Ukraine is switching to European standards for drivers: what will change from 2026

Ukraine is updating its rules on working hours and rest periods for drivers in line with EU standards. Find out what new requirements will come into force in 2026, who will be subject to them, and what will change for international transport

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Ukraine is taking another step towards harmonizing its transport legislation with European Union standards. The Ministry of Community and Territorial Development has approved a new version of the Regulations on Working Hours and Rest Periods for Drivers of Wheeled Vehicles. The relevant order No. 1727 has already been registered with the Ministry of Justice and officially published.

The document brings Ukrainian rules closer to European social standards in the field of road transport and will directly affect the working conditions of commercial transport drivers, in particular those who operate international routes.

Which European standards are being implemented in Ukraine

The new version of the regulation provides for the implementation of key EU standards. These include, in particular, the requirements of Regulation (EC) No. 561/2006, Directive 2002/15/EC, and the decision of the Ukraine-EU Joint Committee on the application of second-generation smart tachograph standards (G2V2).

The purpose of these changes is to improve road safety, protect drivers' rights, and prevent fatigue while driving during commercial transport.

Who will now be required to comply with the work and rest regime

One of the key innovations is the expansion of the circle of drivers who are subject to the requirements regarding working and rest periods, as well as the mandatory use of tachographs. For the first time, these rules apply directly to drivers, in particular individual entrepreneurs who provide international passenger transport services on request and international taxi services.

Previously, this issue was not regulated by law, which allowed some carriers to avoid using tachographs and effectively ignore the rest rules. As a result, both passengers and other road users were at risk. Now, for such transportation, provided there are more than five passenger seats, compliance with the requirements becomes mandatory.

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Weekly rest — not in the cab

The new rules also prohibit regular weekly rest in the cab of the vehicle. Such rest must be provided in appropriate conditions and financed by the carrier.

This refers to a standard weekly rest period of at least 45 consecutive hours. The driver must receive it weekly or biweekly, depending on the work schedule. The ban on resting in the cab is in line with European practice and is aimed at ensuring that drivers can truly recover their strength.

Restrictions on night work

The document clearly defines the rules for working at night. If a driver works from 10 p.m. to 6 a.m., the duration of their shift cannot exceed 10 hours.

At the same time, the work shift includes not only the time spent directly driving the vehicle, but also other types of work, such as waiting, loading, or unloading.

As a general rule, a daily shift lasts up to 13 hours, and in some cases up to 15 hours, but night work now has stricter restrictions.

Smart tachographs: when will they become mandatory

A separate provision concerns the introduction of G2V2 smart tachographs. According to a previously adopted decision of the Ukraine-EU Joint Committee, all trucks that will be registered in Ukraine for the first time after June 30, 2026, must be equipped with such devices for international transport.

The order of the Ministry of Development enshrines this requirement at the national level. As of today, there are already more than 50 service centers in Ukraine that provide smart tachograph maintenance services.

How long will driver data be stored?

Another change is the increase in the storage period for tachograph records. Now, data on the driver's working and rest time must be stored for 56 days, i.e., two months. As before, the driver must have records for the current day and the previous 56 days with them.

Companies are required to store this data for at least two years.

Who is exempt from the rules

At the same time, the order provides for a number of exceptions. The requirements for tachographs and working hours do not apply to security and defense forces, emergency and rescue services, as well as certain categories of specialized transport.

In particular, this applies to agricultural, municipal, and postal transport within 100 kilometers of the base, passenger vehicles up to 7.5 tons for transporting their own cargo, training and low-speed vehicles, transport in combat zones, and domestic commercial flights lasting up to 4 hours and 30 minutes.

What rules remain unchanged

The basic rules for driving and rest periods for drivers remain in force. Daily driving time cannot exceed 9 hours, twice a week up to 10 hours is allowed. The total limit is 56 hours per week and 90 hours per fortnight.

After 4.5 hours of driving, the driver is required to take a 45-minute break, which can be divided into 15 and 30 minutes.

When the rules will come into force

All of the above rules will become mandatory on July 26, 2026.

This gives carriers and drivers time to prepare for the changes, particularly for international trips. For Ukrainians traveling abroad in their own cars, it is important to take care not only of complying with the new rules in advance, but also of obtaining the necessary documents — in particular, a Green Card for travel in Europe, which can be conveniently obtained online through Visit Ukraine.

We remind you! Personalized license plates are popular in Ukraine, but they create problems when traveling abroad. Read why cars with personalized license plates cannot leave the country and how to properly prepare for your trip.

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