ring Low Emission Zones.

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