Driving in Ukraine

Bringing cars into Ukraine and driving

Now that westerners can enter Ukraine without a visa, more and more people are entering Ukraine in cars. This article will acquaint readers with the basic rules for bringing cars into Ukraine and tell about what it's like to drive a car in Ukraine.

Entering Ukraine on a car

Any foreigner may bring a car into Ukraine. You will need to have the vehicle registration certificate from your home country, as well as your international passport. When you cross the border, you write the car's license plate number on your immigration card, and customs officers put a special stamp in your passport. The stamp is for "temporary import" of your car into Ukraine and will have your license plate number on it. This procedure is free.

Leaving Ukraine

Border police and customs officers will expect to see you leave the country on the same car as when you entered. In this case, they put another stamp in your passport with your license plate number. If you are leaving Ukraine temporarily without your car, you will have to explain this to them, but there shouldn't be problems. There will only be problems if they can see you have brought several cars in and are leaving without them, which would suggest that you have been selling them in Ukraine and should be paying import duties. Your vehicle information will be entered into the computer at your border crossing.

Steering wheel issues

Automobiles with steering wheels on the right side are allowed in Ukraine, but they may only be driven by their foreign owners or when the owner is a passenger in the car.

Auto insurance

Auto insurance is not yet compulsory in Ukraine, and you will not be checked for insurance at the border. Even if you were, foreign insurance companies would almost certainly refuse to insure your car in a "dangerous" place like Ukraine.

You may buy 3rd party car insurance in Ukraine for as little as 130 UAH for 6 months ($26 USD). This will cover up to $5000 in damages to the other car in accidents where you are at fault. Fully comprehensive auto insurance policies might also be available for foreigners.

Car accidents

When car accidents occur in Ukraine, drivers are required to leave their cars on the scene of the accident until traffic police come and write up a report. This rule creates significant traffic problems in large cities. When drivers don't want to involve police and insurance companies, they agree on a cash settlement on the stop. One party will usually call a family member or friend and have them bring the agreed amount of cash to the accident site.

Vehicle registration in Ukraine

According to my contacts who drive cars in Ukraine, there is a two-month registration rule for cars [info needs to be confirmed]. In other words, if your car will be in the country longer than 2 months, you are supposed to register your vehicle at the local DAI (Government Auto Inspection) office and receive a temporary Ukrainian license plate and registration number. This temporary number is valid for up to a year from your date of entry into Ukraine.

Driving a car in Ukraine

There are a few disadvantages to driving in Ukraine that car owners should be aware of:

• frequent potholes; poor condition of many city and country roads
• getting stopped frequently by traffic police
• incompetent and reckless drivers (many bought their licenses instead of completing driving courses, and driving discipline is low in most cities)
• driving at night (poor street lighting, people walk along the side of the road, especially in rural areas)
• bad signs (no street names on street lights, etc.)

Dealing with Ukrainian traffic police

Ukrainian traffic police are always very busy on the roads. It is common knowledge that if you are stopped, they are looking for a bribe. They will try to look for something wrong with your documents or car if there was no traffic infringement. The typical bribe these days for "minor infringements" such as speeding (!) is 20 UAH ($4 USD). The absence of serious fines for driving violations contributes to the poor driving culture on Ukrainian roads.

Traffic police will ask to see your vehicle registration certificate, driver's license, and passport (to check for the entry stamp). If everything is fine, they will probably ask for your immigration card. They have also been known to check for "warning triangles" and first-aid kits, which every car is supposed to have, and wheedle a bribe out of you if you don't have it. I have seen traffic police inspecting something under the hood (oil levels?). If everything is okay, they will let you go without a bribe, of course.

In general, traffic police will not stop you more often for having foreign plates, and they are not prepared to chatter away with you in English. If you waste too much of their time, they will usually let you go. They have work to do.

Driver's license issues

Many drivers wonder, "do I need an international driver's license to drive in Ukraine?" I have yet to find out for sure, but my sources say you do not. You will probably not be bothered for your U.S., E.U., or U.K. driver's license.

Selling your car in Ukraine

With your "temporary import" entry stamp, it is assumed that you will not sell your car in Ukraine, which would qualify it for import duties. Also, you will be expected to leave Ukraine with your original car. You could theoretically find a buyer in Ukraine, leave the country with him or her and your car, and transfer ownership outside Ukraine. The new owner could then enter the country on the car and have it stamped into his or her passport. Ukrainians cannot enter the country with foreign cars without paying import duties.