Bulgarian Practical Driving Test: What to Expect and How to Pass

After passing your theory exam and completing all requirements, it's time for the practical driving test. Here's everything you need to know about the actual driving exam in Bulgaria, including the Bulgarian terminology they might quiz you on.

When I arrived on the day of my exam at the driving school, There was already a group of students filling out paperwork which I also had to do. I only had to bring my ID on that day. I asked to go first so I was directly going to the car and the exam started directly infront of the driving school. This might not be the case for you, at least my teacher told me that it might start somewhere else.

Test Overview

Duration: Approximately 25 minutes
Route: Only within Burgas city limits (not country roads due to time constraints)
Scoring: Maximum 10 error points allowed to pass
Language: Usually Bulgarian only

What You'll Be Tested On

Parking Requirements:
You'll be required to perform one parking maneuver - either backwards parking or parallel (sideways) parking. Practice both since you won't know which one they'll ask for.

Some Point-Deducting Mistakes:

Ignoring pedestrians at crosswalks - not stopping when someone is trying to cross
Running red lights - even if it just turned red or yellow
Improper signaling - forgetting indicators or using them incorrectly
Speed violations - going over the limit or driving too slowly
Slow driving - driving significantly below the speed limit without reason
Wrong lane use - not staying in the correct lane for turns or straight driving
Poor observation - driving too close to other cars, not checking mirrors

Bulgarian Car Terminology You Must Know

The examiner might ask you to identify or operate various car components in Bulgarian.
In my case he asked me where certain things are located and I had to point to them.
Here are the essential terms:

Dashboard (Амутурно табло) Components:

Оборотомер - Tachometer (RPM gauge)
Спидометър/Скоростомер - Speedometer
Индикатор за гориво - Fuel gauge
Температурата на охладителната течност - Coolant temperature gauge

Controls:

Чистачки - Windshield wipers
Светлини - Headlights
Мигач - Turn signals/indicators
Спирачка - Brakes
Гас - Gas pedal/accelerator
Аварийни светлини - Hazard lights

Fuel Level Descriptions

You might be asked to describe the fuel level in Bulgarian:

Пълен - Full
Три четвърти пълен - Three-quarters full
Малко над половината - A bit over half
Половина - Half
Една четвърт пълен - Quarter full
Почти празен - Almost empty

Required Equipment in the Trunk (Багажник)

The examiner may ask you to identify mandatory equipment in the car's trunk. Every car must have:

Mandatory Items:

Пожарогасител - Fire extinguisher
Светлоотразителна жилетка - Reflective vest
Триъгълник - Warning triangle
Аптечка - First aid kit

Document Knowledge

You should also know these document-related terms:

Технически преглед - Technical inspection sticker (the longer sticker on windshield)
Застраховка - Insurance

RPM Gauge Reading

If asked about the оборотомер (tachometer), remember that 1 = една хилярда (one thousand). So if the needle points to 2, that's 2,000 RPM.

My Tips for Success

Practice the Bulgarian terms beforehand - write them down and memorize them
Be extra cautious at crosswalks - always check for pedestrians and stop if needed
Drive defensively - better to be overly careful than accumulate points
Practice both parking types - you don't know which one they'll test (parallel is less likely)

Points

Remember, you can accumulate up to 10 error points and still pass. Minor mistakes won't fail you instantly, but serious violations (like ignoring traffic lights or even damage to the vehicle) can make you fail instantly.