Foreigners can rent a car in Ukraine for their own needs, but there are certain nuances to consider. Find out what requirements are imposed on foreign drivers, what you need to rent a car, and what companies and cars are best to choose

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Due to the high level of congestion at Ukrainian border crossings, more and more foreigners are choosing public transportation over their own cars to enter Ukraine. And given the fact that most foreign nationals come for private purposes, having a car to get around quickly becomes a crucial factor. That is why many foreigners are interested in renting a car in Ukraine.

We remind you that currently, you can cross the Ukrainian border only by land. Find convenient routes to enter Ukraine from your country of residence in our useful selections:

How to get to Ukraine from the USA — Canada — Poland — Germany — Slovakia — Hungary — Italy — France — the Netherlands — the Czech Republic — Lithuania — Switzerland — Sweden — Turkey — Austria — Denmark — Portugal.

You can view the bus/train schedule and buy tickets for a convenient date and time here. 

Please note! Starting from August 1, an e-Cherha for cars and buses was launched at the Ukrainian-Polish border. 

What does a foreigner need to know to rent a car in Ukraine?

There are not only national rental companies in Ukraine, but also many international companies whose services are focused on foreigners. In addition, you can rent a car in big cities using a car-sharing service directly through a smartphone app without visiting an office or service station.

Car rental in Ukraine is possible for both short and long term. That is, a foreigner can rent a car for one trip, a month or a year. It should be noted that long-term rental will be much cheaper, as many companies offer good discounts.

As a rule, cars are rented clean and with a full tank of fuel. This means that when you return the car, you need to wash and refuel it. But if this is not possible, there is an option of financial reimbursement. That is, instead of the actual washing and refueling, the lessee pays the cost of these services (additionally, or at the expense of the deposit, if one was provided).

The mileage limit and the territory of use may vary and depends on the specific conditions of the company you have chosen. Some rental companies set a limit of 300-350 kilometers per day and restrict the use of the car in a certain city or region (in this case, the car is equipped with special engine muffling systems that do not allow exceeding the established limits). However, there are also many companies on the Ukrainian rental market that do not have such strict restrictions, and you can even drive their cars abroad and then return to the country. 

It is worth noting that due to the introduction of martial law in Ukraine, companies are now imposing restrictions on the operation of cars in the frontline regions and the temporarily occupied territories of Ukraine.

So, everyone can choose a company according to their needs and budget. To make the trip comfortable and safe, we recommend that you read more about the traffic rules and other important nuances of driving in Ukraine. All useful information for foreigners planning to drive a car in Ukraine can be found here.

Please note! As a rule, the company covers the cost of car insurance on its own. However, we recommend that foreigners who come to Ukraine take care of their own safety and take out a reliable insurance policy, preferably with coverage for military risks. You can buy such a policy here. Read more about the benefits of insurance with military risk coverage here.

How a foreigner can rent a car in Ukraine: requirements for drivers and necessary documents

Car rental companies have standard requirements for drivers who want to rent a car (they apply to both foreigners and citizens of Ukraine)

— age restrictions (from 21-23 years old);

— restrictions on driving experience (at least 2-3 years).

It is worth noting that a person may be refused a car without giving a reason. This applies to cases where the renter shows signs of drunkenness or behaves inappropriately.

Documents required for a foreigner to rent a car in Ukraine:

1. Passport used to enter Ukraine

2. Driver's license.

Please note that in most cases, the lessee must pay a deposit, which serves as a guarantee in case of damage to the car during operation. If no damage is found during the car inspection, the deposit is returned to the renter in full upon returning the vehicle.

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How to choose a car rental company?

Ukraine has a large selection of car rental companies. Reputable and reliable lessors usually offer

— a wide range of cars for different budgets;

— promotional offers for both new and regular customers. In addition, discounts in such companies also apply to the car rental period (the longer the term, the cheaper);

— extended service packages, for example, the ability to drive a rented car abroad, rent without a deposit, or leasing for large customers.

Which car is better to choose?

The choice of a car depends on the needs of the lessee and where exactly it is planned to be used. 

A car for traveling around the city

For traveling within the city, we recommend choosing small-sized cars with low fuel consumption (Smart cars are ideal). This will allow you to save money while traveling, as well as move faster and not waste time looking for a parking space. After all, large cities in Ukraine are characterized by dense traffic and a limited number of available parking spaces. 

Cars for out-of-town trips

Given the state of the roads in some regions of Ukraine, it is better to choose crossovers or SUVs for long trips or for operating a car outside the regional center. The high ground clearance, increased cross-country ability, and powerful engine of such cars will allow the renter to move freely on any road. 

We remind you! When planning a trip to Ukraine, foreign citizens face a lot of questions about the rules of entry and stay in the country. Read the answers to the most common questions of foreigners from the team of Visit Ukraine migration lawyers in our previous article.

Photo: Freepik

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