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Complete Guide 2026

How much does an Uber or Bolt driver earn in Romania?

A detailed look at the income, costs and hidden taxes of ride-hailing in Romania. Find out exactly how much money you keep at the end of the month as an Uber or Bolt driver.

Updated:

When you hear stories about earning 10,000 RON a month with Uber or Bolt, it is important to understand the difference between gross income (the money coming in through the app) and net profit (the money you actually take home).

1
Gross Income: Where Does the Money Come From?

Your gross income has three main parts:

  • The rides themselves: according to official figures published by Bolt, the median income of a driver in Romania between 1 and 31 December 2025 was about 2,736 RON a week. Over a standard 40-hour week, that is an average of 68.4 RON gross per hour. This 68 lei most likely already includes every bonus (including the car wrap bonus and tips).Another way to estimate it is to check the paid waiting-time rate in your city (Bolt often uses it as a reference for the target hourly earnings). It currently ranges from 0.73 to 1.08 RON per minute, which means a potential of 43.8–64.8 RON gross per hour.* Keep in mind: these earnings are paid by passengers and are not guaranteed. The final income varies hugely from driver to driver, depending on the city, the times you are willing to work, experience and how you move through traffic. The figures include base fares and promotions, but the average in your area can be lower or higher than the national average (it is only a statistical average).
  • Tips: on average 2–5% of the fare value. Card rides usually get less (1–2%), cash rides somewhat more. It seems small, but by the end of the month it can cover part of your fuel.
  • Car wrap bonus: if you wrap your car with the Uber or Bolt logo, you can get a bonus. Bolt pays it weekly, Uber monthly. It is not fixed; it depends on the number of trips (it can reach 120–500 RON a week).

2
Direct Costs: What You Pay First

The first money to leave your gross income goes on operating costs:

  • App commission (~25%): Bolt takes 25% of every ride. Uber uses a dynamic commission calculated for each ride (roughly 10–35%), which on average also comes to about 25%. More in Uber vs Bolt in 2026.
  • Fuel: one of the biggest costs: roughly 7% to 28% of your income, depending on the car you drive.
  • Car wash: a clean car is a must. Budget at least 40–50 RON a week for inside and outside cleaning.

What fuel costs, depending on the car

At about 30 km per hour in town and October 2026 prices, fuel costs roughly: 23 lei per hour with petrol, 15 lei with a hybrid, 9 lei with a hybrid running on LPG and 6 lei with an electric car charged at home. The full calculation for every type of car is in Fuel costs for Uber and Bolt drivers.

The Car: Own, Rented or Leased?

How you get your car has a huge effect on your final profit:

  • Rented car: costs 500–800 RON a week. The upside is that you do not pay for repairs, RCA insurance or servicing. The downside is the very high long-term cost.
  • Your own car: it looks free, but it is not. You need to set money aside for RCA (mandatory liability insurance), servicing (every 10,000 km), the ITP roadworthiness test (every 6 months), parts and depreciation (your car loses value with every kilometre).

The full comparison over 1 and 3 years: Rent, lease or buy a car.

Legal Form and Taxes

To work legally you need a legal form, and each comes with its own taxes:

Working through a fleet

You pay the fleet a commission (e.g. 10%) and the taxes on your employment contract (about 1,720 RON a month for a full-time contract). The simplest option, with no accounting hassle.

SRL micro-company

You pay 1% tax on income, 16% tax on dividends and CASS health contribution on dividends, and you must have one full-time employee (about 1,720 RON a month in taxes). You need an accountant.

PFA (sole trader)

You pay 10% income tax on net income, plus CAS (pension, 25%) and CASS (health, 10%), capped according to the number of minimum wages earned.

Watch out for VAT!

Whatever your legal form (except a fleet, which handles it), you need an intra-EU VAT number and must pay VAT (21%) on the commission taken by Uber/Bolt.

The Reality Behind the "Flexible Schedule"

Ride-hailing gives you freedom, but that freedom has a hidden cost many drivers ignore:

Holidays are unpaid

A regular employee has about 31 paid days off a year (21 days of leave plus 10 public holidays on weekdays). In ride-hailing, if you do not drive, you do not earn. To afford 4 weeks of holiday a year, you need to set money aside from your profit every month.

Overtime and night work

In a regular job, overtime is paid at a 75–100% premium, night work at 25% and work on public holidays at up to 100%. In ride-hailing, surge pricing takes the place of these premiums, but it is not guaranteed and depends only on supply and demand.

Conclusion: Is It Worth It?

Ride-hailing can be an excellent source of income, as a main job or part-time, if you calculate your costs correctly. The secret is not to look only at the money landing on your card every day, but to set aside enough for taxes, repairs and the depreciation of your car.

Want to know exactly what you would earn?

Our detailed calculator includes every variable above: taxes, fuel, car wear and commissions.

Calculate Your Profit

Important: The information on this page is indicative and is not tax, legal, financial or insurance advice. Every decision is yours; for your specific situation, talk to an accountant or another professional.