New traffic laws for Motocycles in Romania 2026
As of 10 November 2026, Romania has just introduced a significant change to the Highway Code: Law 207/2026, which came into force on 6 November 2026.
It gives motorcyclists more freedom to filter through traffic, but there are important restrictions.
1. Using bus lanes – now potentially legal
Motorcycles and mopeds may use lanes reserved for public transport.
However, there is a catch: it is not automatically permitted on every bus lane. The road administrator (for example, the Bucharest municipality) must establish the conditions under which motorcycles can use it.
So don't assume you can use every STB bus lane in Bucharest yet. AGERPRES
2. Filtering between stationary cars at traffic lights
This is now explicitly permitted for:
- Motorcycles without sidecars.
- Mopeds.
- Bicycles.
You can move past a queue of stationary vehicles at a red light or railway crossing, provided:
- There is sufficient lateral space.
- You do not obstruct or endanger other road users.
- Your speed does not exceed 20 km/h.
Importantly, this exception applies to stationary queues at red lights and railway crossings, not queues stopped at pedestrian crossings. avocatnet.ro
3. Crossing white lines – an important distinction
The new law specifically says that a motorcycle passing another vehicle travelling in the same direction, or passing an obstacle, is not considered an overtaking manoeuvre provided it does not cross the lane-dividing road marking.
In practical terms:
| Manoeuvre | Position under new law |
|---|---|
| Filtering between cars in the same lane | Permitted under the conditions above, at max 20 km/h when passing stationary queues |
| Passing slower vehicle without crossing lane marking | Not considered overtaking |
| Crossing a broken white line to change lanes | Permitted when otherwise safe and legal |
| Crossing a continuous white line | Still prohibited where the marking prohibits crossing |
| Filtering across a continuous lane marking | Not authorised by this new law |
4. Other changes
The law also introduces:
- Dedicated motorcycle waiting areas, three meters deep, at certain traffic lights and railway crossings.
- An obligation for local authorities to provide dedicated motorcycle parking in public car parks with at least six car spaces.
- Clarification that helmets must be approved for the vehicle category and properly fastened. AGERPRES
The practical takeaway -
The biggest benefit is that you can now legally filter past stationary traffic at red lights, at up to 20 km/h, provided there is sufficient room and you don't obstruct anyone.
But the new law does not give motorcycles a general right to cross solid white lines or use every bus lane.
The key legislation is Law 207/2026, amending OUG 195/2002. You can read the published legislation Legea 207/2026.
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