As of 1 December until the end of February, driving an old car in the centre of Sofia will be subject to a EUR 25-100 fine. The fines for legal entities will be 10 times higher – from EUR 500 to EUR 1,000.

The low emission zone was put in place last year but the software failed and no fines have been imposed. Still, 800-1,000 offenders per day were established, more than 80% of them with registrations from another town. A contract was signed in the summer of this year, and a test period was launched on 1 November. At the moment it is functioning and registers the plates of potential offenders. The beginning and the end of the low emission zone is indicated by signs, and there are cameras nearby. Drivers will be handed information brochures at petrol stations inside the zone. 

The zone will be closed to cars which, at their annual roadworthiness inspection, fell into the zero, first and second eco categories, petrol-powered cars with first registration before 1 January, 1998, and diesel cars from before 1 January 2007. According to municipality data, the ban affects around 140,000 cars with Sofia registration plates. The fines will be imposed by the Sofia Inspectorate.