Whilst in Slovenia you may encounter road conditions
that differ significantly from those in the UK, The information below concerning
driving in Slovenia is provided and intended for general reference only, and
may not be totally accurate in a particular situation or circumstance.
Car Insurance
Car Insurance: As far as we are aware most
UK based insurance Companies with possibly the exception of the AA and the Farmers
Union (you must check) will not insure your car whilst out of the UK for more
than 90 days in a year, without reducing your policy to third party cover.
This means that should you have an accident, your insurance will pay for the damage you have caused and not for damage sustained to your pride and joy. Plus you have the added chore of making sure you inform your company that you have left the UK. The Police here in Slovenia, unlike the UK, currently attend all road traffic accidents and make very detailed reports so there would be some degree of difficulty trying to tell your insurance company that the accident happened later than it did should you wish to make a claim. I have found that it is possible to insure your vehicle here in monthly increments or a full 12 months if you wish to live here full time.
There is no need to import your vehicle to
Slovenia if it can be insured in the UK, but you will have to return the vehicle
once a year for an MOT inspection. There are two alternatives you may consider,
one is to import your vehicle and change it to a Slovenian registration which
may involve import tax and will involve some modification including replacing
the headlights (beam deflectors are not accepted on imported vehicles) and passing
the equivalent of a UK MOT test. The second alternative is to purchase a Slovenian
'run-a-round' should you wish to have a vehicle for use here and can work out
a lot cheaper than car hire depending on your length of stay. (and has the steering
wheel on the left side). Please be advised that the roads here
are not UK standard but are not as bad as some people will tell you, but outside
the towns there are no road edges, lighting and some severe bends. Another hazard
is the amount of bicycles here ridden by all ages from young children to 75
year old grandmothers (this is no exaggeration), pedestrians in dark clothing
that seem to come from nowhere and has happened to me only last night, I was
driving home about 6:00pm, when a stag that seemed to be the size of a police
horse crossed the road in front of me. These are genuine hazards so for peace
of mind, and to stay on the right side of the law, be sure that your motor insurance
is up to par
Money
As of January 2007, Slovenia adopted the Euro (€) as standard currency,
but GBP along with most other foreign currencies can be changed at border
crossing and in the major towns.
Travelers cheques are accepted in some shops and hotels.
Credit cards are accepted by most hotels, shops, restaurants and petrol stations but I have found that there is a preference for 'Master Card' at the moment.
There are many cash machines available in Slovenia, look for these in the
high streets of major towns and also at many petrol stations, these will dispense
Euro only.
It is a good idea to keep a record of your card details, bank/issuer 24 hour contact number in case of loss or theft.
Motoring
Vehicle Documents
Along with the obvious passport requirements (you should carry a copy of your passport at all times to prove identification if needed) you should also have in your vehicle your vehicle registration documents, Certificate of insurance, International Accident Report Form, ownership documents for caravan if applicable and your driving licence. For those of you who do not yet have the new UK photo card licence you should also obtain an international driving permit. It is a good idea to keep your documents organised in one travel folder for easy access.
Drinking and Driving
Permitted Alcohol Content in Blood
0.5 gram alcohol per a kilogram of blood for all drivers of private vehicles and motorcycles 0.0 gram alcohol per a kilogram of blood for all professional drivers (C,D,E). Please take note of this one: C is a vehicle over 3,500 kg, D is a Passenger carrying Vehicle and E is for a trailer, remember that you need B+E in the UK to pull a trailer. So do not get caught out when towing your caravan.
Our advice here is Don't ! The blood alcohol limit in Slovenia is a maximum 0.05% which is less than the UK
Seat Belts are compulsory and must be worn by all passengers. Children under 12 years of age are not allowed to travel in the front seats of the vehicle. All children are to use a safety seat suitable for their size and weight.
Dipped headlights are compulsory at all times in Slovenia, regardless of weather conditions or time of day, and as with most continental countries, you are required to carry a spare bulb kit in case of failure.
Hazard warning lights must be used when reversing, when broken down or any other time you may be considered a hazard to other road users.
Some petrol stations on motorways and in/near large towns are open 24/7 others tend to open from 06:00am until 22:00pm. Leaded petrol is no longer available but the lead replacement additive is on sale. I have yet to find a petrol station here that does not sell Diesel. Most if not all of the petrol stations do accept credit cards.
Motorways
and Tolls
In accordance with the amendment of the Public Roads Act, approved
by the National Assembly of the Republic of Slovenia end of April 2008, use
of vignettes (Vinjeta) is obligatory for all vehicles with the permissible maximum
weight of 3,500 kg (the current first and second toll-rate category) on motorways
and expressways in the Republic of Slovenia as of 1 July 2008.
The toll-collection system with vignettes is being introduced with the aim of
improving traffic flow and reducing emissions to the environment.
From 1 July 2008 onwards, purchase of a vignette is obligatory
for use of a toll road with a vehicle whose permissible maximum weight does
not exceed 3.500 kg, regardless of the maximum weight of a trailer.
If you need information regarding the return of the credit and carrying value
of the ABC tag or DARS card, please, click
on this link.
Type and Price Of VIGNETTE (VINJETA)*
Yearly vinjeta for (two-track) vehicles with the permissible maximum weight of 3,500 kg €95.00
Half-yearly vinjeta for (two-track) vehicles with the permissible maximum weigh to 3,500 kg NO LONGER AVAILABLE
Monthly vinjeta for (two-track) vehicles with the permissible maximum weigh to 3,500 kg €30.00
Weekly vinjeta for (two-track) vehicles with the permissible maximum weigh to 3,500 kg €15.00
2010 Yearly
2010 Monthly
2010 Weekly
Yearly vinjeta for (one-track) motorcycles €47,50
Half-yearly vinjeta for (one-track) motorcycles €25,00
Weekly vinjeta for (one-track) motorcycles €7.50
Yearly for 2010
Half Yearly for 2010
Weekly for 2010
* Yearly vinjeta for the current year will be valid from 1
December of the previous year to 31 January of the next year (total of 14 months).
* Half-yearly will be valid for six months from the day
of its purchase.
Half-yearly vinjeta for (two-track) vehicles with the permissible maximum
weight of 3,500 kg, is no longer available for 2010
Monthly vinjeta for (one-track) motorcycles, not available for 2010
Currently there are about 500km of motorways (autoceste) and expressways (hitre
ceste) in Slovenia, with more under construction. If you would
like to know more about the Slovenian motorways and tolls please go to www.dars.si
DARS will leave the old toll stations in situ as a means of slowing traffic to check you have a Vinjeta and for you to pay tolls for vehicles over the 3,500kg weight limit. On stretches of motorway, they have a number of 'miniature' toll sorting stations positioned on what can only be described as 'drive through lay-by's', quite often Police and authorities channel traffic through these for vehicle checks, so make sure you have your Vinjeta securely placed in your windscreen and all vehicle documents to hand. Also be advised that if it is not displayed in your windscreen (Stuck to the glass not sitting on the dash), the penalty is the same as not having one.
Toll Station
Sorting
Again our advice here is simple, the best way to avoid the fine is by having a Vinjeta.
Vinjeta can be purchased from:
Kompas
Trafika
AMZS
Delo Kiosks
OMV Petrol
Post Office
MOL Petrol
Spar Supermarkets
AGIP Petrol
TUS Supermarkets
Mercator Supermarkets
DARS user center LJ
InterINA
*DARS Toll Stations*
* Our advice is to be careful if intending to purchase a vinjeta at a toll booth. It is possible that you could be stopped and fined prior to purchase as you have been on the motorway without a vinjeta, even if you are just about to park outside the kiosk. It is not the first time an inspector has heard "I was just about to buy one". *
Roads
Slovenia has a well developed road system, the international and main roads are in good condition but some of the secondary roads may not be so good and poorly lit. On the rural roads be aware of farming traffic and mud on the roads from tractors. Most areas of Slovenian are rural so be aware of wild animals especially at night, it is common here to see Deer, Rabbits, foxes and Hares on the roads. In built up areas and close to villages you will see many cats, please try to avoid all animals when safe to do so.
Road Signs and Markings
Road signs do conform to international standards but some (mostly rural) can be a little difficult to see. It is a good idea to purchase a map of Slovenia (Lzletniska Karta) and if staying in a particular region, a region map is more useful because the full-scale map of Slovenia tends to show just major roads and towns. Some region maps have many details of attraction for that region printed on the reverse of the map so it it well worth looking for one of these.
One problem I have found with many road signs is the lack of distance indication to the next town or village.
Speed limits
The speed limits are listed on the signs as you enter Slovenia and are signed on the roads. Be advised that the limit can change many times on one stretch of road and most drivers in Slovenia stick to the limits, the Slovenian Police are very keen on enforcing these limits. The Police are authorised to impose on-the-spot fines which must be paid in Euro, fines may be heavy compared to the UK so be advised.
50 km ph in residential areas ( 31.06mph)
90 km ph on all roads where not otherwise indicated (55.92 mph)
100 km ph on the roads, reserved for motor traffic (62.13 mph)
130 km ph on motorways (80.77 mph)
There are now some very heavy on-the-spot-fines for breaking the speed limit in Slovenia so our advice is don't !!
Parking
Parking meters and pay-and-display are in some towns to limit parking in busy areas. In the cities, white lines indicate that parking is permitted for a maximum of one hour between 07:00am and 19:00pm, but a parking ticket must be purchased. Blue line indicate places where parking is allowed free of charge for a maximum of 30 minutes. If you park your vehicle illegally it may be clamped or towed away. The cost for parking in Slovenia is much cheaper than in the UK so if you are not sure, it is better to pay the meter than pay the fine. Although there are no official regulations in force, the international wheelchair symbol is generally recognised and there are plenty of parking places for parking for the disabled.
Accident Procedures
All drivers involved in an accident whilst in Slovenia must call the police and obtain an official report. Drivers of vehicles which have been damaged may need to present this police report to the customs on departure. It is a good idea to obtain a police report to help with any claim you may have against the other driver or claiming for your own damages on your return to the UK. One thing to note here, especially if you consider the accident not your fault, is NEVER move your car from it's final resting place after an accident. The Police take detailed plans and photographs of all accidents and if your car has been moved it could jeopardize your claim. Please remember this: Deer in Slovenia are owned and protected by state, should you be unfortunate enough to hit one on the road, stop and call the police, especially if the deer is dead/injured and/or your car is damaged. It will make it easier to claim on your car insurance and I am sure that if the animal is injured, you would not want it to suffer. The Police will file a report and call a Game Warden to take care of the animal.
If Stopped by Police(Policija)
The Police (Policija) in Slovenia are no different to police forces all over the world, there are good, bad and indifferent, mostly good. They are polite and many speak good if not reasonable English. Just one thing to think about is this.. you do the crime, you do the time.. no argument. If you choose to speed be prepared to pay, it is not the fault of the police Officer. The Police here can and will if they choose, stop you for a number of reasons, mainly speeding or roadside spot checks but never for just something to do. Be advised that the Slovene Police adopt the 'American police' attitude when stopping vehicles so please take note of the following:
Stop safely, as soon as requested.
If stopped behind the Patrol car, switch on your hazard warning lights.
DO NOT get out of your vehicle.
Leave your seatbelt on, Switch off your engine and sit with your hands in plain sight, preferably on the top of the steering wheel.
When the officer has approached your vehicle, wind down your window (if closed) try not to leave them waiting. return your hands to plain sight.
Smile and be polite.
The officer will ask you for your Driving licence (Voziško dovoljenje), Vehicle documents V5 (prometno dovoljenje) and if towing, Caravan documents. It is a good idea to always keep these close to hand in case of checks throughout europe, rather than suffer the embarrassment of looking for them on the spot. You may also be asked to step out of your vehicle (passengers remain inside unless requested) so the officer can check the rear of your car, mostly he will just be checking that you are carrying the obligatory equipment:
Hi-Viz vests or jackets waistcoats are compulsory in Slovenia for motor ways (Avto Cesta), you will also need it for Austria. It is also a good piece of equipment to have at any time incase of breakdown
Warning Triangles must be carried and used incase of breakdown and be placed at least 50 meters behind the vehicle. Vehicles towing a trailer must carry two triangles, in the case of breakdown whilst towing, two triangles must be placed one beside the other again at least 50 meters behind the vehicle. At night, drivers must also carry a torch and use hazard warning lights. Please take great care when placing triangles especially on motorways, when placing the triangle try to walk on the inside of the barrier where possible, if there is no barrier walk as close as possible to the verge, wear high visibility clothing and carry the triangle/s assembled and with the reflective side facing on coming traffic. Place the triangle in your lane, left of center in order to direct traffic away from you and your vehicle. When walking back to you vehicle, keep to the verge and look behind you as often as possible to check for on coming traffic.
Spare Bulb Kit. A handy box of spare bulbs and fuses can be bought as a kit from your vehicle dealer.
First Aid Kit. Any decent parts store will have these or if you have forgotten yours at home, they can normally be bought at petrol stations throughout Austria and Slovenia, plus AMZS which is the equivalent to the AA or RAC in the UK.
In Winter the above plus:
Snow chains if required.
Tow Rope
Small Folding Spade (Army Surplus are good for these)
The officer may also check that you have the correct tyres for the season, in Slovenia, snow and ice tyres are required from 15th November to 15th March.
If Stopped:
Treat the Officers with the respect they deserve.
Smile.
Be Polite
It could save you a fine.
And remember: The speed limits in Slovenia
are 50km/h in built up areas, 90km/h outside built up areas, 100km/h on dual
carriageways and 130km/h on motorways. but be advised that speed limits change
often especially on approach to hazards or built up areas, be alert for speed
limit signs and drive accordingly.
In a Nut Shell
The minimum age for driving in Slovenia is 18.
Documentation must be carried at all times, as it can be requested by the police.
The use of mobile phones whilst driving is banned.
Drink-driving is not an option: the blood-alcohol limit is 0.05mg per 100ml
and penalties are severe.
Snow-tyres or chains must be used in winter.
Buses have right of way at all times (and may sometimes pull out without warning).
All vehicles must use headlamps at all times.
Drivers and passengers must wear seat belts.
Life is for living-We Live it once-So Live it well 
