Country guide · 9 min read
Jakub Wujec
Last reviewed: 1 August 2026
How to verify a Bulgarian carrier before assigning a load
To verify a Bulgarian carrier, check the Commercial Register at Bulgarian Commercial Register by EIK for company status and legal name, RTA for road transport licence data, and the Guarantee Fund when you have plates for MTPL insurance. Match VIES on the UIC and compare email to register address on booking day.
Key checks before you assign the load
- Commercial Register: company found, status, legal name by EIK.
- RTA: road transport operator licence by EIK.
- Guarantee Fund MTPL check with plates.
- VIES on Bulgarian VAT number.
- Email and domain fit register address.
What to check on a Bulgarian transport company
Bulgarian carriers use UIC (EIK) in the Commercial Register (Bulgarian Commercial Register) and RTA for road transport operator licences. RTA is the haulage-rights answer UIC alone cannot replace.
How to check the main registers step by step
Run these on booking day and keep a screenshot or PDF in your load file.
Step 1: check the company in the Commercial Register by EIK
Open Bulgarian Commercial Register (Търговски регистър) and search by the EIK (UIC). Public search can show captcha or login friction on some detail views.
The official commercial register returns legal name, legal form, seat, and registry status for that EIK.
Compare the legal name against the invoice and contract entity. Use VIES in step 3 for VAT status, not the company register alone.
Step 2: check the road transport licence in RTA by EIK
Open RTA Bulgarian transport licence lists and open the international goods (or relevant) register list for your lane.
Find the same EIK (UIC) in the published list and read the licence number, company name, transport manager, certified copy count, and address fields where shown.
An active Commercial Register entry with no RTA licence line is a reason to pause before cargo details go out.
Step 3: check VAT status in VIES by VAT number
Open VIES and search the Bulgarian VAT number.
VIES confirms active status and returns the registered name for that VAT ID.
Match the name against the Commercial Register and the invoice before payment.
What else to look for in the remaining registers
Beyond the main steps above, run these additional checks before you commit to the load.
- Commercial Register by EIK: legal name, registry status, seat.
- RTA: operator licence status for the EIK you contract with.
- VIES active status and name match to the Commercial Register and invoice.
- Guarantee Fund (plate): MTPL validity on provided plates.
Bulgarian UIC and VAT formats
- UIC/EIK: 9 digits for companies; 13 digits for branches in some paperwork.
- BG VAT ID: BG prefix plus 9 or 10 digits; VIES name match to register.
- Commercial Register status codes distinguish active, struck off, and in liquidation.
- Guarantee Fund MTPL lookup needs Bulgarian plate when provided.
What the Commercial Register alone does not prove
- RTA operator licence validity for goods transport.
- Guarantee Fund MTPL without plates.
- Real-time status when the register portal is temporarily unavailable and the team retries later.
- Cargo insurance or CMR cover; only MTPL bureau when plates supplied.
Example mismatch on Bulgarian lanes
Commercial Register shows active UIC. RTA list returns no operator licence. Carrier explains delay with “licence renewal in progress” email only. VIES active. Without RTA line, renewal story is uncorroborated register data.
Documents to request from the carrier
Bulgarian carriers often send commercial register certificates in Cyrillic without status code legend. Ask for UIC, status, and RTA licence row on booking day.
- Commercial register confirmation dated to booking day.
- RTA licence proof for the operator EIK.
- VIES printout for the invoice VAT number.
- MTPL policy when plates are not yet available.
- Contract on the register legal name.
Email and domain checks
BG impersonation sometimes uses .com domain while register address is Sofia and RTA shows different operator contact. Match all three, not only UIC in signature.
- Domain age versus company status in the Commercial Register.
- Email domain matches .bg site or register address.
- Freemail on an operator claiming EU fleet needs review.
- Phone contact consistent with register location.
Limits of a Bulgarian carrier check
Commercial Register detail views can show captcha or login friction. A blocked lookup is a retry signal, not approval on email rate alone.
- Commercial Register detail views can show captcha or login friction: retry on booking day if the portal blocks the first attempt.
- Guarantee Fund MTPL check needs plates.
- RTA data is a large registry pull: read licence lines for your lane type.
- Register status codes need careful reading: active versus struck off.
Red flags and common mistakes
Commercial Register active but RTA shows no licence
May indicate a non-hauler or expired operator. Clear before cargo details.
Registry status suggests inactive company
Final or closed status in the Commercial Register is a hard stop until explained.
Guarantee Fund shows no MTPL on plates
Vehicle may not be insured. Confirm before loading.
VIES inactive on invoice VAT line
Tax ID mismatch needs review before payment and pickup.
When you do not want to repeat this for every load
Send UIC, country BG, email, and plates. Certica fetches TheCompanyBook, RTA, and Guarantee Fund when plates unlock insurance bureau.
- Register status codes interpreted against RTA licence presence.
- Failed register queries surfaced instead of silent pass on stale PDFs.
- Guarantee Fund MTPL on BG plates in same run as RTA.
Certica
Don't want to do this on every booking?
Certica pulls data from the same registers, checks it, and shows a clear result: what is OK, and what needs clarifying before loading.
Official sources
- EU VIES VAT validation (European Commission)https://ec.europa.eu/taxation_customs/vies/
- Bulgarian commercial register (Registry Agency)https://portal.registryagency.bg/
- Bulgarian Road Transport Agency (RTA)https://www.rta.government.bg/bg/672
- Bulgarian Guarantee Fund MTPL insurance checkhttps://www2.guaranteefund.org/en/information-center/services/motor-third-party-liability-insurance-check
FAQ
How do I check a Bulgarian transport company?
Search by EIK (UIC) in the commercial register at Bulgarian Commercial Register for legal name and status. Cross-check VIES and your contract name on booking day.
Where do I verify a Bulgarian carrier licence?
Road transport operator lists are published by RTA at RTA Bulgarian transport licence lists. Find the operator EIK in the international or domestic goods register for your lane on booking day.
What is on a Bulgarian carrier verification checklist?
Commercial Register by EIK, RTA licence, VIES, Guarantee Fund with plates, plus email and domain checks.
How do I verify a Bulgarian carrier before assigning the load?
Run register, RTA, VIES, and contact checks together. Treat one mismatch as a risk signal requiring human review.