Can Ukrainians use their driving licences in the EU?

Many Ukrainians in the EU face uncertainty: can they continue to drive with Ukrainian licences or do they need to urgently exchange them for local ones? Despite uniform European rules, different situations arise in practice, so it is important to understand what is actually permitted, how long Ukrainian licences are valid and in which cases fines may be imposed

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After moving to the European Union, many Ukrainians faced a practical question: can they continue to drive with a Ukrainian driving licence, or do they need to exchange it for a local one, and why is everything fine in some countries, while in others they are fined? This topic has become particularly sensitive after reports of cases where Ukrainians were issued with fines for ‘not exchanging their licences’. Let's take a look at what rules actually apply and how to avoid problems.

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Can you drive with a Ukrainian licence in the EU?

Ukrainian citizens under temporary protection have the right to use their valid Ukrainian driving licences without having to exchange them for local documents. This is enshrined at the European Union level and is mandatory for all member states. The European Commission has specifically emphasised that these rules must be applied equally in all countries, and therefore Ukrainian licences are considered valid for the entire duration of temporary protection.

How long are Ukrainian licences valid?

Temporary protection status for Ukrainians has been extended until 4 March 2027. This means that Ukrainians who officially hold the relevant document can legally drive a car with their Ukrainian licence throughout this period, provided that the licence itself is not expired or invalid.

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Why do fines sometimes still appear?

Despite European standards, in reality there may be situations where the police in certain countries require you to exchange your licence for a local one. Most often, this is due to the ignorance of specific officers about the specifics of the temporary protection regime or the application of standard migration rules that do not apply to Ukrainians with special status. In such cases, the fine can be appealed by referring to EU legislation and confirming your status with documents.

Obviously, the licence must be valid. If the licence is expired, lost, invalid or the driver has been disqualified from driving, it cannot be used in any country. In such situations, it is worth contacting the consular services or Ukrainian authorities to obtain a duplicate or confirmation.

What if a person is not under temporary protection

Here, everything depends on the specific country. For tourist trips, Ukrainian rights are usually valid for a limited time, and for long-term residence, it is often necessary to replace them with local documents. Therefore, the rules must be clarified individually, based on the status of residence.

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