Driving licence and road rules, hungary

Road Signs

Relevant differences can be seen between countries’ road signs. Most European countries refer to the 1968 Vienna Convention on Road Signs and Signals which is an international treaty designed to increase road safety and support international road traffic by standardising the signing system for road traffic.This convention was agreed upon by the United Nations Economic and Social Council at its Conference on Road Traffic in Vienna in 1968 and came into force 10 years later in 1978.

In Europe the driving signs are unified, only little difference can be seen. The most recognisable differences are the graphical and colouring variations (for example we usually use white background on warning signs but Finland and Poland uses yellow) but there are differences in meanings, too.

Roundabout sign:

In Finland

In Hungary

In Poland

Road works sign:

In Finland

In Hungary

In Poland

In Finland In Hungary In Poland

Wild animals sign

Hungarian regulations

Hungarian facts

• Hungary has 10 million inhabitants and 3,685,677 registered vehicles.

• There are nearly 3.1 million licence holders, along with 193,103 kilometres of road.

• A total of 1,363 road kilometres is made up of motorways and express highways.

• The international vehicle ID code is ‘H’

Driving regulations

• The minimum age for driving is 16.• From the age of 14 it is possible to drive a moped.• Mobile phones are allowed only with headsets.• Use of horn is prohibited unless in danger.• If using the Hungarian motorways drivers need to

obtain motorway vignette.

Speed limits

• Standard legal limits, which may be varied by signs, for private vehicles without trailers: In built-up areas 50 km/h, outside built-up areas 90 km/h or 110 km/h on semi-motorways and 130 km/h on motorways.

Child safety / seatbelt laws

• It is compulsory for all inside the vehicle to wear a seatbelt.

• Children under 3 and measuring less than 150cm must be seated in an appropriate child restraint for their size.

Compulsory equipment in Hungary

• First-aid kit • Warning triangle • Reflective Jacket• Snow chains - The use of or their presence in a

car can be made compulsory on some roads when weather conditions require.

Drinking and driving: zero tolerance

• Nil percentage of alcohol allowed in drivers' blood; amounts of less than 0.08 per cent incur a fine, more than 0.08 per cent legal proceedings.

• Since 2008, a licence is withdrawn from the driver on the spot, and is returned after the driving ban period decided by the authorities has expired.

Licence categories and special examinations

We distinguish different types of driver’s license in everyday life.

The first is „A1” which is „light motorcycles”. For this you don’t need complicated tests just the most basic ones like: Transport knowlegde=KRESZ, Vehicle handling=RUTIN, Traffic driving=FORGALMI

The „A” category is nearly the same, but it includes motorcycles which have more power than 40kW.

The third category is „B”. This category includes all cars which aren’t heavier than 3500kg. Transport knowledge and Traffic driving are necessary.

The fourth category is „C1” which includes all the trucks not heavier than 7500 kg. The main exams are:Theoretical exam: Fundamentals of transport, occupational safety, fire protection, transportation and loading.Practice: Safety inspection and maintenance, routine, traffic exams.

The „C” category covers more thing. You need to be older than 17 years old, you need a certificate about 8 years of primary education and you must have a valid license for category „B”.The basic tests you need:

Driving TheoryStructural and operational knowledgeSecurity control and operation

"D1" category authorizes you to drive vehicles with no more than 16 permanent seats. You need to be more than 21 years old, have a valid driving license of category „B” and a certificate of elementary education.You will have to take an exam of Safety Knowledge.

The next one is category „D”. This category includes all buses and heavy trailers. You need a valid license for category „B” and „C”, you have to be more than 20 years old and need to have at least an elementary education to get a license in this category.

The „E” category has the most side branches. Vehicle and heavy trailer can only be issued as a combined category. a) „B + E”: "B" category vehicles, and heavy trailers.You must have: elementary education, minimum 2 years of valid driving license for class "B” and you have to be older than 18 years old.

b) „C1 + E”: Vehicles, and heavy trailers, and all the vehicles lighter than 12,000 kg, and the trailer’s weight not exceeding the towing vehicle's own weight. The requirements are: "C1" category valid driving license, elementary education and you have to be over 18. This category has a special exam that we call: Combinated-vehicle driving theory.

c) „C + E”: „C” category vehicles and heavy trailers. The requirements are: „C” category valid driving license (not beginner), elementary education and you must be over 23 years old.

d) „D1 + E”: „D1” category vehicle, and heavy trailer combination, including all the vehicles not heavier than 12,000 kg, on condition that the trailer's weight not exceeding the towing vehicle’s weight and the trailer is not used for personal transportation. The conditions are: „D1” category valid driving license (not beginner), you must be over 21, elementary education and you have to take special exams: Safety knowledge, fire protection, transportation and loading.

e) „D + E”: All „D” category vehicle, and heavy trailer if the trailer is not used for personal transportation. The conditions are: valid „D” category driving license (not beginner), you must be more than 21 years old and elementary education.

The last category is „M”. It’s simpler than „A1”, because you can already get a driving license at the age of 14 if you have finished your elementary education. The exams and the vehicle is the same, just you can’t drive on highway.

Procedure of getting a license

Documents which are necessary

• ID card• Medical certificate• 2 photos about yourself• The certificate of the elementary school

Aspects of school choice

• The location of the school : it isn’t too far from you.

• The size of the school: in the big schools there are more instructors and the technical equipments are faster.

• The price

Expenses of training

• Theoretical training: 20-30.000 Ft (it depends on your school)• Driving hourly fee for the first 30 hours: 1200-2000 Ft/hour• Hourly rates for plus driving lessons: 2000-3000 HUF / hour

Expenses of Exams

• KRESZ exam fee: 4700 Ft• Practical exam fee: 11 000 Ft• Emergency exam fee: 6500 FtOther:• Medical suitability (for 10 years): 6800 Ft• Emergency course fee: around 10 - 12000 Ft

The oral driving course

• The aim of the course is to provide a basis for a successful exam and to teach the rules of KRESZ.

• The exam consists of 55 questions and to pass the exam, you have to reach the minimum 65 point.

Practical lessons

• The practical test used to be made up of two parts: an initial test on a course that is not open to the public, and another on the open road. A few years later, the National Transport Authority deleted the initial test and the students have to start driving lessons on the open road.

The Red Cross courses

• Without a passed emergency exam you can’t get your driving licence.

• If you have professional qualification or other driving licence for motor or motorbike and you can prove it, you don’t need an examination.

Annual road deaths

• In 1998 there were 1,371 road deaths, in 2009 822 and in 2010 there were 739 road deaths.

• There were 55 motorcycle fatalities in 2000, and in 2010, there were 58.

• In 2000, 346 pedestrians died in road traffic accidents in Hungary, whereas in 2010, 213 pedestrians died in road traffic accidents.

Enforcement of driving law

• Penalty ranges are determined in the legal regulations on minor offences and the penal code.

• Law enforcement officers are authorised to issue on-the-spot fines.

• These can only be paid by using the special "yellow cheques" issued to the driver by the police officer.

Recent legislation changes

• Major changes in 2008 brought the introduction of the principle of owner's responsibility and the related administrative fines.

• The zero-tolerance policy on drink driving was introduced, with the police power to withdraw a driving licence on the spot.

• The penalty points system was also made more severe.