Romanian drivers are about to feel a heavier burden on their wallets as the government enacts sweeping changes to the country’s road tax system. Starting September 1, 2025, the cost of the rovinieta—a mandatory road usage fee for vehicles traveling on national roads and highways—will increase sharply for passenger cars, with the annual fee almost doubling. The move, part of Law 141/2025, is the centerpiece of the first fiscal reform package introduced by Prime Minister Ilie Bolojan’s administration, aiming to fund urgent upgrades and maintenance for Romania’s aging road infrastructure.
According to HotNews, the annual rovinieta for passenger cars will jump from 28 euros to 50 euros (VAT included), while a one-day pass will rise from 2.5 euros to 3.5 euros. The new rates for all validity periods are as follows: 1 day – 3.5 euros, 10 days – 6.0 euros, 30 days – 9.5 euros, 60 days – 15.0 euros, and 12 months – 50.0 euros. These changes will hit motorists across the country, especially those who rely on longer-term passes, as the yearly fee is nearly doubling.
The law stipulates that rovinietas purchased before September 1, 2025, will remain valid for their full duration, providing a brief window for drivers to lock in current rates if they act quickly. For now, other vehicle categories are spared from the price hike, with their fees remaining unchanged, as confirmed by the National Company for Road Infrastructure Administration (CNAIR).
But the changes don’t stop at higher fees. Fines for not holding a valid rovinieta will also increase substantially. From September 1, drivers caught without the mandatory road tax for their passenger cars will face penalties between 500 and 1,000 lei, up from the current 250–500 lei range. Authorities are urging motorists to check the validity of their rovinieta and to purchase or renew on time to avoid these steeper fines, which can easily exceed the cost of the annual pass itself.
How much will drivers actually pay in lei? The law sets rovinieta prices in euros, but payment is always made in lei, with the final amount determined by the official exchange rate set by Romania’s central bank (BNR) on the first day of each month. For example, as of August 25, 2025, the exchange rate was approximately 5.0539 lei per euro. Based on this, the estimated prices for passenger cars from September 1 are: 1 day – 17.69 lei, 10 days – 30.33 lei, 30 days – 48.01 lei, 60 days – 75.81 lei, and 12 months – 252.70 lei. These figures are subject to minor changes depending on the exact exchange rate at the time of purchase.
The government argues that these increases are long overdue. As reported by HotNews and other Romanian outlets, officials say the higher fees are needed to align Romania’s road tax system with European standards and to cover the rising costs of maintaining and modernizing the national road network. The Ministry of Transport and CNAIR have both emphasized that the extra revenue will be funneled directly into infrastructure projects, promising smoother highways and safer journeys in the years to come.
Yet, not everyone is convinced. Many drivers see the new fees as an added burden at a time when car ownership and fuel costs have already climbed sharply. According to HotNews and Digi24, some motorists—especially those who use national roads infrequently—feel the policy punishes them unfairly, as there are no cheaper, local alternatives like Hungary’s county vignette system. The annual rovinieta in Hungary, for instance, costs the equivalent of about 800 lei (over 150 euros), but drivers there can opt for a much less expensive county pass if they only travel within a limited area.
In contrast, Romania’s new annual fee of 50 euros is similar to Bulgaria’s, where the annual vignette costs the same. For shorter-term passes, however, Bulgaria remains more affordable. A one-week vignette there costs about 8 euros, and a weekend pass is just 5 euros. The government has defended the new rates by pointing out that, on a regional scale, Romania’s rovinieta remains competitive for annual use, even if it’s less flexible for those who only drive occasionally.
Drivers can purchase the rovinieta in several convenient ways. The most popular option is online via the official CNAIR portal, erovinieta.ro, where payment can be made instantly and proof of purchase is available immediately. Alternatively, motorists can buy their rovinieta by sending an SMS to 7500, including their vehicle registration number and category in the message (for example, “B00AJVA1” for a one-day pass for a passenger car). Confirmation is sent directly to the user’s phone, and the vignette is valid right away. For those who prefer face-to-face transactions, rovinietas are available at authorized sales points, including gas stations and post offices, with a full list of distributors provided on the CNAIR website.
Authorities strongly recommend that drivers plan ahead, especially if they anticipate needing a long-term pass. By purchasing before September 1, motorists can avoid the higher prices for another year. CNAIR also suggests checking rovinieta validity online before each trip to prevent accidental lapses and the resulting fines. “Drivers are advised to check rovinieta validity and comply with new regulations to avoid penalties,” a CNAIR spokesperson told HotNews.
For those weighing their options, the advice is clear: compare the different validity periods to find the best value for your driving habits. If you rarely drive on national roads or highways, shorter-term passes may be the way to go, while frequent travelers will get the most from the annual pass—especially if they buy before the September deadline.
Law 141/2025, which underpins these changes, is part of a broader fiscal reform effort by the Bolojan government. The law’s stated aim is to generate additional funds for infrastructure investment, with the hope that visible improvements will follow. Still, skepticism lingers among the public. As one driver told Digi24, “We’ve heard promises about road improvements before. I just hope this time the money actually goes where it’s needed.”
In the end, whether these higher fees will translate into better roads remains to be seen. For now, what’s certain is that from September, driving on Romania’s national roads will cost more—making it all the more important for motorists to stay informed, plan ahead, and make every lei count.
