Romania · Car rental
Car rental in Romania
Compare airport car rental in Romania, choose the right collection point for your route and check the total rental cost before booking.
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Driving around Romania
Is it worth renting a car in Romania?
A car helps connect Transylvanian towns, rural guesthouses and routes away from mainline rail. It is less convenient for a Bucharest-only break. Choose rental dates around countryside travel and keep the first drive modest after a flight.
Choose Bucharest for a southern route, Cluj-Napoca for Transylvania, Timișoara for the west or Iași for the northeast. A regional route with a few bases is more manageable than combining every part of Romania into a short holiday.
Do not drink alcohol before driving in Romania. Carry the required documents and confirm accident-reporting instructions with the branch, including how to record damage before returning the car.
Plan your Romania trip
Explore our guides to driving in Romania, renting a car and planning your route.
Romania · Car rental guide
Renting a car in Romania: Airports, Deposits and Insurance
Practical car rental advice for Romania: compare airport choices, deposits, insurance excess, documents, payment cards and one-way rentals.
Read the guide
Romania · Car rental guide
Driving in Romania: Route Planning, Parking and Rental Rules
Plan a rental journey in Romania: airport choices, regional routes, vehicle suitability, driving documents, parking, collection and return.
Read the guideAirport car rental
Compare car rental by airport
Compare these regional gateways by the region you want to explore, then check the exact collection and return arrangements.
Bucharest Otopeni · OTP
Bucharest Henri Coandă Airport
Otopeni starts a southern route. Check OTP so you do not book a branch at Bucharest’s other airport.
Bucharest Otopeni car rental
Cluj-Napoca · CLJ
Cluj Avram Iancu Airport
Cluj suits a Transylvanian route with several overnight bases. Plan driving days around visits rather than moving every night.
Cluj-Napoca car rental
Timișoara · TSR
Timișoara Traian Vuia Airport
Timișoara starts a western Romania journey. Check written permission before any proposed Serbia or Hungary crossing.
Timișoara car rental
Iași · IAS
Iași Airport
Iași suits a northeastern itinerary. Treat any international border crossing as a separate rental permission question.
Iași car rentalLook beyond the headline
What to check before booking
Compare the vehicle, total price and conditions together. The cheapest initial price is not always the best fit for your route.
Total rental price
Compare the whole booking, including any airport, one-way, additional-driver and out-of-hours charges. Keep the same dates, vehicle category and cancellation terms when comparing offers.
Payment card and deposit
Check which cards the supplier accepts, whose name must be on the card, the deposit amount and the available credit required at collection.
Insurance and excess
Compare liability for damage and theft, exclusions and the excess. Check whether extra cover reduces the supplier’s excess or reimburses you after a claim.
Fuel and mileage
Confirm the required fuel level at return and the mileage allowance for your route. Photograph the fuel gauge and odometer at collection and return.
Collection and return
Use the supplier’s exact collection address and return instructions. A search labelled airport can include a desk, shuttle or meeting arrangement.
Driver eligibility
Check minimum and maximum age, how long the licence must have been held, accepted licence documents and any young-driver charge. These are supplier conditions, not one universal national policy.
Local roads and charges
Romania uses a road-use vignette, the rovinieta, for the national road network. Confirm validity for the actual car through the supplier and the official CNAIR service. Check any separate bridge or route charge before travelling.
Cross-border and ferry travel
Obtain the supplier’s written permission for every country, ferry journey and one-way return. Check the fees, insurance validity and breakdown assistance before booking the route.
Romania by car
Plan around the places you want to explore
Choose Bucharest for a southern route, Cluj-Napoca for Transylvania, Timișoara for the west or Iași for the northeast. A regional route with a few bases is more manageable than combining every part of Romania into a short holiday.
Use the permitted access and parking instructions from accommodation, particularly in historic centres. Road conditions vary; check the final rural approach rather than assuming every mapped route suits the rented vehicle.
Romania uses a road-use vignette, the rovinieta, for the national road network. Confirm validity for the actual car through the supplier and the official CNAIR service. Check any separate bridge or route charge before travelling.
Choosing your car
Choose a car that fits your route
Ask for secure overnight parking and the permitted final approach. On rural roads, allow for animals, slow vehicles and changes in the road surface. Avoid scheduling a long rural transfer after an overnight flight.
Winter equipment requirements depend on snow, ice or slush on the road. Confirm compliant tyres and equipment for the forecast and route. High mountain roads can have seasonal closures; do not use a summer scenic itinerary as winter navigation.
A compact car can be easier to park, but passengers, luggage and child seats must fit comfortably. If an automatic is essential, book that transmission explicitly. For an electric car, check charging at your overnight stops and the required return charge.
Before you book
Car rental in Romania: frequently asked questions
Is renting a car in Romania worth it?
A car helps connect Transylvanian towns, rural guesthouses and routes away from mainline rail. It is less convenient for a Bucharest-only break. Choose rental dates around countryside travel and keep the first drive modest after a flight.
Which airport should I choose?
Bucharest Otopeni (OTP) suits Bucharest surroundings and southern Romania. Cluj-Napoca (CLJ) suits Transylvania. Timișoara (TSR) suits western Romania and Banat. Iași (IAS) suits Iași and northeastern Romania.
Which side of the road does Romania drive on?
Romania drives on the right. Take time to adjust if you usually drive on the left.
Do I need an international driving permit?
That depends on where your licence was issued and the destination’s recognition rules. Carry the original licence and confirm any permit or translation requirement with the authority and rental supplier.
Can I take the car across a border?
Only if the supplier permits your countries and route in writing. Check insurance, assistance, fees and return-location conditions before making a cross-border plan.
Should I hire a large car?
Choose the smallest category that comfortably fits the passengers, luggage and child seats. Check transmission and boot space; a larger car can be harder to park in older towns.
Driving notes and official sources
Before you book
A car helps connect Transylvanian towns, rural guesthouses and routes away from mainline rail. It is less convenient for a Bucharest-only break. Choose rental dates around countryside travel and keep the first drive modest after a flight.
Do not drink alcohol before driving in Romania. Carry the required documents and confirm accident-reporting instructions with the branch, including how to record damage before returning the car.
Rules and route checks
Use the permitted access and parking instructions from accommodation, particularly in historic centres. Road conditions vary; check the final rural approach rather than assuming every mapped route suits the rented vehicle.
Winter equipment requirements depend on snow, ice or slush on the road. Confirm compliant tyres and equipment for the forecast and route. High mountain roads can have seasonal closures; do not use a summer scenic itinerary as winter navigation.
Sources checked 20 October 2026. Check for changes before travel.
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