Drafted from public Bulgarian Road Traffic Act, Наредба № 37, and KAT/IAA publications. Always verify the latest details with your driving school and the official KAT examination centre, exam-day procedures can change.

1. What to bring

A valid ID card or passport. Without it you cannot sit the exam, the examiner verifies identity before letting you in.
The certificate from your driving school confirming you completed the theoretical training (свидетелство за преминато обучение).
Glasses or contact lenses if your driving licence (or the candidate file) requires corrective vision. Examiners will ask if your declaration mentions them.
Nothing else inside the exam room: phones, smartwatches, notes, and bags must be left in the locker or with the examiner. A device buzzing during the test is grounds for immediate disqualification.

2. The exam format

45 questions in 40 minutes, sat at a computer in a KAT-approved examination centre.
Passing score is 87%, at least 39 correct out of 45. The score appears immediately when you finish.
Some questions have more than one correct answer. The Bulgarian exam grades these all-or-nothing: pick all the correct options or the question is wrong, even if you got most of them.
You can flag and revisit questions within the time limit. There's no penalty for skipping until you submit.
The exam is offered in Bulgarian by default; an English version is available, confirm with the centre when you book.

3. The day-of timeline

Arrive at least 30 minutes before your scheduled slot. Centres can run early, and late arrivals are rescheduled.
Sign in at the front desk. Hand over your ID and certificate; you'll be assigned a seat.
A staff member explains the rules and demonstrates the interface. Take this seriously, first-time test takers often stumble on the multi-select interaction in the first minute.
When the timer starts, the clock runs uninterrupted until you submit. There are no breaks.
After submission, the result prints immediately. Pass = move on to scheduling the practical exam. Fail = retake (see section 5).

4. If something goes wrong on the day

Forgot your ID? You will be turned away. Most centres allow rescheduling without a fee if you call ahead or notify the desk before the start time.
Running late? Call the centre. Some will hold the slot for a short window; others rotate you to the next available group.
Computer or interface problem during the test? Raise your hand immediately, examiners can pause the timer or move you to another machine. Don't close any windows yourself.
Sudden illness? You can request a deferred exam at the desk; you may need a doctor's note.

5. Retakes

A failed attempt does not invalidate your driving school training. You can re-sit the theoretical exam after a short waiting period (usually a few days; check with your school).
Each retake is paid separately according to KAT's current fee schedule, your school will help you book.
There is no hard cap on retakes during the validity of your training certificate, but the certificate itself has a deadline (commonly 12 months). After that, the theoretical course must be redone.

6. After you pass

Congratulations, book the practical (driving) exam through your school. The practical is conducted by the КАТ traffic police, separately from the theoretical centre.
Once both exams are passed, you receive an examination minute (изпитен протокол) used to apply for the licence card at КАТ.
Novice rules apply for the first two years: 0.0 ‰ blood alcohol, lower demerit-point threshold, and (depending on category) speed restrictions. Worth knowing before you start driving.

7. The night before

Sleep beats one more hour of cramming. Go to bed early.
Lay out your ID, certificate, and a printed copy of the centre address.
Re-do one or two recent mock exams in the morning if you wake up nervous, the format-familiarity payoff is bigger than learning new material at this point.

Exam-day checklist