Romania’s road vignette, known as the Rovinieta, could be calculated under new rules from July 1, 2026. The Ministry of Transport and Infrastructure has opened a draft order for public consultation under which the charge for using the national road network would no longer depend solely on the vehicle category and validity period, but also on its polluting-emissions class, meaning its Euro standard.
In practice, drivers of newer, less-polluting cars would be expected to pay less than those driving older vehicles in lower Euro categories. The measure follows the “polluter pays” principle, and the price differences could be particularly noticeable for the annual Rovinieta.
It is important to note that this is currently a draft, rather than a change already in force. The document has been published under the decision-making transparency procedure, and its final form may change before adoption.
What would change for the Rovinieta from July 1, 2026
Under the draft, the Rovinieta would be set according to three main criteria:
- vehicle category;
- polluting-emissions class, meaning the Euro standard;
- the duration of use of Romania’s national road network.
The duration of use includes both the period during which the vehicle is actually driven on national roads and the period in which it is stationary. The Rovinieta charge would apply in the same way to Romanian and foreign users.
The new calculation method would divide vehicles into several categories. For ordinary drivers, the most important category is passenger cars and passenger-transport vehicles with no more than nine seats, including the driver.
How much the Rovinieta would cost for passenger cars
For passenger cars, the draft proposes three pricing tiers: electric vehicles and Euro VI vehicles, Euro V-IV vehicles, and Euro III-0 vehicles. The distinction is straightforward: the lower the emissions standard, the more expensive the Rovinieta would be.
| Emissions standard | 1 day | 10 days | 30 days | 60 days | 12 months |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Electric / Euro VI | 22 lei | 30 lei | 48 lei | 76 lei | 254 lei |
| Euro V-IV | 26 lei | 35 lei | 55 lei | 87 lei | 292 lei |
| Euro III-0 | 29 lei | 39 lei | 62 lei | 99 lei | 330 lei |
As a result, for an annual Rovinieta, a driver of an electric or Euro VI car would be expected to pay 254 lei, while a driver of a Euro III or older vehicle could pay 330 lei.
The passenger-car rates are set out in the draft’s annex, according to information published by Agerpres and Radio Romania.
Older cars would pay more
The most significant change is the differentiation of rates by Euro standard. Until now, drivers have been used to seeing Rovinieta charges determined by vehicle type and validity period. The new system would also introduce an emissions component.
According to the draft, Euro V-IV vehicles would be expected to pay a higher rate than Euro VI vehicles, while Euro III-0 vehicles would have the highest rates. For passenger cars, the annual difference between the lowest and highest proposed amounts is 76 lei.
At first glance, the difference may not seem substantial for a single car. However, for companies, vehicle fleets, couriers, hauliers or people who own several vehicles, the change could matter significantly to the annual budget.
How much freight vehicles up to 3.5 tonnes would pay
The draft does not apply only to passenger cars. For freight vehicles with a maximum authorised total weight of 3.5 tonnes or less, the proposed charges are higher than those for ordinary cars.
In this category, the Rovinieta would cost between:
- 52 and 67 lei for one day;
- 69 and 90 lei for 10 days;
- 110 and 143 lei for 30 days;
- 173 and 225 lei for 60 days;
- 579 and 753 lei for 12 months.
These rates are relevant to vans, utility vehicles and light commercial vehicles. For many small businesses, the difference could become important, especially if they use the national road network every day.
Buses and passenger-transport vehicles would face much higher rates
For passenger-transport vehicles with more than nine seats, the rates are considerably higher. For vehicles with more than nine and no more than 23 seats, the annual Rovinieta would be expected to range from 1,931 to 2,510 lei.
For vehicles with more than 23 seats, annual charges could rise from 3,400 lei to 4,420 lei, depending on the emissions class. These figures show that the draft would have a major impact particularly on passenger transport and operators using large vehicles.
Rates would be updated annually for inflation
Another important change is the annual adjustment of the Rovinieta according to the consumer price index. In other words, the rates would not remain fixed over the long term, but would be recalculated every year in line with inflation.
Under the draft, the Rovinieta amount would be set in lei and updated annually by December 31, based on the consumer price index reported by the National Institute of Statistics. The newly updated amounts would be expected to apply from January 1 of the following year, while the proposed 2026 level would apply from July 1.
This provision is important for drivers because the Rovinieta could become more expensive from year to year even if the rate structure remains unchanged. In practice, prices could be adjusted automatically according to inflation trends.
Why the calculation system is changing
The Rovinieta changes come in a European context in which road charging is increasingly linked to environmental impact. The new system aims to differentiate charges according to a vehicle’s level of pollution.
In practice, this means that two cars in the same category but with different Euro standards would no longer necessarily have the same Rovinieta cost. An electric or Euro VI car would fall into a lower tariff tier, while an older Euro III or below vehicle would have a higher rate.
For drivers who rarely use national roads, the impact may be limited. For those who buy an annual Rovinieta or use national roads regularly, the differences would be more apparent.
How to find out your car’s Euro standard
A car’s Euro standard can be checked in its vehicle documents, especially the vehicle identity card. In some cases, the information can also be identified from the car’s technical data, year of manufacture and engine.
However, the year of manufacture is not always enough to establish the Euro standard correctly. Two cars produced in nearby years may have different standards depending on their engine, the market for which they were made and their type approval.
For this reason, before buying a Rovinieta under the new system, the safest approach is for drivers to check the vehicle’s official documents. For companies with vehicle fleets, this check should be carried out in advance in order to estimate costs correctly.
What drivers should do before July 1
Until the new rates take effect, if the draft is adopted in its current form, drivers should follow the order’s final version. As it is a draft under consultation, some provisions or amounts may change.
People with a valid Rovinieta do not need to buy another one before it expires. A vignette already purchased remains valid until the date for which it was issued. Those planning to buy an annual Rovinieta in the coming period should watch for the exact date on which the new rates take effect.
Drivers of older cars should pay the closest attention, as the highest amounts are proposed for Euro III-0 vehicles. Although the difference for passenger cars is not dramatic for one day or 10 days, it is clearest over 12 months.
Conclusion
The Rovinieta could enter a new phase from July 1, 2026. If the Ministry of Transport’s draft is adopted, drivers will pay the road charge according to vehicle category, period of use and Euro standard.
For more information for drivers, see also Road traffic fines rise from July 1, 2026: the value of a fine point and what drivers will pay, which provides complementary details on this subject.
For passenger cars, the proposed annual charge starts at 254 lei for electric and Euro VI vehicles and reaches 330 lei for Euro III-0 vehicles. The differences are greater for commercial vehicles, minibuses, buses and other passenger-transport vehicles.
The key takeaway for drivers is simple: older and more polluting cars would pay more. In addition, the rates would be adjusted annually for inflation, meaning the Rovinieta could become more expensive each year.
Frequently asked questions about the 2026 Rovinieta
When would the Rovinieta change?
The draft provides for the new rates to apply from July 1, 2026. For now, it is a draft that has been opened for consultation.
Would the Rovinieta be calculated according to the Euro standard?
Yes. Under the draft, the Rovinieta would also be set according to the polluting-emissions class: electric/Euro VI, Euro V-IV and Euro III-0.
How much would the annual Rovinieta cost for passenger cars?
For passenger cars, the proposed annual charge is 254 lei for electric and Euro VI vehicles, 292 lei for Euro V-IV vehicles and 330 lei for Euro III-0 vehicles.
Would electric cars pay the Rovinieta?
Yes. Electric vehicles are included in the draft, but they are placed in the lowest pricing tier alongside Euro VI vehicles.
Would Rovinieta rates be updated annually?
The draft provides for annual updates to rates based on the consumer price index reported by the National Institute of Statistics.
