Major changes affecting drivers have been introduced in the new 2025 Romanian Traffic Code. The regulations refer to sanctions, safety, the increase in the value of a penalty point, and speed cameras on the roads.
Sanctions based on speed camera footage
Speed cameras have been installed on several major roads in the country. These include the A1 and A2 motorways, as well as the DN2 national road. If the legal speed limit is exceeded, drivers will receive fines directly at home by mail. These will be issued based on the recordings analyzed by the police.
An essential project of the new regulations in the 2025 Traffic Code is the sanctioning of drivers based on video images captured. Whether based on images captured by dash cams or other types of devices. Thus, drivers can be fined for offenses without the police having been present at the time of their commission.
Increase in the value of a penalty point
From January 1, 2025, the value of a penalty point was increased from 165 lei to 202 lei. The value represents an increase of over 20% compared to the previous year. The increase comes as a result of the increase in the minimum gross salary in the economy to 4,050 lei.
The values of fines in 2025 are thus modified:
The value of traffic fines in 2025
Depending on the class of sanctions, the traffic fine in 2025 can have the following value:
- Class I (2 – 3 penalty points) = 405 lei – 607.5 lei.
- Class II (4 – 5 penalty points) = 810 lei – 1012.5 lei.
- Class III (6 – 8 penalty points) = 1,215 lei – 1,620 lei.
- Class IV (9 – 20 penalty points) = 1,822.5 lei – 4,050 lei.
- Only for legal entities – Class V (21 – 100 penalty points) = 4,252.5 lei – 20,250 lei.
Sanctions applied for exceeding the legal speed limit
How many penalty points does a driver risk if they exceed the maximum allowed speed limits:
- 10-20 km/h over the legal limit: 2-3 penalty points + 2 penalty points.
- 21-30 km/h over the legal limit: 4-5 penalty points + 3 penalty points.
- 31-40 km/h over the legal limit: 6-8 penalty points + 4 penalty points.
- 41-50 km/h over the legal limit: 9-20 penalty points + 6 penalty points.
- Exceeding the legal limit by more than 50 km/h: 9-20 penalty points and suspension of the driving license for 90 days.
- Exceeding the legal limit by more than 70 km/h: 9-20 penalty points and suspension of the driving license for 120 days.
How much can you exceed the legal speed without risking a traffic fine
The maximum error tolerated at stationary radars is:
± 3 km/h for speeds below 100 km/h.
± 3% of the measured speed for speeds of 100 km/h or higher.
For mobile (moving) radars, the error is:
± 4 km/h for speeds below 100 km/h.
± 4% of the measured speed for speeds of 100 km/h or higher.
What options do drivers have after receiving a fine at home
Drivers have 2 options available after receiving the fine at home.
Paying the fine
If it is paid within the first 15 days of receiving the report, drivers can pay only half of the minimum. Payment can be made at the Local Taxes and Fees Department or online at Ghiseul.ro.
Contesting the fine
Drivers can contest the fine within 15 days by filing a complaint against the finding report. The complaint can be filed at the court of domicile or at the one in the area where the sanction was applied.
The spare wheel is no longer mandatory in the 2025 traffic code
Starting this year, the law no longer obliges drivers to have a spare wheel in the car. In this situation, drivers no longer receive a fine if, during a routine check, the spare wheel is not in the car. The authorities recommend, however, that it be available in the car, especially on long journeys.
However, there is certain equipment that is mandatory: the first-aid kit, the fire extinguisher and the reflective triangles, the reflective vest and the anti-skid chains, but only in the case of vehicles over 3.5 tons.
Legislative proposals that could come into force in the 2025 traffic code
It remains to be seen if and what draft laws will be approved.
- The driving test to be taken in any city so that the waiting time is reduced.
- RCA insurance not only for cars but also for bicycles and electric scooters.
- Extending the validity of the driving license to 15 years. Exceptions are people over 80 years of age, who should renew it every 2 years.
- Hub.mai.gov.ro platform for reporting aggressive drivers.
- Restrictions for drivers under 21, or with less than 1 year of experience at the wheel, for the power of the car.
- Notification by SMS when the expiration date of the driving license is approaching.
All the measures introduced and proposed aim to reduce the number of accidents but also to increase the safety of all traffic participants. In addition, civil auto liability is of great importance to drivers, as it influences costs and legislation.