Bulgaria E-Scooter Laws: Age 16, Low Fines, Sofia Extras (2026)

This article is general information about e-scooter laws in Bulgaria and is not legal advice. For a specific fine or municipal parking dispute in Sofia or another city, confirm current details with the Darzhavna agentsia Bezopasnost na dvizhenieto po patishtata (DA BDP) or a Bulgarian advokat. Information last verified on 23 July 2026.

Are e-scooters legal in Bulgaria?

Yes. E-scooters are regulated nationwide as ИЕПС (individualno elektrichesko prevozno sredstvo, individual electric transport vehicle) under the Zakon za dvizhenieto po patishtata (Road Traffic Act), according to the Darzhavna agentsia "Bezopasnost na dvizhenieto po patishtata" (DA BDP, the State Agency for Road Safety). Rental operators, including Lime (the first into the Sofia market), Bolt, Cyrcl, Shareascoot and SPARK, all run legally, and no national ban has been identified.

Rider rules

Riders 16 and older may use ИЕПС on roads and streets generally. Riders aged 14 to 16 are restricted to cycle lanes and streets with a maximum permitted speed of 50 km/h, per the same DA BDP source. A helmet is mandatory only for riders under 18.

Maximum speed is capped at 25 km/h. Required equipment includes working brakes, a mechanical or electronic bell, a white or yellow front light, and a red rear light. No passengers are permitted, and phone use while riding is prohibited.

Where you can ride

Riders must use built cycle infrastructure where it exists. Where none exists, riding as close as possible to the right edge of the traffic lane is required. ИЕПС riding is prohibited on roads with speed limits above 50 km/h (unless a cycle lane exists), on roads marked with sign B9 (bicycles prohibited), in bus or tram lanes marked with sign G13, and in pedestrian-only zones. Riders must dismount to cross via a pedestrian crossing or traffic signal.

Penalties

Bulgarian press coverage explicitly frames the 10 to 50 BGN range as a weak deterrent, since even the top of the range works out to roughly 25 euros.

Local and regional variation: Sofia

Sofia has layered its own municipal rules on top of the national ИЕПС framework, aimed specifically at rental operators. Reported Sofia rules include a 25 km/h cap in permitted riding zones and a much slower roughly 4 km/h push-speed limit when a rental scooter is moved through a pedestrian zone. Parking is banned in parks, gardens, playgrounds, sports grounds, pedestrian zones, green areas, public transport stops, metro entrances, building entrances, and disability access ramps, with around 200 dedicated street parking spots designated instead. Rental operators are also required to disclose permitted riding and parking areas in their apps and to prohibit alcohol or drug use as a term of service, according to Bulgarian press coverage of the municipal rules.

Enforcement in practice

Enforcement patterns do not change the legal status of a rule and are not permission to break it. Bulgarian press coverage reports that the Ministry of Interior registered 1,604 ИЕПС-related violations over a two-year period, evidence that some enforcement activity is happening even under a fine structure widely described as too low to deter. Targeted campaigns around schools and under-16 or no-helmet riders reportedly occur periodically, but routine, city-wide sidewalk or speed enforcement was not documented in the sources reviewed for this article.

For a regional contrast, Bulgaria's low fine ceiling stands out next to neighboring countries. See our full comparison in the world e-scooter law guide.

Frequently Asked Questions

What is the minimum age to ride an e-scooter in Bulgaria?

16 for general road and street use. Riders 14 to 16 are restricted to cycle lanes and streets with a maximum speed limit of 50 km/h.

Is a helmet required for e-scooters in Bulgaria?

Yes, but only for riders under 18. There is no helmet mandate for adult riders.

How much is the fine for an e-scooter violation in Bulgaria?

The official range under national law is 10 to 50 BGN, roughly 5 to 25 euros, which Bulgarian press coverage describes as a notably weak deterrent.

Are there special e-scooter rules in Sofia beyond the national law?

Yes. Sofia has added municipal rules for rental operators, including a slower push-speed in pedestrian zones and parking bans covering parks, playgrounds, transit stops and building entrances, with roughly 200 designated street parking spots instead.

Can I ride an e-scooter on the sidewalk in Bulgaria?

Riding must use built cycle infrastructure where it exists, and pedestrian-only zones are off-limits. Riders must also dismount to cross a pedestrian crossing or traffic signal.