Bucharest - Post Report Question and Answers

I like a small SUV for clearance to see what the stupid drivers are doing ahead of me. It's not necessary, especially if you don't plan to drive to the mountains in winter. If you live in a condo, anything bigger than a small SUV probably won't fit in the parking garage. There is a law about having tires rated for snow during winter, but please, no one follows the rules in Romania. With climate change, snowy winters with a foot of snow are a thing of the past, especially in Bucharest. I would not bring an EV, as I've never seen a charging station. I recommend checking whether your car manufacturer has a dealership in Bucharest so that you can get parts and service. Even then, you may end up ordering some parts from the U.S. because US/Japan made vehicles have different parts than European-made models. Car jacking is unheard of here. Traffic accidents happen often. Romanian insurance costs $550/year (paid in 1 installment so be ready) and I would not trust it at all, so get a second policy with Clements or another international carrier. Registration inspection results vary. Some legal window tinting doesn't pass muster and you are told to remove it. Some obviously illegally dark window tinting passes with no issues. This is a small example of the annoying contractions of living in Romania. - Jun 2023