1 September brings major changes in Hungary: Housing support, motorway tolls, public transport and more
This year, 1 September brought a particularly large number of changes for Hungarians. A new housing support program was launched, SZÉP card rules were updated, convenience fees for highway tolls were eliminated, pension vouchers began to be distributed, and changes also came into effect in notary fees and Budapest public transport.
Home Start Program: 3% fixed loan for young buyers
The Home Start Program, which helps young first-time homebuyers, officially launched today. Under the scheme, applicants can take out a home loan of up to HUF 50 million at a fixed 3% interest rate, with repayment terms of up to 25 years. Compared to current market loans with 7–9% interest, this offers a significant relief—for example, a HUF 30 million loan could reduce monthly repayments by nearly HUF 90,000, according to Index.
Applicants do not need to be married or have children. They only need to have a Hungarian residence, employment, and at least two years of social security contributions. A key restriction is that the applicant cannot own more than a 50% stake in a property, except when the value does not exceed HUF 15 million.
The program can also be combined with other supports, such as CSOK Plus or Babaváró, offering even greater advantages to young families and singles.
SZÉP Card: Mandatory digital acceptance and new rules
Starting in September, all contracted partners must accept the digital SZÉP card, making usage faster and more transparent. An important deadline is approaching: if cardholders do not spend the remaining balance one year after it was loaded—by either 20 March or 20 September—the provider will deduct a 15% fee, reports Haszon.hu.
It is especially important to note that for amounts credited between 20 March and 20 September 2024, any unused balance may be subject to deduction as early as 20 September this year.
Motorway vignettes: Convenience fees eliminated
A major relief for drivers is the removal of convenience fees for online motorway toll purchases starting this September. Previously, depending on the service provider, extra costs ranged from HUF 400 to several thousand forints.
From now on, everyone pays the same price, regardless of which platform they use to buy the e-vignette. This creates a more transparent system and eliminates hidden extra charges.
Pension voucher: HUF 30,000 for cold food items
Postal workers began distributing HUF 30,000 food vouchers from today to 2.6 million pensioners and those receiving pension-like benefits. The vouchers will be delivered by 15 October and can be used until 31 December, exclusively for purchasing cold food items, reports Pénzcentrum.
The total amount is issued in ten vouchers of varying denominations. The vouchers cannot be exchanged for cash, nor is change given. This measure requires HUF 82.7 billion in budget funding.
Other September changes
- Notary fees: Fee schedules have been updated to reflect increased costs while providing discounts for those using state-supported home loans, such as Home Start or energy-efficiency loans.
- Electronic property registry in Budapest: A new system will make property administration faster and simpler. In-person services at Budapest land offices will be suspended until 5 September, though postal and electronic services remain available.
- Public transport: With the start of the school year, Budapest Transport Centre (BKK) services will operate more frequently than in summer. New changes include CAF trams exclusively on line 50 and the 160 bus running every 15 minutes during peak hours.
Summary
1 September 2025 marks a clear milestone in everyday life in Hungary: young people are supported by a favourable housing program, drivers can purchase tolls more cheaply, pensioners receive financial support, and workers need to pay attention to the new SZÉP card rules.
Read also:
- Hungary’s new Home Start loan changes last-minute: Here’s what you need to know
- Public transport services to increase frequency in Budapest as new school year begins