Romanian winters can be mild in Bucharest one week and fierce in the mountains the next. Snow arrives in the Carpathians in November and stays until spring. If you are renting a car in winter, a few simple rules keep the trip safe and pleasant.
Winter tyres
Romanian law requires winter tyres when the road is covered with snow, ice or slush. In practice that means the whole winter for anybody leaving the city. From November to March every Lindenway car is fitted with winter tyres at no extra charge. You do not need to ask.
Snow chains
On some mountain roads, signs ask for snow chains on top of winter tyres when conditions are bad. We give you chains free of charge for trips to the mountains. Practise fitting them once in the car park before you need them on a cold, dark slope; it takes two minutes in the dry and twenty in a snowstorm.
Mountain passes
- The high section of the Transfăgărășan and the Transalpina are closed in winter, usually from November until late June or early July.
- The main road through the Prahova Valley to Sinaia and Brașov stays open, but it is busy on weekends and can be slow in snowfall.
- Check the road conditions on the day you travel. The Romanian road authority publishes closures, and we are happy to look for you.
Before you set off
- Clear all the snow, from the roof too. Snow sliding onto the windscreen at the first brake is dangerous, and driving with a snowy roof can be fined.
- Make sure the washer fluid is the winter kind. Ours is.
- Keep the fuel tank at least half full in case you are stuck in a queue.
- Pack warm clothes, water and a phone charger, even for a short trip.
Driving on snow and ice
- Double the distance to the car in front.
- Brake, steer and accelerate gently. Sudden movements are what make cars slide.
- Use a higher gear to pull away on slippery ground in a manual car.
- On a slope, keep moving at a steady speed rather than stopping halfway up.
- If the car slides, look and steer where you want to go and ease off the pedals.
Which car for winter?
Front-wheel drive with good winter tyres handles normal winter roads well. For mountain villages, ski resorts and unploughed side roads, choose all-wheel drive: the Duster 4x4 or the RAV4 Plug-in Hybrid. Both sit higher and have room for skis.
Hybrids in the cold
A hybrid works perfectly in winter, but its electric range is shorter in freezing temperatures. Read more in our hybrid and electric tips.
If something happens
Call us first. We answer around the clock and can arrange roadside help anywhere in Romania. Stay in the car with the hazard lights on if you are on the road, or behind the barrier on a motorway, wearing the reflective vest.
Winter is a beautiful time to see Romania. With the right tyres and a little patience, the snow-covered mountains are only a few hours from Bucharest. Find a car in our fleet.