What it costs to become an Uber or Bolt driver in Romania: all start-up costs in 2026

Before your first paid ride you have a few costs to cover: your driver documents, ARR authorisation, insurance and sometimes the car itself. The total depends a lot on how you start: through a fleet, with your own car as a PFA, or by buying a car.

The list below shows every cost with 2026 figures. For the documents themselves, see the guide Uber and Bolt driver requirements; here we only look at the money.

1. Driver documents: 620–970 RON

You pay these in every scenario, including if you drive for a fleet.

The medical and psychological certificates are valid for one year, so you will renew them periodically. Course prices vary between schools; it is worth comparing two or three offers.

2. Legal form: from 0 to a few hundred RON

• Fleet: you pay nothing up front. The fleet handles the authorisation and the contract with the apps, but then takes a commission, usually 8–12%.
• PFA (sole trader): registering at the Trade Register has no official fees. You may pay for a signature specimen at a notary and, if you want, a consultant: in total between 0 and about 600 RON.
• Intra-EU VAT number (PFA and SRL): mandatory before your first ride, because Uber and Bolt invoice their commission from other EU countries. It is free from ANAF (form 700); after that you pay 21% VAT on the commission every month. Details in the legal forms guide.
• SRL (limited company): costs more to set up and to keep the books. For a single car, a PFA is usually simpler and cheaper. Compare the legal forms in our guide.

3. ARR authorisation (PFA or SRL only): about 450 RON

If you work on your own account, you need an alternative transport authorisation, a certified copy (copie conformă) for the car and badges. The official ARR (Romanian Road Authority) fees:

The certified copy is paid for every year and for every car. Check the current filing procedure on the ARR website.

4. The car: insurance and roadworthiness test

For ride-hailing (alternative transport), the car needs:

• RCA (mandatory third-party liability insurance): a regular RCA policy is enough for ARR. The price depends on your age, city and bonus-malus class; ASF reference rates are about 1,400–4,200 RON a year. Details in the article on RCA and CASCO for ride-hailing.
• Passenger and luggage insurance, required by law: from about 35 RON a year at the minimum limits.
• ITP roadworthiness test every 6 months: about 150–250 RON each time.

If you rent the car, RCA and the ITP test are usually included in the rent. Check the contract.

If you want to convert the car to LPG, add the system (about 4,000–8,000 RON, fitted) and the RAR approval (about 332 RON). The payback calculation is in the article on fuel costs.

5. Money for the first weeks

Do not start with an empty account. Until the first money comes in from the apps, you need:

• fuel for the first week: about 400–1,000 RON for 45 hours, depending on the car;
• the deposit and the first week's rent, if you rent: usually one week's rent each, about 600–700 RON each;
• the accountant, if you are a PFA: about 200–300 RON a month;
• small items: phone holder, charger, cleaning products (our estimate: 100–300 RON).

The total, for three scenarios

Assumptions: documents at the middle of the range, RCA paid monthly (about 200 RON), ITP 200 RON, fuel for a hybrid on LPG. The car in the last scenario is a 2021–2022 Toyota Corolla Hybrid with an LPG system.

In short: if you already have a suitable car or rent one, you can start with about 2,500–3,500 RON. If you have to buy a car, its cost outweighs everything else. Leasing is a middle way: the full comparison is in Rent, lease or buy a car.

Once you start, use the earnings calculator to see how long it takes to earn back your start-up costs.

Sources

• ARR fees for alternative transport: ARR – questions and answers
• Certificate costs: Manager Flotă – alternative transport certificate
• Setting up a PFA: Capital.ro
• ITP price in 2026: BZI
• Passenger and luggage insurance: e-casco.ro
• ASF RCA reference rates, 2026: pret-asigurare.ro