Tips for those planning to travel to Ukraine from abroad by car

Travelling to Ukraine by car in 2025 is possible because the country continues to welcome foreign visitors despite the ongoing war. Before travelling, you should carefully prepare for the journey and carefully read the recommendations. We will tell you more about this in this article

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Travelling to Ukraine by car in 2025 means not only freedom of choice of route, but also responsibility for preparing for the trip. Whether you are a Ukrainian returning home or a foreigner setting off on a journey, these tips will help you avoid trouble at the border and travel safely around the country.

Preparation before departure

Documents that must be in the car

Before travelling, make sure you have:

▪️ Foreign passport (valid for at least 6 months)

▪️ Driving licence (preferably international)

▪️ Vehicle registration certificate

▪️ Documents of ownership or power of attorney (if the car is not yours)

▪️ Insurance (Green Card or Ukrainian insurance if you are entering with foreign number plates).

In addition, check your car — tyre pressure, oil and brake fluid levels. You must have a spare wheel, first aid kit and fire extinguisher.

Car insurance in Ukraine: what do you need?

Ukraine is part of the area covered by international car insurance (Green Card). Without this insurance, you will not be able to enter Ukraine in your car.

However, it should not be forgotten that Ukraine is still at war and Ukrainian cities continue to suffer from air strikes. Therefore, we recommend that you take out additional insurance to help you deal with the consequences of an emergency. Mini-CASCO offers several coverage options, including risks such as accidents, natural disasters and war damage.

In addition to car insurance, you should also think about protecting yourself. On the Visit Ukraine portal, you can take out a policy for yourself — medical insurance covering military risks is an excellent option for travelling to Ukraine.

How to reduce waiting time at the border?

Before arriving at the checkpoint, prepare a set of documents, answer questions about the purpose of your visit clearly and politely, and check the current rules for importing luggage before your trip — for example, personal items up to 50 kg are not subject to customs duties, and weapons and cultural valuables can only be imported with a permit.

Please note that the most popular checkpoints with the EU are Shehyni, Krakivets, Uzhhorod, and Porubne. This means that they are also the busiest. During peak hours, queues of 4–8 hours are possible. To avoid this, monitor traffic congestion via the State Border Service of Ukraine. They often report delays or restrictions at the border.

What do border guards check?

▪️ Passport

▪️ Visa/entry stamp (if required)

▪️ Vehicle documents

▪️ Insurance

▪️ Purpose of visit

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Baggage import rules in Ukraine

Ukraine has customs rules that determine which customs corridor you will pass through:

The ‘green’ corridor can be used to transport items that are not subject to customs duties and declaration.

Persons passing through the green corridor are exempt from submitting a written customs declaration. Exemption from submitting a written customs declaration does not mean exemption from mandatory compliance with the procedure for moving goods across the customs border of Ukraine.

When using the ‘red’ customs corridor, it is permitted to transport items that must be declared in writing.

Earlier, we told you what you can bring into Ukraine and how customs rules generally work in this country.

What to consider when travelling to Ukraine

Try to stick to M- and H-class roads — they have been repaired and are now in good condition, but be more careful in remote areas: there you may encounter potholes, narrow lanes, broken road markings and limited lighting — all of which require you to slow down and be on your guard.

Observe speed limits: 50 km/h in built-up areas, 90 km/h outside built-up areas, and 110–130 km/h on motorways. Cameras record violations, and fines are real.

Checkpoints

If you are approaching the front line, be prepared for checkpoints and thorough checks: remain calm, have your passport and vehicle registration with you, clearly explain the purpose of your trip and follow the instructions of the patrol.

Checkpoints You may also encounter these in other regions of the country. They are necessary to check citizens and maintain a safe environment.

Curfew

In Ukraine, under martial law, a curfew is in effect, during which citizens are prohibited from being on the streets and in public places, except when an air raid alert has been declared in the region. If an air raid siren sounds in a populated area during curfew, citizens must take their identity documents and proceed to the nearest shelter. Movement on the streets during curfew without the appropriate documents (passes) is prohibited.

All the most important information on this topic can be found here: What are the curfew hours in different regions of Ukraine in 2025?

What to do in case of a traffic accident in Ukraine?

In case of a traffic accident in Ukraine, the first thing to do is to stop the car, turn on the hazard lights and set up an emergency stop sign. Then you need to assess the situation, see if there are any injuries, and call the appropriate services: the police (102) and/or an ambulance (103) if there are injuries. If there are no injuries, you can fill out a European accident statement form or call the police to record the accident.

Take photos of the accident site, damage, registration numbers and a diagram of the collision — this will simplify the work of the insurance company.

Then contact your insurance company — if you have mini-CASCO, they will arrange for the car to be towed away, repaired and compensated.

Additional life hacks for a comfortable journey

Useful apps:

Google Maps, Waze — for navigation

Parking UA — parking payment

eCherga — electronic queue for the border

Dія — government services, information about bomb shelters

Air Alert! — air raid monitoring

Visit Ukraine (portal) — booking accommodation and tours in Ukraine.

Best travel routes

Popular destinations:

📍 Lviv — Ivano-Frankivsk — Bukovel — Chernivtsi

📍 Kyiv — Kamianets-Podilskyi — Khotyn

📍 Odesa — Vylkove — Danube Biosphere Reserve

How to book accommodation and tours in advance

If you plan to stay overnight, book your accommodation in advance through Visit Ukraine: this will save you from overpaying and guarantee insurance and support on your route.

Visit Ukraine has compiled a list of the most essential items for Visit Ukraine.

Remember! Souvenirs from Ukraine are not just things. They are culture, talismans, warm memories and experiences. Find out what souvenirs to take home from Ukraine.

Want to know more? Read the latest news and useful materials about Ukraine and the world in the News section.

We recommend purchasing it for a safe and comfortable trip to Ukraine: 

Visit Ukraine Insurance – insurance covering military risks for entry and travel in Ukraine;

Visit Ukraine Car Insurance – car insurance with extended coverage in Ukraine;

Visit Ukraine Legal Advice – comprehensive legal support on entry to Ukraine;

Visit Ukraine Tickets – bus and train tickets to/from Ukraine;

Visit Ukraine Tours – the largest online database of tours to Ukraine for every taste;

Visit Ukraine Hotels – hotels for a comfortable stay in Ukraine;

Visit Ukraine Merch – patriotic clothing and accessories with worldwide delivery.

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