How to Get a Category D Driving Licence in Romania?

Romania added a genuine age-21 exception for Category D in a recent legal update, but the license carries national code 100, restricting you to Romanian territory only, and only while training or examining for the CPI professional certificate, with your instructor or examiner present. This piece covers what Category D authorizes, that specific exception, and current requirements.

What Category D covers

Category D authorizes vehicles for passenger transport with more than 8 seats in addition to the driver, plus a trailer whose maximum authorized mass doesn’t exceed 750 kg.

Minimum age

The standard minimum age is 24, with driving school enrolment possible from 23 years and 9 months.

The age-21 exception with national code 100

This is genuinely worth understanding in detail. Under Article 20 paragraph 6 of Romania’s road traffic ordinance, you can obtain Category D from 21, but your license carries national code 100, restricting you to driving in Romania only, and only for training and examination toward the CPI professional certificate (Atestat Conducători auto Transport Persoane), with a qualified instructor or ARR examiner present.

You need Category B first

Category D requires you to hold Category B already.

Training hours

Practical training covers 50 hours if you only hold Category B. If you also hold Category C, this requirement is reduced.

Eligibility requirements

• Medical and psychological fitness to drive
• No final conviction for the offenses listed under Article 24 of Romania’s road traffic ordinance
• Your existing Category B licence

Diplomatic personnel can also apply

Members of diplomatic missions, consular offices, and international organization representations accredited in Romania can sit for Category D exams under a specific protocol between the relevant ministries.

The theory and practical exam content

The theory exam covers traffic legislation and technical knowledge specific to passenger transport, while the practical exam assesses the safe handling and control of a bus in real-world traffic conditions.

What Category D is genuinely used for

Most Category D holders go on to work in urban public transport, intercity coach services, or tourist bus operations; the license itself is the foundation. Still, real commercial employment always requires CPI alongside it.

Automatic transmission

Automatic-transmission testing genuinely narrows your resulting entitlement, restricting you to automatic vehicles from that point forward.

What full CPI qualification requires

Full commercial passenger transport work requires the CPI certificate, obtained through separate training and examination beyond what Category D itself covers, distinct from the code 100 restricted training route.

DE: adding a heavier trailer

DE lets you combine a Category D vehicle with a trailer over 750 kg, provided you already hold a Category D license.

D1, for comparison

D1 authorizes smaller minibusses with up to 16 passengers and requires a minimum age of 21, which is genuinely more accessible than Category D’s standard threshold of 24.

Where Category D sits in Romania’s licensing system

Romania issues licences across categories AM, A1, A2, A, B1, B, BE, C1, C1E, C, CE, D1, D1E, D, DE, Tr, Tb and Tv. Category D sits above D1 and covers the full range of bus sizes.

Starting practical training early

You can begin practical driving lessons up to 3 months before you reach the minimum age for your category.

Tips that actually help

• Understand the difference between the standard age-24 route and the restricted age-21 exception with code 100.
• Confirm your Category B license is genuinely valid before applying.
• Check whether holding Category C already reduces your practical training hours.
• Confirm your record is clear of the specific disqualifying offenses before applying.

What Category D genuinely costs

Real published prices for Category D training in Romania typically start around 3,500 to 4,000 lei. However, costs can range from 6,000 to 7,000 lei at some driving schools, depending on your current category and the thoroughness of the preparation package. On top of your base course fee, you’ll typically pay a separate charge of 400 to 500 lei for the vehicle’s presence at your practical exam, and around 350 lei for medical and psychological testing if these aren’t already included in your school’s package.

Real discounted pricing if you already hold Category C

One driving school’s published rates illustrate how much your existing category can reduce the price: candidates holding Category C for at least one year pay 3,590 lei for full upfront payment (or 3,790 lei on an installment plan), while those holding Category C for less than a year pay slightly more, 3,890 lei upfront or 4,090 lei on installments. This genuinely reflects less practical training being required when you already have solid heavy-vehicle experience.

How many practical hours you’ll actually need

If you’ve held Category B for more than a year, practical preparation for Category D typically runs 50 teaching hours across 25 sessions — a genuinely substantial commitment reflecting how different bus handling is from car driving, even for experienced Category B drivers.

The exact theory and practical exam structure

Romania’s Category D theory exam consists of 26 questions, is to be completed within 30 minutes, and requires at least 22 correct answers to pass. The practical exam involves driving the bus along a set route for 45 minutes, during which you must complete a specific maneuver: parking safely to let passengers board or disembark. To be declared successful, you can accumulate no more than 20 penalty points during the assessment.

The vehicle reservation fee: pay on time or lose your slot

Genuinely important administrative detail: once your practical exam date is scheduled, you must pay a vehicle reservation fee of 400 lei at your driving school’s office for the specific date and time booked. If this isn’t paid when scheduling, the school is released from any obligation to provide the vehicle for your exam, which is a real risk of losing your appointment if you don’t handle this promptly.

Documents you’ll need for your exam

Beyond your basic application, you’ll need a school-issued training completion form (Fișa de Școlarizare), a formal exam registration request, a criminal record certificate specifically noting “for driving exam” purposes (valid 6 months, obtainable free of charge from any police station with a records office), a receipt confirming payment for your licence fee, and photocopies of your identity card and any existing driving licence.

Courses in English for foreign residents

Genuinely useful if you’re not confident in Romanian: some driving schools offer Category C and D preparation specifically in English, aimed at foreign nationals living or working in Romania who want to pursue heavy vehicle licenses without a language barrier complicating their training.

The earlier route: training from 20 years and 9 months

Confirming the earlier-access route in more precise detail: some driving schools note that Category D preparation can begin from 20 years and 9 months, with the exam itself sat once you turn 21, consistent with the national exception discussed earlier that allows earlier access under specific conditions rather than the standard age-24 threshold.

Speed restrictions for newly qualified drivers

Genuinely worth knowing if you’re a new Category D holder: the maximum permitted speed outside built-up areas is reduced by 20 km/h below the standard limit for your vehicle category, for drivers with less than one year of practical driving experience, as well as for anyone undergoing practical training toward a license. This applies in addition to the standard speed limits: 110 km/h on motorways, 90 km/h on expressways or European national roads, and 80 km/h on other road categories for fully experienced drivers.

Where theoretical exams take place in Bucharest and Ilfov

If you’re registered in Bucharest or Ilfov county, your theoretical exam takes place at the SPCRPCIV counter on șoseaua Pipera, rather than at a more general testing center, a genuinely useful detail if you’re navigating Romania’s testing system in this particular region for the first time.

Where this fits going forward

Category D in Romania offers a genuine, structured route into professional bus driving, with a useful but restricted early-access exception for training purposes. If your plans extend toward professional driving down the line, take a look at the driver section, browse current vacancies, or see who’s hiring among employers on FastDriver.eu, alongside our broader jobs guides. Our driving license in Romania and license eligibility pages provide the broader picture.

Payment flexibility genuinely worth using

Many Romanian driving schools offer installment payment options for Category D, typically adding a modest premium to the full upfront price in exchange for spreading the cost over your training period. If managing a large lump sum upfront is a genuine concern, comparing the installment terms across a few schools before enrolling can help you find a manageable arrangement without paying an excessive premium for flexibility.

Weekly course start dates

Some driving schools run their Category D theoretical courses on a fixed weekly schedule. One Bucharest provider, for example, starts new Category D classes every Wednesday at 16:00, making it genuinely easy to plan around your existing work schedule if you know the specific weekly rhythm in advance.

Declaration

This article is provided for general information only and does not constitute legal or professional advice. Fees, training requirements, and administrative rules can change. Always confirm current requirements with official Romanian sources before making decisions, such as DRPCIV. FastDriver.eu accepts no liability for decisions made based on this information.