Since I live in Bucharest, this article refers primarily to the Bucharest Public Transport Company (STB – Societatea de Transport București). However, at the end of this article, you’ll find a table listing the public transport companies in Romania’s main cities.
Conditions may vary slightly from one company to another, so please refer to the transport company in your city, and don’t hesitate to contact them directly if you have any questions or doubts.
In Bucharest there are many ways to buy a ticket or a subscription to public transport:
- With the STB Active Transport Card (Card de Transport Activ) that you can acquire at all the STB Ticket Kiosks that write on them “Centru de Emitere si de Incarcare a cardurilor” (Card Issuing and Top-Up Center)
- With an SMS, directly from your mobile device
- With the free mobile app 24Pay, which doesn’t require a STB Transport Card.
- With the free mobile app Bilet TB which doesn’t require a STB Transport Card.
- With your credit card, directly at the Ticket/Card validator inside the vehicle, as you get on it.
- With the dual card BRD-STB
- By paying at the automatic stations Selfpay and PayPoint
1. STB Active Transport Card
The STB Active Transport Card is a rechargeable travel card used for public transport in Bucharest. It can be purchased and recharged at STB kiosks, vending machines, and online via the official website or app. It stores your subscription, which is linked to your CNP (Personal Numeric Code), allowing controllers to verify its validity electronically during checks.
2. SMS
In Bucharest, you can buy an STB ticket or subscription by sending an SMS to 7458. Just text the code for your desired ticket (e.g., “1C” for a 90-minute ticket). The cost is added to your phone bill, and controllers can verify your ticket using your phone number.
3. 24Pay app
The 24Pay app allows you to easily buy STB tickets and subscriptions in Bucharest using your smartphone. After registering with your phone number, you can pay by card and store your ticket digitally. Controllers can verify your valid ticket or pass directly through the app during checks.
4. Bilet TB app
The Bilet STB app (also known as Bilet TB) is the official Bucharest transport ticketing app. It lets you buy tickets and passes for STB buses, trams, and trolleys using your phone. Payments are made securely by card, and your ticket is stored digitally. Controllers can verify it by scanning a QR code in the app.
5. Credit Card
In Bucharest, you can buy an STB ticket directly with a contactless credit or debit card by tapping it on the validator when boarding a bus, tram, or trolleybus. This issues a 90-minute travel ticket automatically. Your card is charged accordingly, and controllers can verify the purchase using your card’s last 4 digits.
6. Dual Card BRD-STB
The BRD-STB card is a dual-function card that works both as a bank card (issued by BRD) and an STB public transport card. It allows you to pay for goods and services like any regular card while also storing STB subscriptions.
You can get the BRD-STB card by opening an account at a BRD branch and requesting the card. STB passes can be loaded at STB kiosks or online, and controllers can verify your subscription using your CNP.
7. Selfpay and PayPoint statons
SelfPay and PayPoint stations in Bucharest allow you to buy STB tickets and subscriptions easily.
To use them:
- Select STB/Bucharest Transport on the screen.
- Enter your CNP to link the ticket or pass to your name.
- Choose the ticket type or subscription.
- Pay using cash or card, depending on the terminal.
Your subscription is stored electronically and can be verified by controllers using your CNP.
OK. ou’ve bought your ticket or subscription — now a controller checks you: what to expect, what to do, and what your rights and obligations are
This article touches on very sensitive topics: abuse of authority, cheating, and intimidation. In over 20 years of living in Bucharest, I have witnessed many such cases — involving both myself and people I know.
The police and local transport companies, like STB S.A. , work every day to identify and punish not only people trying to travel without paying, but also controllers misbehavior. However, expats — especially those from third countries — are often easy targets.
This happens because many expats come here to work and are not familiar with their rights. Some are afraid of interacting with the authorities, feeling that their residence or work permits do not guarantee them equal treatment.
If you’re traveling by public transport in Romania, sooner or later you’ll experience a ticket check. While the process is generally straightforward, misunderstandings often happen — especially for foreigners unfamiliar with the rules. This guide helps you understand your rights, what controllers can and cannot do, and how to handle common issues
In Romania, ticket inspections on public transport are managed by the transport companies themselves or by private companies appointed by them. I will generally refer to these companies as STB SA. Just check the table at the bottom of this article to find the company that manages public transportation in your city.
The ticket inspectors (that I will call from now on “Controllers“) have the right to ask for your ID to verify your identity and issue a payment request if you don’t have a valid ticket. However, they cannot force you to pay on the spot, and they cannot search your bag or belongings. The following things are true about controllers:
- If you are caught without travel documents, you can chose between a 80 Ron fee (surcharge) to pay directly to the controller who will release a receipt and a fine, that you will receive at home, by Post service, and that you must not pay immediately. The fine, is generally higher that the surcharge (about 300 Ron) but can be challenged (see later in this article).
- The controllers have the right to ask for your ID and can call the Police in case you refuse.
- The controllers, however are not police officers: they cannot force you to do anything, including showing your ID, staying on the vehicle or getting out of it. I will describe this in a more detailed way later in this article.
This is what can generally happen when a controller asks you to show your travel document:
- You have a valid travel document.
- You have a valid document but you seem too “stranger” and the controller says that your ticket or subscription is not valid.
- You have a valid subscription, bought at a ticket counter, but you forgot your wallet with your STB card.
- You bought a ticket or a subscription online with an app (e.g. 24Pay) and you forgot your phone or it just ran out of battery.
- You don’t have any travel document (ticket or subscription)
1. You have a valid travel document
In this case, the controller will check your ticket or subscription (there are many ways, depending on the way you bought it). If you paid directly on the bus/tram with a credit card, don’t be afraid to swipe it again at the validator or at the controller’s phone.
2. You have a valid document but, strangely, the controller says that your ticket or subscription is not valid.
It’s sad to say but I’ve seen it happening. We are expats and, sometimes we are unaware of our rights or simply, are scared by authorities. I was on a bus, a woman, a citizen of a third party country, had a monthly subscription but the controller insisted that the subscription had expired and she had to pay a fine, by cash. She was scared, maybe her permit had expired and she accepted to pay. The controller took the money, made no receipt and got out of the bus.
In this case, always challenge what the controller is saying. Just keep calm and state you have paid for the travel. Refuse categorically to pay any fine or surcharge and, mainly, refuse to get off the vehicle or stay on the vehicle if your stop has arrived. Start immediately recording what’s happening with your phone and should the controllers try to force you to do anything, physically or psychologically, insist to ask for the police intervention or just call 112 (the European emergency number) yourself. Be sure to ask and retain the name of the controller. The controller(s) will probably ask you to get off the vehicle to talk with no witnesses: just refuse, gently but firmly. Please refer to this paragraph for more information.
3. You have a valid subscription, bought at a ticket counter, but you forgot your wallet with your STB or BRD-STB card.
Provide your CNP to the controller who will be able to check your subscription.
4. You bought a ticket or a subscription online with an app (e.g. 24Pay, Bilet BT, etc..) and you forgot your phone or it just ran out of battery.
Since it’s your responsibility to have the proof of your payment with you, the controller cannot verify it. In this case you have two choices:
- Pay the 80 Ron surcharge.
- Ask the controller to issue a formal fine that you will receive at home, by post service and that you will be able to challenge, showing to STB the proof of payment.
In any case: refuse to get off the bus/tram with the controllers and/or to stay on the vehicle even if you reached your destination. Please refer to this paragraph for more information.
5. You don’t have any travel document (ticket or subscription)
In this case, I advice you to agree to pay the 80 Ron surcharge, to avoid further consequences and continue your travel. In any case, refuse to get out of the bus with the controllers, as I explain later in this article.
About controllers, it’s worthy to know that:
- They are civilians working for STB (Societatea de Transport București, in other cities the name will change please check this table), not police.
- They wear uniforms and sometimes carry badges, but these do not confer police authority.
- They are authorized to check tickets and issue fines, but not to detain or force you to get off the vehicle by physical or threatening means.
Can they oblige you to get off the vehicle or stay on it even if you reached your destination?
- Legally, no. If you agree to pay the supplementary ticket, that entitles you to travel legally, or provide your identity so they can issue the fine, you can stay on the bus.
- They can ask you to get off the bus to finalize the process, but cannot force you.
- Only police or Jandarmeria can legally oblige or detain someone if there’s a refusal to provide ID or the situation escalates.
About the surcharge (suprataxa)
- In Bucharest (and many other cities), if you’re caught without a validated ticket, you’re offered the chance to pay a “suprataxă” (supplementary fare) — currently around 80 Lei. This is not a fine in the legal sense — it’s a way to avoid a formal penalty by paying on the spot. In theory, once you pay this supplementary fare, you’ve covered the cost of that ride, and you shouldn’t be forced off.
- If they insist on you getting off without legal authority, it could be considered abuse or intimidation.
- If you feel pressured or unsafe, you can record the interaction and report it to STB or even the police.
Table 1.1 – Here’s a list of the most important cities in Romania and their Public Transport Companies where to easily find information:
| City | Company Name | Website | Email Address | Customer Service Phone Number |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Bucharest | Societatea de Transport București (STB) | stbsa.ro stb.ro | Petitions at: https://www.stb.ro/petitii | Call Center: +40 21 9391 |
| Cluj-Napoca | Compania de Transport Public Cluj-Napoca | ctpcj.ro | sugestii@ctpcj.ro | +40 264 430 917 |
| Timișoara | Societatea de Transport Public Timișoara | stpt.ro | relatiipublice@stpt.ro | +40 356 803 720 |
| Iași | Compania de Transport Public Iași | sctpiasi.ro | info@sctpiasi.ro Form at: https://sctpiasi.ro/contact | Tel Verde 0 800 110 427 +40 232 267 772 |
| Constanța | CT BUS S.A. | ctbus.ro | contact@ctbus.ro | +40 241 694 960 |
| Craiova | RAT Craiova | rat-craiova.ro | office@rat-craiova.ro | +40 251 506076 |
| Brașov | RATBV S.A. | ratbv.ro | contact@ratbv.ro | +40 268 334 678 |
| Galați | Transurb S.A. Galați | transurbgalati.ro | relpubl.transurb@gmail.com | +40 721 111 602 |
| Ploiești | TCE Ploiești | tceploiesti.ro (not working) | office@tceploiesti.ro | +40 244 541 254 |
| Oradea | OTL Oradea | otlra.ro | relatii.publice@otl.ro | +40 728 556 612 |
If you had a personal experience with ticket controllers in Romania, feel free to share it in the comments below. This helps others understand what to expect.
Related story:
🚋 Caught (and Spared) Without a Ticket on the Tram