I’m the numpty here, who knows nothing about traveling across Europe, but we do know Romania...
It’s called a Rovineta and the larger fuel stations sell them. The minimum period is for one month and it costs about £18 (100 lei) or thereabouts, but I might be wrong with the price ‘cos I always buy for a year. You can pay by most debit/credit cards or cash. Look up how to on google and do it by phone. Any problems, call us and Aura will buy you on on the phone.
There are hidden cameras on most main routes, so you don’t need to get stopped by the police to rack up a hefty fine for not having one.
Other tips Josh, don’t speed. It’s good fun and all that, but the roads here are not designed for it, and some of the bends will catch you out.
Generally, the national speed limit is 90 km/hr, I know it’s slow, but so are the roads. The DN1 (E60) is often 100 kph and if yoiu have a satnag, it will probably tell you accurately what the speed limit is on the road you’re on.
The Narional roads go through villages, there’s few by-passes and most villages are at most 70kph, many are only 50kph, and some go down to 30kph. There are usually police car mounted speed cameras and some hidden ones.
A village will have an entry sign like this...
or something similar, usually a yellow background bearing the name of the village and a clear speed limit that starts at the sign. As you exit the village there will be a similar sign, with a diagonal line across it, end of the speed limit and the start of the national limit on that roaad, which conveniently is never (rarely) stated.
Motorways (autostrada) are generally 130kph but may have lower speed signs for tight curves and junction areas.
I don’t think you have much of a choice, but speak English to the cops and tell them you’ve just arrived, some will speak English back to you. If you’ve broken the law, (and you know it) then ask them if you have to pay a fine. If they say yes, it’s 500 lei (£100) then offer it, it’s probably much less that an official fine, but don’t offer cash if they are writing you a ticket.
Don’t cross solid white centre-lines, which are usually on bends, at junctions or on bridges (for some strange reason). Sometimes they are double like in the UK, others are single.
If the line is broken (dashed) then you can cross, for overtaking or whatever.
Don’t tailgate trucks, bits fall off them regularly, such as spare wheels and load-straps.
Watch out for idiots overtaking.... every evening there are head-on crashes on TV and they’re not pretty.
Buy fuel from the larger newer garages, its fresher and less likely to have contaminates such as water. The fuel quality here is good, and its usually just over £1.00 a liter.
Carry your paperwork somewhere handy. They love bits of paper, your insurance, your license, your MOT cert, your registration documents, your Rovineta (unless you buy it electronically). That you don’t need so much because they can look you up on their computer screen.
If you have any bother in Romania, and can’t make yourself understood or you don’t understand, call us and pass the phone to the police and Aura will do her best to calm things down and tell you what’s going on.
Don’t drive and use the phone at the same time, unless you have hands-free (without earpieces on a wire, they are banned).
Don’t drive if you have drunk alcohol, it’s zero tolerance. With 0.001 on the reader your license will go into his back pocket and you’ll have a devil of a job getting it back. It’s a minimum 3 month ban for any alcohol.
Don’t have a crash. If you do, call us. Stay with the car and don’t try to drive away to park safely, they will think you’re doing a runner. If someone is injured, call the cops, 112.
Enjoy...