Car Hire in Sofia

✓ No Hidden Costs ✓ 24/7 Support ✓ Free Cancellation
Sofia, Bulgaria
Unable to find any location
Driver's country of residence is United States of America (USA) and age is 30-65
  • 18
  • 19
  • 20
  • 21
  • 22
  • 23
  • 24
  • 25
  • 26
  • 27
  • 28
  • 29
  • 30 - 65
  • 66
  • 67
  • 68
  • 69
  • 70
  • 71
  • 72
  • 73
  • 74
  • 75
  • 76
  • 77
  • 78
  • 79
  • 80+
500+ Trusted Suppliers:

Cheapest Car Hire Rates

Sofia Airport Car Hire
Mini
Hyundai i10 or comparable
Hyundai i10
  • 4
  • 1
  • 3
  • A/C
  • Man.
GreenMotion
£ 3.09 per day
Sofia Airport Car Hire
Economy
Renault Clio or comparable
Renault Clio
  • 5
  • 2
  • 5
  • A/C
  • Man.
Yes Rent A Car
£ 4.79 per day
Sofia Airport Car Hire
Standard Elite
Volkswagen Passat STW or comparable
Volkswagen Passat STW
  • 5
  • 3
  • 5
  • A/C
  • Auto.
Surprice
£ 7.44 per day
Sofia Airport Car Hire
Minivan
Dacia Lodgy or comparable
Dacia Lodgy
  • 7
  • 1
  • 5
  • A/C
  • Man.
Low Cost Cars
£ 7.97 per day

Most Popular Car Hire Deals

Sofia Airport Car Hire
Compact
Opel Mokka or comparable
Opel Mokka
  • 5
  • 3
  • 5
  • A/C
  • Man.
ACARENT
£ 9.29 / per day
Sofia Airport Car Hire
Compact Elite
Volkswagen Golf or comparable
Volkswagen Golf
  • 5
  • 3
  • 5
  • A/C
  • Man.
CarRent
£ 12.23 / per day
Sofia Airport Car Hire
Economy Elite
Renault Clio or comparable
Renault Clio
  • 5
  • 1
  • 5
  • A/C
  • Auto.
Top Rent A Car
£ 14.82 / per day
Sofia Airport Car Hire
Standard
Suzuki Grand Vitara or comparable
Suzuki Grand Vitara
  • 5
  • 3
  • 4
  • A/C
  • Man.
Alamo
£ 23.27 / per day
These prices are approximate and depend on the dates of the booking, hire length and type of car. This information was last updated at 19:14 on 2023-03-17.
Why book with us?
Special offers
As a market leader (see SimilarWeb), we get special offers like contactless pick-ups, great prices, and free upgrades.
Award-winning
World's Leading Car Rental Booking Website in the World Travel Tech Awards (3 years in a row).
Highly-rated
A combined rating of 4.5 with 90k total reviews on platforms like Trustpilot, Google, and Review Center.
4M users
Have already booked on one of the fastest-growing car rental booking websites.

Travel Information

Language
Bulgarian,
Turkish
Currency
BGN
Drive on
Right-hand side
Dialing code
359
Average car hire price
£ 13.97 / per day
Average car hire length
3 days
Speed limit within city centre
50 km/h
31 mph
Speed limit out of city centre
90 km/h
56 mph
Acceptable limit of BAC
0.05%
Average gasoline price
£ 1.40 / 1 liter
Highest gasoline price
£ 1.57 / 1 liter
Lowest gasoline price
£ 1.17 / 1 liter

Why hire a car in Sofia?

The first impression of the Bulgarian capital can be as a rather loud and hectic place, but give it a chance and you’ll discover a charming city with plenty of history and atmosphere to enjoy. Better yet, Sofia is also a gateway to a number of stunning nature areas.

Sofia Car Hire

One-way Car Hire in Sofia

The most popular one-way car hire options for pick up in Sofia and drop off in another city include:

  • From Sofia to Burgas - 747 offers from £ 10.74 per day
  • From Sofia to Varna - 386 offers from £ 12.05 per day
  • From Sofia to Bucharest - 15 offers from £ 29.46 per day
  • From Sofia to Belgrade - 70 offers from £ 32.38 per day
  • From Sofia to Skopje - 15 offers from £ 29.46 per day

Top ways to enter Sofia

  • Sofia Airport. Serving the capital, Sofia Airport is a hub for both Ryanair and WizzAir, and also has flights by other low-cost companies like easyJet. The airport is about a 20 minute drive east of the city centre. 

Top destinations and activities

  • St. Aleksander Nevsky Cathedral. The largest Orthodox Christian church in the Balkans, this is arguably the most visited landmark in Sofia. Named after the Grand Prince of Kyiv, an important figure in the history of the faith, the mighty church is only a little more than a 100 years old, but its central location and sheer size make it one of the symbols of the city.
  • National Museum of History. Another monumental attraction with more than 650,000 items on display, the National Museum covers all of the Bulgarian history. Many of the most famous exhibits, such as the Valchitran gold treasure of Thracian, date back more than 2,000 years.
  • Boyana Church. A World Heritage site, this medieval church is best known for its unique and well-preserved murals. To reduce the human impact on the paintings, visitors are only allowed inside in groups of eight people and for ten minutes, but the experience is very much worth it. Boyana Church is near the waterfall of the same name, as well as the mountain of Vitosha (more on that below).

Traffic and parking

  • Sofia experiences high traffic congestion. As a visitor, it’s a good idea to plan your travel around the city outside the main rush hours in the morning and in the evening.
  • Outside the main population areas and nature areas of national importance, road signs are often only written in Cyrillic. If you cannot read this alphabet, it’s a good idea to get a dictionary, perhaps in mobile format, to be able to read them.
  • Speed cameras are in use.
  • Drivers are only allowed to use mobile phones with a hands-free system.
  • Proof of insurance and the car’s documentation need to be in the car whenever you’re driving.
  • When, you need to have your passport or ID card with you at all times.
  • The legal alcohol limit is 0.05% for both experienced and novice drivers. Exceeding the limit can lead to large fines. Driving with blood alcohol content of over 1.2% will lead to imprisonment.
  • The emergency number, like elsewhere in the EU, is 112.

Toll roads

For many motorways in Bulgaria, you need to obtain a highway vignette. The price depends on the time period (1 day, weekend, weekly, monthly, etc.) and on the type of car. You can purchase vignettes online as well as at public selling points. Find out more on the official Bulgarian toll road website. Your car may or may not come pre-equipped with the vignette — ask your car hire supplier in advance and also make sure to check the car hire conditions.

You also have to pay for crossing certain bridges and for taking your car on a ferry to cross certain bodies of water. Find out more about the crossing points and the fees on the European toll road website

Ideas for day trips

  • Vitosha. Arguably the day trip to take from Sofia, Vitosha is a mountain, a nature preserve, and a winter sports resort. Located just south of the capital and providing stunning views of it, Vitosha is great for climbing, hiking, or simply being in nature.
  • Rila National Park. If Vitosha feels too developed and full of other visitors for your adventure-craving senses, look no further than the Rila National Park. Located a 90-minute drive south of the capital, this national park is centred around seven highland lakes and is full of swift rivers, thick forests, and plenty of wild scenery. Right next door is Rila Monastery, one of the most notable complexes of its kind in the country.

Most popular cars

The most hired car in Sofia is the Toyota Aygo, followed by the Suzuki Celerio and the Kia Picanto. The most popular car hire types are mini, economy, and compact.

Car Hire Prices in Sofia

  • Station wagons - starting at £ 28 per day
  • Large cars - starting at £ 38 per day
  • Medium cars - starting at £ 29 per day
  • People Carriers - starting at £ 54 per day
  • Premium cars - starting at £ 53 per day
  • Small cars - starting at £ 22 per day
  • SUVs - starting at £ 61 per day

Money-saving tips

These are some good methods to save money on your car:

  • Compare rates of different car providers
  • Book your car well in advance
  • Plan your route before you go
  • Know your fuel and mileage requirements
  • Visit in the month when the car hire prices are the cheapest. According to our data, visiting Sofia is the cheapest in March when renting a car is about 40% cheaper than the yearly average and 56% cheaper than renting a car in August.
This information was written, fact-checked, and/or translated by our content creators. Learn more about our Editorial Policy.

Top 3 Cities near Sofia

  1. Varna Car Hire starting at £ 9.60 per day
    364.4 km / 226.5 miles away
  2. Burgas Car Hire starting at £ 11.29 per day
    336.4 km / 209.0 miles away
  3. Veliko Turnovo Car Hire starting at £ 80.63 per day
    185.2 km / 115.1 miles away

Top 5 Destinations around Sofia

  1. Sofia Airport Car Hire starting at £ 2.14 per day
    7.3 km / 4.5 miles away
  2. Burgas Airport Car Hire starting at £ 11.29 per day
    343.6 km / 213.5 miles away
  3. 354.3 km / 220.1 miles away
  4. Varna Airport Car Hire starting at £ 9.60 per day
    371.7 km / 231.0 miles away
  5. 389.0 km / 241.7 miles away

Map of Car Hire Destinations

During which month is it most affordable to hire a car in Sofia?

Our data shows how prices for hiring a car in Sofia fluctuate depending on the time of year. This graph can help you find the best bargain.
Average Price for Hiring a Car in Sofia
£ 12.54
January
£ 13.86
February
£ 12.09
March
£ 18.97
April
£ 17.66
May
£ 23.33
June
£ 36.36
July
£ 38.61
August
£ 18.54
September
£ 16.48
October
£ 14.30
November
£ 17.88
December
The cheapest month to hire a car in Sofia is March with prices starting at £ 12.09 for an Economy class cars. The most expensive month in which to hire a car is August with prices for for a Compact class) starting at £ 38.61. The average cost over the course of the entire year is £ 20. You can use this to plan your trip at the time of year when it would be most economical to hire a car. Note that these prices are only averages. The amount of time you hire a car for and the time at which you book will influence the prices.

What is the usual period for which people keep their hire cars, on average, in Sofia?

Hirers picking up a car in Sofia keep them for an average of 11 days during in June, while those picking up their cars in January keep them for an average of 7.
Average Hire Length in Sofia
7
January
7
February
9
March
9
April
10
May
11
June
11
July
10
August
9
September
8
October
8
November
9
December

What is the most favoured month for hiring a car in Sofia?

The most popular month for hiring a car in Sofia is August, and the least popular is November.
Popularity of Car Hire in Sofia by Monthly Searches
71%
January
76%
February
69%
March
92%
April
100%
May
130%
June
168%
July
171%
August
108%
September
83%
October
52%
November
79%
December

Car Hire Information

Car hire locations 5
Airport locations 1
Popular suppliers Top Rent A Car, Surprice, Autounion, CarRent, Yes Rent A Car
Popular car categories Small cars, Medium cars, SUVs, People Carriers
Lowest price £ 3 per day
Cheapest supplier GreenMotion

Most Popular Car Hire Models

Hire Agency Model Doors Luggage Type
Surprice Volkswagen Polo 5 1 Small cars
Top Rent A Car Citroen C3 5 1 Small cars
Autounion Volkswagen Up 5 2 Small cars
Top Rent A Car Renault Clio 5 1 Small cars
Top Rent A Car Hyundai i20 5 1 Small cars
Yes Rent A Car Renault Clio 5 2 Small cars
Surprice Fiat Panda 5 1 Small cars
Top Rent A Car Ford Custom Tourneo 5 2 People Carriers
Yes Rent A Car Peugeot 208 5 1 Small cars
CarRent Renault Clio 5 2 Small cars

Our Customers' Reviews

Because we want to make sure each review listed here is left by a real customer, we don’t have an option to post a review here. Instead, we ask each and every customer to leave a review after they return their rental car. This way, you know that all reviews are authentic, verified, and trustworthy.

United Kingdom
Dacia Sandero
16 February 2023
Skiing, catching up with friends. Ability to have freedom that comes from having a car rather than taxis
United Kingdom
Peugeot 5008 5+2
28 October 2022
Bulgaria is a very scenic and picturesque place to visit and not expensive
United Kingdom
Hyundai i10
15 September 2022
Bourgas great.Rila mountains fantastic.we loved every minute.
United Kingdom
Renault Clio Grandtour
18 March 2022
Went to the 7 lakes and Rila Monastry. I wish I had more time/days to spend in Bulgaria

Car Hire Statistics

Highest rated company
Top Rent A Car
9.36 / 10
Lowest rated company
NUCarrentals
6.61 / 10
Total number of reviews
58
Total rental companies
28
Average daily price
£ 13.97
Lowest daily price
£ 3.09
Total cars available
739

Top 28 Hire Companies in Sofia in 2023

Top Rent A Car
Top Rent A Car
Remarkable 9.4 / 205 reviews
4 locations
£ 15 - £ 65
Lion Rent A Car
Lion Rent A Car
Remarkable 9.3 / 118 reviews
2 locations
£ 20 - £ 76
Autounion
Autounion
Remarkable 9.2 / 108 reviews
2 locations
£ 9 - £ 163
Green Rent A Car
Green Rent A Car
Remarkable 9.1 / 30 reviews
2 locations
£ 31 - £ 31
Lucky Rent A Car
Lucky Rent A Car
Remarkable 9 / 10 reviews
2 locations
£ 11 - £ 93
Hertz
Hertz
Outstanding 8.9 / 8 reviews
2 locations
£ 18 - £ 30
AUTOJET
AUTOJET
Outstanding 8.9 / 92 reviews
1 location
£ 10 - £ 89
Fly Rent A Car
Fly Rent A Car
Outstanding 8.8 / 9 reviews
2 locations
£ 18 - £ 66
SIXT
SIXT
Outstanding 8.7 / 14 reviews
3 locations
£ 15 - £ 110
Budget
Budget
Outstanding 8.7 / 6 reviews
1 location
Alamo
Alamo
Outstanding 8.7 / 28 reviews
1 location
£ 10 - £ 23
Enterprise
Enterprise
Outstanding 8.6 / 3 reviews
2 locations
£ 11 - £ 27
GreenMotion
GreenMotion
Outstanding 8.6 / 111 reviews
2 locations
£ 3 - £ 99
CarRent
CarRent
Outstanding 8.6 / 185 reviews
1 location
£ 10 - £ 94
Thrifty
Thrifty
Outstanding 8.6 / 4 reviews
2 locations
£ 16 - £ 22
Europcar
Europcar
Outstanding 8.5 / 1 reviews
2 locations
£ 28 - £ 42
National
National
Outstanding 8.5
1 location
£ 23 - £ 33
Yes Rent A Car
Yes Rent A Car
Outstanding 8.4 / 117 reviews
2 locations
£ 5 - £ 113
Avis
Avis
Outstanding 8.4 / 1 reviews
1 location
£ 28 - £ 58
Dives Rent a car
Dives Rent a car
Outstanding 8.4 / 104 reviews
2 locations
£ 25 - £ 93
ABBYCAR
ABBYCAR
Outstanding 8.2 / 3 reviews
2 locations
£ 19 - £ 68
Low Cost Cars
Low Cost Cars
Outstanding 8.2 / 9 reviews
4 locations
£ 6 - £ 28
Interrent
Interrent
Outstanding 8.1
1 location
BT Rent A Car
BT Rent A Car
Outstanding 8.1 / 35 reviews
3 locations
£ 16 - £ 63
ACARENT
ACARENT
Great 7.6 / 10 reviews
2 locations
£ 7 - £ 63
AddCar
AddCar
Great 7.4 / 78 reviews
1 location
Surprice
Surprice
Great 7.2 / 212 reviews
1 location
£ 3 - £ 59
NUCarrentals
NUCarrentals
Good 6.6 / 38 reviews
1 location
Download App
Book and manage your booking on the go
Log in or create an account
Get access to all your bookings in one place
By selecting "Agree and continue", you agree to Discover Cars'
and
Please select a pick-up location and dates