Driving in Hungary

The minimum age of a driver is 17 years. Children must be at least 12 years of age and over 1.5 metres tall - or be properly restrained in a child-safety seat - to sit up front. The use of seat belts is compulsory for both front-seat and back-seat passengers. The legal blood alcohol limit is 0 percent. Speed limits are as follows: 50 kph (31 mph) in built-up areas, 80 kph (50 mph) outside built-up areas, 100 kph (62 mph) on motorways, and 120 kph (74 mph) on divided highways. Cars with a trailer or caravan are limited as follows: 50 kph (31 mph) in built-up areas, 70 kph (44 mph) outside built-up areas or on motorways, 80 kph (50 mph) on divided highways. The minimal speed for crossing railways is 30 kph (19 mph) if there is a light.

All vehicles having crossed a railway have priority if there is a cross street after the railway crossing. Trams and buses always have priority. Pedestrians have priority at marked pedestrian crossings and at intersections, but they don't have priority between tram loading islands and the far sidewalks. Bicycle lanes are indicated by a continuous yellow stripe.

Outside built-up areas headlights must be used night and day; motorcycles must use them everywhere. Use of horns is not allowed in built-up areas between 10pm and 6am; headlights, rather, should be used to give warning. In Budapest and other towns and villages along main roads, horns are always prohibited except in cases of immediate and extreme danger.

Passing should occur on the left. But where tram rails run in the centre of the road, trams or other vehicles turning left must be passed on the right. Buses leaving stops have priority after the driver has signaled her intention to pull away.

You may use only a built-in mobile phone with speaker during driving. Use of mobile phones in two-wheel and three-wheel vehicles is forbidden.

Fines of up to 10,000 Ft may be paid on the spot to police, or you can pay them within 30 days via cheque; credit cards are not accepted.

Parking

The centre of Budapest is closed to traffic. Vehicles whose axle weight is less than 1 tonne (1000 kg) are allowed to park on the sidewalk where parking is not prohibited (a situation indicated by a continuous white line on the pavement) and if a 1-meter wide lane is left for pedestrians. On two-way roads, vehicles must be parked on the right and in the direction of traffic. One one-ways, you can park on either side. In Budapest you have to pay for parking, otherwise the police either place a wheel clamp on or simply remove your vehicle. To get information on removed cars call Budapest Police Headquarters, tel 383 0700. The phone number to call if you get clamped is displayed on the parking meter or on the clamp itself.

Licence

Non European licences and old-style green European licences must be accompanied by an International Driving Permit. EC format pink/green licences, however, are acceptable without an IDP.

Insurance

Third party insurance is compulsory in Hungary; the number plate and symbol indicating country of origin are accepted as evidence of insurance for motorists arriving from the following countries: Austria, Belgium, Croatia, Czech Republic, Denmark, France, Germany, Greece, Netherlands, Iceland, Ireland, Italy, Luxembourg, Portugal, Slovakia, Slovenia, Spain, Sweden, Switzerland, the United Kingdom and Yugoslavia.

A green card is required by owners of vehicles arriving from countries not listed above. In absence of a green card border insurance must be purchased on entry.

Fuel

Most of the stations are owned by multinational companies and they are open 24 hours. All the multinational companies, except ÖMV, buy petrol from the Hungarian Oil Company (MOL); so the prices are almost the same everywhere. You can find an air pump, a shop and a rest room by all stations; and in conjunction with most stations there is a restaurant. (Aral and McDonalds are often together, for instance.). Unleaded petrol and diesel are everywhere available, and credit cards are accepted. You pay inside the shop after fueling your vehicle. Octane ratings are always indicated. Unleaded petrol is called ólommentes üzemanyag / benzin; leaded is ólmozott. Diesel oil and liquid gas (LPG) are also available. If you have an attendant fill your car, it is common to give a tip of HUF40 - 100.

Tolls

All vehicles must pay a toll on the M1 between Györ and Austria. For all personal vehicles not taller than 1.9 metres the cost is 1400 Ft. A toll must be paid also on the M3 between Budapest and Gyöngyös and on the M5 between Budapest and Kiskunfélegyháza. Other motorways are free. Some of the motorways are under construction and tolls are always changing.