Renting a car in Bulgaria was something we discussed but weren’t sure we really needed. We waited until we arrived in Sofia (the capital city) before making the call. We had two weeks booked in town and another four weeks unplanned. While Sofia was a lovely, quiet, and family-friendly city, we decided we needed to get out to the countryside and into the mountains to go climbing. For that, we really needed a car.
We did consider public transport—however, there were no trains out to many of the smaller towns we were eyeing, like Karlukovo and Teteven.
Tips & Takeaways for Renting a Car in Bulgaria
- Decide if you really need a car. Sofia is walkable and has solid public transport.
- Shop around online and check reviews—including broker reviews.
- Bulgarian drivers were calm and considerate (unlike Turkiye!), but still, only drive if you’re confident—especially if it’s the ‘wrong’ side of the road for you.
- Make sure you’re insured, whether through the rental company, your travel insurance, or both.
- Understand your maximum liability in the event of an accident—it might be more than your deposit.
- Take a slow video of the car (interior and exterior) before leaving the lot.
- Take clear photos of any visible damage, even if they say they’ve already recorded it.
- Avoid paying with a credit card if you can—we always pay with a debit card.
- Don’t forget your license, passport, and international driving permit—we needed all three.
Our Experience with EasyRent Bulgaria
We started looking at car rentals online while in Sofia and messaged as many companies as we could find via WhatsApp. We asked for their cheapest long-term rate, and the responses varied greatly. Some didn’t respond, some just sent us a generic link, and others were sold out or only had high-priced cars due to the upcoming summer high season.
We had the best communication with a company called EasyRent Bulgaria. They were by far the most affordable, offering cars in the low €20s per day, whereas others were charging €30+ (some without insurance included).
We appreciated that EasyRent was responsive on WhatsApp and included full insurance in the price. We went with the cheapest option—a Renault Clio—and paid:
- €791 for 31 days (June 2024)
- €60 extra for a child seat
- Total: €851 or $1,285 AUD
They didn’t offer a discount for renting a full month, and they wouldn’t waive the child seat fee (which we’ve had included in other countries). Payment was done via debit card, but we had to request that in advance, as many companies only accept credit cards—especially through brokers.
Why We Avoid Credit Cards for Rentals
We’ve heard too many horror stories of credit cards being charged after return—for questionable damage, unproven fines, and more. That’s why we always pay with a debit card with limited funds. If the company needs to charge us later, they’ll have to contact us first.
My personal opinion? Don’t rely on credit card travel insurance. It often has fine-print exclusions and doesn’t always cover car rental excesses adequately. We use full comprehensive travel insurance from an external provider, which includes hire car excess cover.
Make sure you know your coverage limit—some insurers only cover up to $2,000, but many car rental excesses are $5,000+, which could leave you thousands out of pocket. Read the fine print.
The Importance of the International Driving Permit
You’ll need your passport, driver’s license, and international driving permit (IDP). Some rental companies require it, and many travel insurers won’t cover you without one. We got ours through RAC Australia for $49, and it’s valid for 12 months.
Here’s the link to apply.
The Pickup Process
Initially, our rental was supposed to start a few days later, but negotiations dragged until the night before pickup. They emailed us a link to pay in advance, but I asked if we could pay in person instead. They weren’t thrilled but eventually agreed. It felt a bit scammy to pay in full before meeting them.
We picked up the car from Sofia Airport in the morning. The process was super fast. We walked straight up to the desk—Jacob handed over his documents (passport, Australian driver’s license, and IDP), and we paid in Bulgarian Leva. The total was slightly more than quoted—$1,331 AUD instead of $1,285. I’ve queried this but haven’t heard back yet.
We also paid the €200 deposit ($331 AUD). The rep gave us the keys and told us to wait in Basement 4 for the child seat. That was it—no tour of the car, no instructions, no local driving advice. Weirdly simple.
First Impressions & A Few Surprises
We took our usual video and photos of the car, including a crack in the window and a few paint chips. No damage report was given—just the car and keys!
The Renault Clio was better than other rentals we’ve had abroad. It easily fit our gear—backpacks, day pack, cot, and Kaia’s things—and still felt roomy.
Parking in Sofia, though? Not fun. There are blue and green zones, and we saw cars being towed daily. We hadn’t figured the rules out yet, so we literally threw our bags in the car and ran!
Road Trip to Teteven
Our next stop was Teteven, a small mountain town about two hours away. Around 30 minutes in, the “check injection” warning lit up and the car lost power. We messaged the company, and they told us it was fine to keep driving.
The next day, the check engine light came on too. We let them know again—they gave the same response. It made overtaking trucks hard and left us nervous about breaking down… but we kept going.
Bulgarian Roads, Lost Hubcaps & Waiting to See…
Teteven’s roads were rough—cracked from snow chains and full of potholes. We’ve already lost two hubcaps. At first, we thought they were stolen (they were zip-tied on), but now we think it’s just the road conditions. We haven’t told the company yet—waiting to see if we lose more.
So Far, So Good?
We’re one week into the rental, and other than the warning lights and rough roads, things are okay. I’ll update this post after we return the car to let you know if getting the deposit back is smooth.
Update:
We returned the car to Sofia Airport without any issues. The drop-off process was just as straightforward as pickup—no inspection or paperwork delays, and the staff didn’t question the missing hubcaps or the warning lights we’d flagged earlier. Our €200 deposit was refunded within the promised timeframe.
All in all, despite a few hiccups, EasyRent delivered on what they promised, and we’d consider renting from them again if we return to Bulgaria.
Til next time,
R
