Driving Licence

As with most things here in Bulgaria, truth and fiction do battle every day, between official government web pages and even officials, then of course, every citizen hasn't a clue, but certainly has an opinion that is right.

This page is dedicated to the Driving Licence.

Bulgaria and the UK are signatories to some treaty which allows each country's citizens (or requires?) to swap their home country driving licence with their adopted country's licence, within a specified timeframe, with minimum fuss.

M'lud, please define "minimum fuss". Oh and also, please define the specified timeframe.

First the timeframe, you can't apply before you've been here for at least 6 months. Yet, some government departments  (like the KAT - the Traffic Police) insist you can't drive on your home licence after you've been here 3 months.

Anyway, we've been plodding religiously through the logical steps (btw, a religion that allows copious swearing, in Bulgarian and English) to get all our paperwork sorted.

Now, because I'm an old sod and passed my test in 1986, my licence allows me to drive practically any vehicle. So, the default position here is that I must satisfy the requirements for each class of vehicle. Which for vehicles > 3.5 tonnes and mini buses > 12 passengers, I need a pyscological assessment. FFS, never going to pass that! 

Anyway, first steps first, in order to apply to swap the licence, one needs a medical assessment, (ability to stand, see, hear and breathe) - all part of the sharing my wealth with every Tom Dick and Harry. Socialist capitalism.

Rock up at the "hospital" that conveniently has all the Drs needed to get these ticks in the box. All for the princely sum of 12 Leva each (just under £6).

First Doctor, asks a few questions, have I ever had a broken leg - "No" any operations - "No" Done. Signed stamped and onto the next.

Second Dr was a bit more involved. Stand up with arms outstretched, touch my nose with each hand, then, the tricky part, close my eyes and touch my nose with each hand. Tick and stamp. I demonstrated that I could do it stood on one leg, but didn't get an extra stamp.

Queue up at the hearing guy - wait 30 minutes as seems quite popular. Our turn comes around - Petya explains what we're here for, he asks - "Can he hear?" Petya - "Yes"... instant stamp and signature!!

Last but not least - Mrs Sight. Sat comfortably, quietly confident my lasered 20/20 vision will eat all the numbers down to the bottom row when the sneaky cow flops open the colour blindness numbers book. FFS No. 2. Colour blindness always been a sore point when it cut short my early aspirations to be a fighter pilot, when I discovered this ultra rare affliction at the age of 15.

No stamp, no signature.

Tuesday, we hot foot it to Burgas to see the colourblindness optician. Peer into a 1950s eyepiece and guess the colours as each half in view is changed. Yup, still colourblind. I now have a certificate. Dash to Yambol down the motorway (and boy can the Mustang dash!) find the optician, confirm vision is better than 20/20 and fully stamped, except for the GP, who had finished work for the day, so another trip the following day required.

Wednesday, see the GP, he completes the heavily stamped form and obliterates any white space left with his own stamps. They do love a stamp in Bulgaria!.

Over the moon that we just have to go to the KAT office and job done.... but not so fast. Now told that we have to take my education certificates to the Ministry of Education, who will give me a certificate stating I have at least the minimum education to be able to drive. O Levels, A Levels, Degree, Post Graduate Diplomas.... the A Level Certificate is the one we need - but we need to get it translated. Luckily a translator is around the corner and does the job while we had lunch. Back to the Ministry of Education, forms filled and submitted, will be ready within a month. Really?!

Friday. Petya had received a call to say the certificate was ready (1 Day, rather than 1 month), so for the fourth time in the week we head off to Yambol. Pick it up, drop in to the KAT office only to be told that we can't swap my driving licence until I've been resident for 6 months [insert loud scream]. Particularly ironic given the lecture we had from the policeman when we got the plates done, saying we had to have done it within 3 months, the inspection pits being all of 20 yards from the girls in the admin office. Talk about left hands and right hands.

Mid August - we'll go again!