The Purchase of an Electronic Vignette will Take a Minimum Amount of Time at a Self-service Terminal

The purchase of an electronic vignette will take a minimum amount of time at a self-service terminal for passenger vehicles of up to 3.5 tonnes. As of 01.01.2019, vignettes become electronic, and drivers can purchase them at a self-service terminal, through a web portal, via mobile application and at a sales office of the National Toll Management Administration to the Road Infrastructure Agency. The goal is maximum comfort and facilitation to users.

Today the method of electronic vignette purchases at a self-service terminal was presented through a simulation. The system still does not work since it is in a process of development and claims that it failed during the presentation are not based on facts.

Self-service terminals will not accept cash payments but only debit and credit card payments. The terminals will be 500 in total and will be located along major roads and border crossing points. After placing them in locations that are convenient for drivers, a map of terminals by location will be made available. To facilitate travelers, the terminals will display functionalities in 8 languages – Bulgarian, English, German, and Russian and the languages spoken in Bulgaria’s neighboring countries – Greek, Romanian, Serbian, and Turkish. Our goal is to cover the main transit flows through the country, emphasized the Chair of the Road Infrastructure Agency, engineer Svetoslav Glosov.

The information that passengers have to fill in successively is the following:

• Vehicle registration plate number;
• Email in case that the user wishes to receive feedback by email regarding the purchased vignette;
• Period of validity of the electronic vignette – annual, quarterly, monthly, weekly, or weekend;
• Starting date of validity.

After filing in debit or credit card details as required for online purchases, a message will be sent by email about the purchased electronic vignette. Self-service terminals will not accept cash.

In addition to self-service terminals, an electronic vignette can be purchased through a web portal and via mobile application which are under development at present. The series of steps to make will be similar to the steps made to purchase at a terminal. The goal is to provide a service that offers maximum ease and convenience. The same terminals can be used to purchase itinerary maps after 16.08.2019 when the toll system for motor vehicles of more than 3.5 tonnes will be implemented.

Drivers who prefer the usual and standard method for purchasing a vignette from an official can do so by visiting an office of the distribution network as before. The operator of the system – the National Toll Management Administration to the Road Infrastructure Agency has made this option available. By accessing the web portal, the official will enter the plate number of the vehicle and the validity of the vignette that the driver chooses.

The prices of vignettes remain unchanged in 2019 as in 2018. The annual vignette costs 97 BGN, the quarterly – 54 BGN, the monthly – 30 BGN, and the weekly – 15 BGN. The cost of the new weekend vignette is still to be determined. It is expected to be lower than the monthly one or about 10 BGN, engineer Glossov said.

The Chair of the Management Board of the Road Infrastructure Agency pointed out that drivers with annual vignettes also valid during a certain period in 2019 should take note of the fact that the paper vignette should be converted in electronic vignette. Vignettes can be transformed during the period until 31.01.2019. If a driver who holds a valid paper vignette fails to convert it in an electronic vignette, he will not be considered an offender during a check by the road traffic control authorities, explained engineer Glossov. Because of this the sticker affixed to the windscreen should remain in place until the paper vignette finally expires in 2019.

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