Country driving guide · 2026
Everything UK and EU drivers need before crossing the border into Ukraine: 9 legal requirements + 6 other things worth knowing.
Required
Recommended
Good to know
Tick before you go
9 legal must-haves. Print it, tick them off, throw it in the glovebox.
Passport, visa-free entry and 1968 IDP
UK and EU citizens can enter visa-free for 90 days with a passport valid 6+ months; carry a 1968 Vienna Convention International Driving Permit alongside your national licence. Men aged 18-60 holding Ukrainian citizenship are subject to martial-law exit restrictions.
Source: AA IDP guide →Green Card insurance mandatory
Ukraine is in the Green Card system but is NOT in the EU motor-insurance directive, so a physical Green Card extension from your insurer is compulsory at the border (typical UK insurer surcharge GBP 30-60). Without it you must buy local OSAGO at the crossing, roughly EUR 25-40 per month.
Source: MTIBU (Ukraine bureau) →V5C and owner authorisation for borrowed cars
Carry the V5C logbook; if the vehicle isn't registered in your name you need a notarised owner's letter of authorisation translated into Ukrainian or Russian. Customs may require a temporary import declaration at the border.
Source: Ukraine Customs →Warning triangle, first-aid kit, hi-vis and extinguisher
Cars must carry a warning triangle, first-aid kit and 2 kg fire extinguisher at all times; a reflective hi-vis vest must be worn whenever you exit on a rural road or motorway. Spare bulbs are strongly recommended.
Source: RAC Ukraine →Winter tyres or chains Nov-Apr in snow conditions
Winter tyres are mandatory when road conditions require them (typically Nov-Apr); chains are required on Carpathian mountain passes during snowfall. Studded tyres are permitted.
Source: RAC Ukraine →Drive on the right, overtake on the left
Traffic drives on the right; right-hand-drive UK cars are legal but limit overtaking visibility. No right turn on red unless a dedicated green arrow is shown.
Source: FCDO safety →Speed limits 50/90/110-130 km/h
Urban 50 km/h, rural 90 km/h, expressways 110 km/h and motorways 130 km/h; many cities (Kyiv, Lviv) have cut urban limits to 50 km/h day and night. Speed cameras are widespread.
Source: RAC Ukraine →Zero alcohol limit and dipped headlights Oct-Apr
BAC limit is 0.0 g/L: effectively zero tolerance, with heavy fines and licence loss. Dipped headlights are compulsory outside built-up areas from October to April and any time visibility is reduced.
Source: RAC Ukraine →Martial-law curfew and checkpoints
Nationwide curfew (commonly 00:00-05:00, varies by oblast) prohibits movement; military checkpoints are frequent and require headlights off, interior light on and documents ready. Photographing checkpoints or infrastructure is forbidden.
Source: FCDO Ukraine →Due to Russia's full-scale invasion, the FCDO advises against all travel to Ukraine; martial law, curfews, missile/drone strikes and a closed airspace make routine tourist driving unrealistic. Check gov.uk travel advice immediately before any journey.
FCDO Ukraine adviceUK and EU citizens can enter visa-free for 90 days with a passport valid 6+ months; carry a 1968 Vienna Convention International Driving Permit alongside your national licence. Men aged 18-60 holding Ukrainian citizenship are subject to martial-law exit restrictions.
AA IDP guideUkraine is in the Green Card system but is NOT in the EU motor-insurance directive, so a physical Green Card extension from your insurer is compulsory at the border (typical UK insurer surcharge GBP 30-60). Without it you must buy local OSAGO at the crossing, roughly EUR 25-40 per month.
MTIBU (Ukraine bureau)Carry the V5C logbook; if the vehicle isn't registered in your name you need a notarised owner's letter of authorisation translated into Ukrainian or Russian. Customs may require a temporary import declaration at the border.
Ukraine CustomsCars must carry a warning triangle, first-aid kit and 2 kg fire extinguisher at all times; a reflective hi-vis vest must be worn whenever you exit on a rural road or motorway. Spare bulbs are strongly recommended.
RAC UkraineWinter tyres are mandatory when road conditions require them (typically Nov-Apr); chains are required on Carpathian mountain passes during snowfall. Studded tyres are permitted.
RAC UkraineUkraine has no motorway vignette or sticker requirement. All public roads are free to use for passenger cars.
UkravtodorThere are currently no toll motorways in Ukraine; all roads, including the M-class network, are free for cars. Heavy goods vehicles pay axle-weight fees only.
UkravtodorTraffic drives on the right; right-hand-drive UK cars are legal but limit overtaking visibility. No right turn on red unless a dedicated green arrow is shown.
FCDO safetyUrban 50 km/h, rural 90 km/h, expressways 110 km/h and motorways 130 km/h; many cities (Kyiv, Lviv) have cut urban limits to 50 km/h day and night. Speed cameras are widespread.
RAC UkraineBAC limit is 0.0 g/L: effectively zero tolerance, with heavy fines and licence loss. Dipped headlights are compulsory outside built-up areas from October to April and any time visibility is reduced.
RAC UkraineNationwide curfew (commonly 00:00-05:00, varies by oblast) prohibits movement; military checkpoints are frequent and require headlights off, interior light on and documents ready. Photographing checkpoints or infrastructure is forbidden.
FCDO UkraineInstall the official 'Air Alert' app and pull over to a shelter when sirens sound; expect potholes, missing signs, blackouts disabling traffic lights, and mined verges in eastern/southern oblasts: never leave the carriageway.
Gov.UACurrency is the hryvnia (UAH); petrol/diesel run roughly UAH 55-65 per litre (~EUR 1.25/L). Cards work in cities but carry cash for rural areas and checkpoints; declare amounts over EUR 10,000 equivalent at the border.
National Bank of UkraineDial 112 for all emergencies (101 fire, 102 police, 103 ambulance). Operators in major cities usually speak English; rural areas Ukrainian only.
Ministry of Internal AffairsWe'll build the itinerary, estimate fuel + tolls, and show EV chargers along the route, and this checklist appears automatically on every trip that crosses into Ukraine.
Start planning →Places to add to your Ukraine road trip.
Don't get caught out
Traffic drives on the right; right-hand-drive UK cars are legal but limit overtaking visibility. No right turn on red unless a dedicated green arrow is shown.
FCDO safety →Urban 50 km/h, rural 90 km/h, expressways 110 km/h and motorways 130 km/h; many cities (Kyiv, Lviv) have cut urban limits to 50 km/h day and night. Speed cameras are widespread.
RAC Ukraine →BAC limit is 0.0 g/L: effectively zero tolerance, with heavy fines and licence loss. Dipped headlights are compulsory outside built-up areas from October to April and any time visibility is reduced.
RAC Ukraine →Nationwide curfew (commonly 00:00-05:00, varies by oblast) prohibits movement; military checkpoints are frequent and require headlights off, interior light on and documents ready. Photographing checkpoints or infrastructure is forbidden.
FCDO Ukraine →