Driving License in Romania for Expats
Yes, for EU/EEA: usable while in force (exchange voluntary). Non-EU recognised licences: usable until the foreign licence expires or the holder chooses to exchange โ no general statutory deadline. Practical limit: Article 27(4) OUG 195/2002 forbids holding two national permits simultaneously.. After that, you must convert to a Romania license. Good news: the official test is available in English.
Key Facts: Romania Driving License for Expats
- Test Authority
- DGPCI โ Direcศia Generalฤ Permise de Conducere ศi รnmatriculฤri
- Official Test Language
- Romanian, English, French, German, Hungarian
- Grace Period
- EU/EEA: usable while in force (exchange voluntary). Non-EU recognised licences: usable until the foreign licence expires or the holder chooses to exchange โ no general statutory deadline. Practical limit: Article 27(4) OUG 195/2002 forbids holding two national permits simultaneously.
- Processing Time
- Approximately 5 working days standard delivery, up to 14 calendar days maximum, after the SPCRPCIV file is accepted (DGPCI service catalogue).
- Theory Test Required
- Not for exchange
- Practical Test Required
- Not for exchange
- Medical Exam
- Required
- Total Cost
- Approximately 250โ550 RON for an exchange (preschimbare). Full first-time licence with auto-school, 30 hours of theory and 30 hours of practice, plus exams: typically 2,800โ4,500 RON depending on city and transmission.
Eligibility by Nationality
EU/EEA Citizens
EU/EEA driving licences are valid in Romania while in force โ exchange (preschimbare) is voluntary, not mandatory. Article 83 of OUG 195/2002 (Codul Rutier) recognises driving permits issued by EU member states and by parties to the 1949 Geneva and 1968 Vienna road-traffic conventions. EU holders may opt for a Romanian card via simple administrative exchange (Anexa 1 procedure under Ordin MAI 163/2011), with no theory or practical test, when their licence is lost/damaged, expired, or after they obtain a Romanian "permis de conducere" by choice. The MAI confirms there is no general 90-day deadline for EU holders.
US/UK Citizens
USA: the United States is on Anexa 3 of Ordin MAI 163/2011 โ direct exchange is available without theory or practical test once "rezidenลฃฤ normalฤ" is established in Romania. A legalised Romanian translation of the US licence is required. UK / Northern Ireland: added to Anexa 2 of Ordin MAI 163/2011 from 1 January 2021 (post-Brexit). UK licences continue to be exchanged in Romania without examination because the UK acceded to the 1968 Vienna Convention in 2018. Documentation for UK exchange specifically requires a DVLA / DVA "Check Code" (driver-record verification, valid 21 days, single use) and a legalised Romanian translation. UK GOV.UK confirms: "you can exchange [your UK licence] without having to take a test."
Other Non-EU Citizens
A non-EU/EEA holder may drive in Romania on the foreign licence as long as the issuing country is on the recognised list (Anexa 2 โ Vienna Convention parties; Anexa 3 โ specific bilateral states) per Ordin MAI 163/2011. Direct administrative exchange "fฤrฤ examinare sau testare" (without examination or testing) is available once the holder has "domiciliu, reศedinลฃฤ sau rezidenลฃฤ normalฤ" in Romania (185-day rule, Directive 2006/126/EC transposed). Non-recognised countries: full Romanian theory and practical tests required at SPCRPCIV. Romanian law does not impose a general "90-day" or "6-month" hard exchange deadline for the foreign licence itself โ the constraint comes from Article 27(4) OUG 195/2002 (you may not hold two national permits simultaneously once you obtain a Romanian one) and from the recognised-country status of the issuing state.
Students
Foreign students enrolled in Romania may use their valid foreign licence (with International Driving Permit if their country is not party to the 1968 Vienna Convention) during their authorised stay. Article 24(4) OUG 195/2002 expressly entitles foreign nationals and EU citizens "care รฎศi stabilesc domiciliul ori reศedinลฃa รฎn Romรขnia ori, dupฤ caz, care studiazฤ รฎn Romรขnia" to take the theory exam in an international circulation language (Romanian, English, French, German, or Hungarian per Ordin MAI 268/2010 with Ordin 82/2013).
Required Documents
- โCerere tip (application form, Anexa 4 of Ordin MAI 163/2011) โ completed in capitals and signed
- โOriginal foreign driving licence (to be handed in) plus traducere legalizatฤ รฎn limba romรขnฤ (legalised Romanian translation) when not in a Romance/recognised language
- โIdentity document: passport + permis de ศedere / certificat de รฎnregistrare (residence permit or registration certificate) for foreigners; carte de identitate for Romanian citizens โ original and copy
- โFiศa medicalฤ in original, completed by an authorised medical unit, with the conclusion "APT CONDUCฤTOR AUTO" for the categories on the licence (Art. 6(1)(d) Ordin 163/2011, valid 1 year)
- โDovada achitฤrii taxei de 89 RON (proof of payment of the 89 lei licence-card fee) via ghiศeul.ro, BCR/CEC counters, or SelfPay terminals
- โFor UK / Northern Ireland licences: DVLA or DVA "Check Code" (single-use, valid 21 days) plus driving record
- โFor US licences: legalised Romanian translation of the state-issued licence; proof of US state where the licence was issued
- โRecent passport-style photograph (taken at the SPCRPCIV photo booth in most counties)
Costs Breakdown
- Conversion/Exam Fee
- 89 RON โ standard licence-card fee (taxa permis auto), unchanged since 2020 (DGPCI 2026 catalogue). Paid via ghiศeul.ro, BCR/CEC bank counters, or SelfPay.
- Medical Exam
- Approximately 150โ300 RON for the fiศa medicalฤ at an authorised medical unit (rate set by each provider).
- Translation
- Approximately 50โ150 RON for a legalised Romanian translation of the foreign licence by a sworn translator (notary stamp).
- Total Estimated
- Approximately 250โ550 RON for an exchange (preschimbare). Full first-time licence with auto-school, 30 hours of theory and 30 hours of practice, plus exams: typically 2,800โ4,500 RON depending on city and transmission.
License Exchange Agreements
Direct Exchange (No Test Required) ยท 60
License Exchange Agreements
Direct Exchange (No Test Required) ยท 60
No Agreement (Full Test Required): Countries not listed in Anexa 1, 2 or 3 of Ordin MAI 163/2011 (e.g. India, most Sub-Saharan African states beyond those listed, several Latin-American states, Australia, New Zealand, Saudi Arabia) โ holders must pass the full Romanian theory exam (in Romanian, English, French, German or Hungarian) and the practical test at the SPCRPCIV.
Tips for Expats in Romania
- In 2024 the authority was renamed: DRPCIV โ DGPCI (Direcลฃia Generalฤ Permise de Conducere ศi รnmatriculฤri). Many third-party sites still use the old name; the official portal is dgpci.mai.gov.ro.
- Romania has NO mandatory 90-day exchange deadline โ a widely repeated expat myth. Foreign licences from EU/EEA and from countries on Anexa 1โ3 of Ordin MAI 163/2011 remain valid for driving while you are resident, until they expire or you choose to exchange.
- The theory exam can legally be taken in English, French, German or Hungarian by foreigners who establish residence in Romania (Ordin MAI 268/2010 + Art. 24(4) OUG 195/2002). The official prep questionnaires are still in Romanian, however, so English-language practice is essential.
- Aviz psihologic (psychological evaluation) is NOT required for licence exchange of an existing foreign licence. It is required for first-time obtaining a Romanian licence and for professional drivers โ not for preschimbare under Ordin 163/2011.
- UK/Northern Ireland licences remain exchangeable without examination after Brexit because the UK is a party to the 1968 Vienna Convention (since 2018) and is on Anexa 2 of Ordin MAI 163/2011.
- US licences are exchangeable without test (US is on Anexa 3 of Ordin 163/2011) โ unusual in Europe; many EU countries do not offer US-wide exchange.
- "Rezidenลฃฤ normalฤ" means at least 185 days per calendar year in Romania (EU Directive 2006/126/EC, transposed). The same threshold applies for the right to apply for, or exchange to, a Romanian licence.
- The licence card (permis de conducere categoria B) is valid for 10 years from issuance. The fiศa medicalฤ is valid 1 year.
From a recent expat graduate
A real story from someone who got their licence as a foreigner
โI find the service invaluable. It helped me immensely and I am impressed by the format and content. First class!โI have now passed my driving theory test. The course and information was great and very helpful. The reason I had to take the test is because I am living in Chile which does not recognise the driver licence of my mother country.