Romania is one of the countries with the highest number of personal cars per capita. In 2024, the national car fleet exceeded 8 million cars, and the trend continues to grow. For many Romanians, especially those in large cities, a car is a daily necessity. As proof, the municipality of Bucharest and Ilfov County, which together have a population of 2.5 million, have the same number of vehicles as Tokyo, with its 38 million inhabitants.
However, owning a car involves more than just the initial cost. Every year, car maintenance brings a series of costs that every driver must take into account. In this article, we present the main expenses you have annually with a vehicle registered in Romania.
RCA (motor vehicle liability insurance)
RCA is mandatory by law and must be renewed periodically, annually or every 6 months. The cost varies depending on:
- the driver’s age
- the city
- the damage history
- the car’s engine
- the level of insurance coverage
- the insurer
In 2025, you can expect to pay between 900 and 4,700 lei per year for RCA.
Check out the personalized insurance offers for you and your car on Pago. Choose the period, compare offers, and choose the policy you want. Plus, if you take out insurance through Pago, you always have it at your fingertips in the app and receive notifications before it expires.
Vignette
To drive legally on national and European roads in Romania, a vignette is mandatory. It can be purchased for various periods (1 day, 10 days, 30 days, 60 days, and 12 months), depending on your needs.
The cost of the vignette varies depending on:
- Vehicle category
- The period chosen
The price of the vignette is set in euros and starts at €2.5/day for a passenger car and can reach €1,210/year for category F vehicles.
ITP
The Periodic Technical Inspection (ITP) is a mandatory check that ensures your vehicle is fit for use on public roads. It assesses the technical condition of the car, its pollution level, and its compliance with road safety standards.
The frequency of the ITP depends on the age and type of vehicle:
- New cars: first time every 3 years and then every 2 years
- Cars older than 12 years: annually
- Passenger vehicles (taxis, minibuses): every 6 months
- Goods vehicles over 3,500 kg: annually
It is important to comply with these deadlines to avoid legal penalties and to ensure your safety and that of other road users.
The price of the ITP varies depending on the type of vehicle, engine type (gasoline, diesel, LPG), and inspection station:
- Gasoline or diesel cars: 150-180 lei
- Vans, minibuses, SUVs: 160-200 lei
Even if you cannot pay for the ITP through Pago, you can use the app as a digital calendar. Set up notifications in the app and we will notify you when the deadline for your next inspection is approaching.
Servicing
Car servicing is essential for maintaining the performance and safety of your vehicle. It involves a series of checks and replacements of consumable components, as well as an assessment of the overall condition of the car.
Servicing is carried out according to the manufacturer’s recommendations, engine type, and conditions of use:
- Gasoline cars: every 10,000 – 15,000 km or once a year
- Diesel cars: every 15,000 – 20,000 km or once a year
- Electric cars: every 20,000 km
A complete service involves the following operations:
- Changing the engine oil
- Replacing the filters
- Checking the braking system
- Checking the suspension and steering
- Assessing the cooling system
- Testing the battery
- Examining the air conditioning system
The cost of a service varies depending on the make and model of the car, as well as the complexity of the work required. In general, prices range from 300 to 1000 lei.
Tires
The lifespan of tires depends on several factors, including driving style, road conditions, and proper maintenance. In general, summer tires can last up to 80,000-100,000 km in ideal conditions, while winter tires have a shorter lifespan of approximately 4-5 years.
It is important to check the tread depth regularly. According to the law, tires must be replaced when the tread depth falls below 1.6 mm.
Tire costs:
- Removal and installation: between 100 and 300 lei
- New set of tires: 1,200 and 2,000 lei
- Storage (tire hotel): approximately 20 lei per month for a set of four tires
Crossing the Fetești-Cernavodă bridge
If you frequently travel between Muntenia and Dobrogea, you must also add the Fetești-Cernavodă bridge toll, which varies between 13 and 1584 lei, depending on the number of crossings and the type of vehicle.
Pay it quickly through Pago, in just a few seconds, without stopping at the barrier.
If we add up all the costs, maintaining a 1.5-liter engine car, whose owner is over 50 and does not live in Bucharest, could look like this:
RCA – 1,000 lei
Vignette – 142 lei
ITP – 180 lei
Inspection – between 300 and 1,000 lei
Tires (new set + installation + storage) – 2,000 lei
Fetești-Cernavodă bridge tolls – 26 lei
Unforeseen expenses – 500 and 2,000 lei
TOTAL estimated annual cost: between 3,500 and 6,500 lei
