Countries › Hungary
Hungary
At a glance
- Traffic
- on the right
- Currency
- HUF
- Plugs
- types C, F · 230 V
- Emergency
- 112
Entering the country
- Schengen Area: 90 days in any 180-day period, all Schengen countries counted together.
- Passport valid at least 3 months after you leave Schengen and issued less than 10 years ago.
- EES: fingerprints and photo taken on your first entry into Schengen, then checked at each crossing (system in place since 2025-2026).
- ETIAS: online travel authorisation, planned for late 2026; check whether it's in force before you go.
- Border with Ukraine: don't cross it. The border with Serbia is an external Schengen border (checks, waits).
Driver and insurance
- International Driving Permit required with your Canadian or US licence (CAA, AAA).
- Insurance: your North American policy isn't valid here. You need European insurance for a vehicle registered outside Europe, with its green card.
Speed limits
| Town | Road | Motorway | |
|---|---|---|---|
| Car, light RV | 50 | 90 | 130 |
| With a trailer or caravan | 50 | 70 | 80 |
In km/h. Signs always take precedence.
Tolls and vignettes Vignette
Electronic vignette ("e-matrica") required on motorways: national or by county, tied to the plate. The trailer has its own category (U). Over 3.5 t: distance toll (HU-GO).
Low-emission zones
None known for cars and RVs.
Boondocking Banned
Wild camping banned; plenty of campgrounds around Lake Balaton.
Mandatory equipment
- Reflective vest, within reach
- Warning triangle
- First-aid kit
- Dipped headlights on in daytime
- Country-of-registration sticker (CDN or USA) on the back
Good to know
- Drink-driving: zero tolerance. Dipped headlights in daytime outside towns.
Frequently asked questions
- Hungary: what do you need to enter the country with your vehicle?
- Schengen Area: 90 days in any 180-day period, all Schengen countries counted together. Passport valid at least 3 months after you leave Schengen and issued less than 10 years ago. EES: fingerprints and photo taken on your first entry into Schengen, then checked at each crossing (system in place since 2025-2026). ETIAS: online travel authorisation, planned for late 2026; check whether it's in force before you go. Border with Ukraine: don't cross it. The border with Serbia is an external Schengen border (checks, waits). International Driving Permit required with your Canadian or US licence (CAA, AAA). Insurance: your North American policy isn't valid here. You need European insurance for a vehicle registered outside Europe, with its green card.
- Hungary: what are the speed limits?
- Car and light RV: 50 in town, 90 on rural roads, 130 on motorways (km/h). With a trailer or caravan: 70 on rural roads, 80 on motorways.
- Hungary: do you need a vignette or pay tolls?
- Electronic vignette ("e-matrica") required on motorways: national or by county, tied to the plate. The trailer has its own category (U). Over 3.5 t: distance toll (HU-GO).
- Hungary: are there low emission zones?
- None known for cars and RVs.
- Hungary: is wild camping allowed?
- Banned. Wild camping banned; plenty of campgrounds around Lake Balaton.
- Hungary: what equipment is required in the vehicle?
- Reflective vest, within reach, Warning triangle, First-aid kit, Dipped headlights on in daytime, Country-of-registration sticker (CDN or USA) on the back.