Crossing the Ukraine - Romania border by car: route, checkpoints and everything you need to know

If you are planning to drive from Ukraine to Romania by your own car, you need to familiarise yourself with the country's rules in advance. Find out more about border crossing, convenient routes from Ukraine to Romania and traffic rules

Insurance policy Green card for traveling abroad by car

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Travelling abroad by your own car requires careful preparation and planning. We will tell you about the details of a trip to Romania by car, routes, checkpoints, the country's traffic rules and everything else that may be useful to the driver in this article.

Are you planning to drive to Romania by your own car? Don't forget about the international insurance policy Green Card! It is impossible to cross the border without it, and you can no longer buy it at the border. 

Apply for a Green Card in advance online at Visit Ukraine - quickly, conveniently and without queues.

Ukraine - Romania: documents for crossing the border

There is no need to collect a large number of documents for a trip to Romania. You can cross the border in your own car on the basis of:

● a foreign passport;

● driver's licence
● vehicle registration documents;
● international insurance policy Green Card.

Please note! Only vehicles with Ukrainian state licence plates can successfully cross the border with Romania. Individual number plates are valid only on the territory of Ukraine.

The Green Card is not just a formality, but your protection on the road in case of unforeseen situations. This insurance policy covers the costs of an accident abroad and is mandatory for entry into Romania. 

You can apply for it in just a few minutes online at Visit Ukraine - just enter your car details, choose the validity period and receive an electronic policy by e-mail.

You can calculate the cost of the policy for your car on the Visit Ukraine portal in just one click!

Technical inspection for entry to Romania: current requirements

Since Romania joined the Schengen area, this has led to updated entry rules for Ukrainian citizens. One of the key requirements for crossing the Romanian border by car is the availability of a valid vehicle inspection certificate.

The requirements for the regularity of technical inspection depend on the type of vehicle and its age.

Passenger cars:

- For new vehicles, the first technical inspection must be carried out 3 years after the first registration.

- Vehicles between 3 and 12 years old must be inspected every 2 years.

- Vehicles older than 12 years are required to undergo an annual technical inspection.

Special categories of vehicles:

- Vehicles used for commercial passenger transport (taxis, car sharing, rental) - every 6 months.

- Trucks, regardless of weight - annually.

- Trucks weighing more than 3500 kg - annual mandatory inspection.

Green Card to enter Romania

For Ukrainian citizens who plan to cross the border with Romania by their own car, a Green Card is mandatory.

The Green Card is a mandatory international motor third party liability insurance policy that covers the costs of compensation for damage caused to life, health and property of third parties as a result of an accident in Romania and other member states of the international Green Card agreement.

Without a Green Card, entry to Romania by a car with Ukrainian registration is prohibited and subject to a fine. It should be borne in mind that the insurance starts the next day after registration, so we advise you to read the terms and conditions in advance and purchase a Green Card.

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The route Ukraine - Romania: checkpoints

● Dyakove - Halmeu. Located in the Zakarpattia region, it operates around the clock. The distance to Bucharest is 637 km.

● Solotvyno - Sighetu Marmatiei. Located in the Transcarpathian region, working around the clock. The distance to Bucharest is 583 km.

● Porubne - Siret. Located in the Chernivtsi region, it operates around the clock. The nearest checkpoint to Bucharest. The distance is 488 km.

● Krasnoilsk - Vicovu de Sus. Located in the Chernivtsi region, open from 08:00 to 20:00. The distance to Bucharest is 504 km.

● Dyakivtsi - Rakovets. Located in the Chernivtsi region, working around the clock. The distance to Bucharest is 497 km.

How long will it take to get from Ukrainian cities to the Romanian border by car?

● From Kyiv:

The nearest checkpoint: Porubne - Siret.

Distance: 566 km.

Travel time: 7 hours 42 minutes.

● From Lviv:

The nearest checkpoint: Solotvyno - Sighetu Marmatiei.

Distance: 293 km.

Travel time: 4 hours and 52 minutes.

● From Odesa:

The nearest checkpoint: Dyakivtsi - Rakovets.

Distance: 663 km.

Travel time: 9 hours and 47 minutes.

● From Dnipro:

The nearest checkpoint: Dyakivtsi - Rakovets.

Distance: 863 km.

Travel time: 12 hours and 2 minutes.

● From Chernivtsi:

The nearest checkpoint: Porubne - Siret.

Distance: 37 km.

Travel time: 51 minutes.

The checkpoints on the border with Moldova are almost not busy, so you will avoid long waits and queues. You can check the waiting time at the border crossing points with Romania to enter Ukraine here.

Toll roads and vignette in Romania

There are two types of toll roads in Romania:

● General toll roads. To pay, you need to buy a road vignette. You can buy it in large shopping centres, at Rompetrol, Petrom and OMV petrol stations, as well as online on the official website. The cost of a vignette in Romania depends on its validity and the type of vehicle.

Please note! A fine of up to EUR 940 is imposed on the driver for not having a vignette in Romania.

● Roads that are paid additionally. Payment is made on the spot. Additional tolls are charged for the journey:

- some bridges: Giurgiu (RO) - Ruse (BG), Calafat (RO) - Vidin (BG), Festesti - Chernavoda, Giurgeni - Vadul Oii;
- via ferries: Bechet (RO) - Oreahovo (BG), Calarasi (RO) - Silistra (BG), Turnu Magurele (RO) - Nikopol (BG), Zimnicea (RO) - Svishtov (BG).

Ferry services from Ukraine to Romania

Currently, a daily ferry service from the city of Orlivka in Odesa Oblast to the Romanian city of Isaccea is available from Ukraine to Romania. Two ferries run around the clock, every 30-40 minutes from 08:00 to 20:00, and every hour from 20:00 to 08:00. Read more about the route here.

You can also take a ferry to Bulgaria from several towns in Romania. Find more information about the destinations here.

Traffic rules in Romania: the main differences

● All passengers and the driver must wear seat belts (child seats or special fixing systems are required for children).
● The car must have a first aid kit, fire extinguisher, emergency stop sign and reflective vest.
● From 1 November to 31 March, the vehicle must be equipped with winter tyres. Studded tyres are prohibited, and chains may only be used in the mountains.
● Talking on the phone while driving is strictly prohibited.
● The maximum blood alcohol level is 0.0 ppm.
● Dipped beam headlamps must be switched on 24 hours a day throughout the year, regardless of weather conditions.

● Tinted windscreen and front side windows are prohibited, while tinted rear and rear side windows are not regulated by law.
● Transporting children under 12 years of age in the front seat of a car is strictly prohibited.

The following speed limits apply in Romania:

● in settlements - the maximum speed allowed is 50 km/h;
● outside of settlements - 90 km/h;
● on national and European roads - 100 km/h;
● on motorways - 130 km/h.

On some sections of roads within cities, higher speed limits may be set for vehicles of categories A and B, but not more than 80 km/h.

Penalties for traffic offences in Romania

Violation of traffic rules in Romania is punishable not only by fines. In some cases, violators of the rules risk additional penalty points, losing their driving licence for up to 90 days and being imprisoned for a period of 1 to 5 years. Thus, ignoring seat belts and talking on the phone while driving are punishable by a fine of 290 lei (~60 euros). Driving under the influence of alcohol is punishable by a much more serious penalty:

● if the blood alcohol level is less than 0.8 per cent, the fine is from 603 to 1340 lei (130 - 270 euros) + deprivation of the driving licence for up to 90 days;
● if the blood alcohol level exceeds 0.8%, the driver will be imprisoned for 1 to 5 years.

It should also be borne in mind that fines in Romania have a point system: where a fine of 1 point is calculated as 10% of the minimum economic wage in the country.

Fines for speeding violations:

● exceeding the speed limit by 10-20 km/h - from 290 to 435 lei + two penalty points;
● exceeding the speed limit by 21-30 km/h - from 580 to 725 lei + three penalty points;
● exceeding the speed limit by 31-40 km/h - from 870 to 1160 lei + four penalty points;
● exceeding 41-50 km/h - from 1305 to 2900 lei + six penalty points;
● exceeding 50 km/h - from 9 to 20 penalty points (in terms of money) + deprivation of driving privileges for 90 days.

Petrol prices in Romania

As of 9 July 2024, the following fuel prices are fixed in Romania:

● Petrol 95 - 7.54 Romanian lei per litre (UAH 66.82);
● Diesel - 7.72 Romanian lei per litre (68.42 UAH);
● Autogas - 3.47 Romanian lei (30.75 UAH).

Get ready for a stress-free trip! Apply for a Green Card online at Visit Ukraine - it's convenient, fast and profitable. You will receive an official policy from a licensed insurer without wasting time and queues. 

Don't leave it to the last minute - apply for a Green Card on the Visit Ukraine portal now!

Just a reminder. If you are planning to drive from Ukraine to Poland by your own car, you should familiarise yourself with the rules for drivers in the country to avoid unpleasant situations. Read here to find out how to cross the Ukraine-Poland border by car in 2025, as well as convenient routes, necessary documents and traffic rules.

Photo: Freepik

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