Holders of Bulgarian residence permit cards are given the opportunity to register a car, as well as receive license plates and registration documents for it. Documents must be renewed annually, since the validity period expires along with the card. In addition to the color, the distinctive feature of such numbers is the letters XX. The procedure for obtaining and renewing is simple and takes very little time. Many people like blue license plates because their color is very similar to the license plates of police cars in the Russian Federation.
Where to get blue numbers
- You need to register your car at the regional office of the State Traffic Inspectorate (in Bulgarian KAT or “Patna Police”) in accordance with your residential address indicated on the residence permit card.
- KAT address in Sofia is st. Lachezar Stanchev 4, 1756 Dianabad Oil Refinery.
- Opening hours from 8:30 to 16:00. Saturday and Sunday are closed.
- Patna police in other cities: Plovdiv - st. Napredk 2, Varna - Blvd. Yan Huniyadi 5.
Documents for registration
- Car purchase agreement.
- Technical passport of the car.
- Car purchase receipt (optional).
- Eco-tax payment receipt if you are importing a car from another country (can be done on the spot).
- Insurance (done on the spot), the car number in the insurance contract is indicated after the car is registered and documents are issued. Don't forget to return to them after receiving the numbers.
- Application for registration (done on site).
- Copies of all documents.
Items for those. inspection
- Fire extinguisher.
- Reflective vest.
- Warning warning sign.
(Everything can be purchased on the spot, but it is better to prepare in advance)
detailed instructions
- In the morning, arrive at the specified address. Drive under the barrier and stand in line.
- Stop the car or leave someone behind the wheel so you can move along with the queue to enter. The queue is sometimes very long.
- Next, take all the documents and go fill out an application for registration (aka declaration), here you will need to pay a fee. You need to go to the nearest building. As a rule, there is a queue there too.
- With the received document, return to the car and continue in line for technical inspection. Then you drive in and wait for the car to be inspected by CAT employees.
- After completing the inspection, drive out and leave the car in the parking lot.
- Go to the department for issuing “diplomatic numbers and xx-numbers”, window 51. Sometimes the window number changes, the information can be clarified with any employee. There is never a line at this window. You hand over the documents and receive another check for payment. The bank branch is located here. You pay. You get two license plates. Check with the employee where to expect to receive PTS and STS documents (malyk coupon and golyam coupon).
- Wait for your name to be announced over the speakerphone, it usually takes 20-30 minutes. You receive documents.
- Go back to the insurance agent and enter your new number into the insurance document.
- You pay car tax in the community at your place of registration (danyk for a cola). If you don't pay on time, you will accrue small interest.
How to renew blue numbers
The validity of the documents for the car expires along with the validity of the residence permit card. Traveling by car becomes illegal, but everyone drives. However, we advise you to refrain from long trips on highways.
Documents for renewal:
- Residence permit card.
- Car insurance contract (of any duration).
- Annual technical inspection (“godishen technically pregled”) is done in accredited car repair shops throughout the country, the process takes about 30 minutes, costs about 45 levs, depending on the model of your car.
- 40 levs to pay for reissue (can be paid by credit card).
- Old documents for the car - PTS and STS. (Malyk talon and golyam talon).
To renew your blue plates, you do not need to queue at the main entrance of KAT. You can park nearby and enter the territory on foot from the exit. Next, go to the “Diplomatic numbers and XX numbers” window with the documents listed above. There is no need to rent rooms. Pay the fee at a bank branch (OBB) in the territory of CAT. Wait 30 minutes for your document to be reissued and laminated.
Traveling abroad in Bulgaria using blue license plates
To travel outside the borders of Bulgaria you will only need insurance and STS (malyk coupon).
As a rule, in Bulgaria a standard car insurance contract already includes coverage for insured events in the European Union and neighboring countries. If you are not the owner of the car, then you do not need a power of attorney.
Advantages of blue numbers
Traffic inspectors usually do not slow down blue license plates, so as not to create difficulties for themselves, since they know that these are cars of citizens of another state.