Driving Permit for Ukraine

Ukraine drives on the right and is a contracting party to the 1968 Vienna Convention on Road Traffic, so it recognises the 1968-model International Driving Permit. Visitors can generally drive on a home licence that complies with the convention, but carrying an IDP alongside it is strongly recommended — and it becomes practically essential when your licence is not in a Latin-script, convention-compliant format, since police and rental staff need to be able to read it. Ukrainian service centres issue 1968-model IDPs to residents, and the same standard is what officials expect from foreign drivers.

At the rental desk, expect the paperwork to be checked closely. International brands operating in Ukraine, such as Sixt, require every driver to present a full valid licence plus a passport, and ask for an IDP unless the licence was issued in one of a limited list of mostly European countries. The typical minimum rental age is 21 with at least two years of driving experience, and some vehicle categories require drivers to be 25 or older. Document checks by the National Police are routine, and under martial law checkpoints are common, so keep your licence, IDP, passport and insurance within reach.

Local rules are stricter than many visitors expect. The drink-driving limit is effectively zero, with only a 0.02% tolerance for alcohol-containing medicines. Dipped headlights are compulsory in daytime from 1 October to 30 April, and running lights are required outside built-up areas. Cars must carry a warning triangle, first aid kit and fire extinguisher, and winter tyres with at least 4mm of tread are expected between November and April. On the plus side, Ukraine has no toll roads and no vignette system. Note that most governments currently advise against travel to Ukraine — verify advisories and curfew rules before planning any trip.