How can a foreigner buy a car in Ukraine?

Foreigners can buy cars in Ukraine, but only if they have certain documents and follow the vehicle registration procedure. Find out everything about buying a car by a person who does not have Ukrainian citizenship

Apply for a car insurance policy at Visit Ukraine - guaranteed protection on the road in just 5 minutes!

BUY

A car is an important purchase in every person's life. In fact, buying a car is considered the second most important purchase after buying real estate. When it comes to large expenses, they need to be approached thoughtfully and responsibly, especially if you are a foreigner who has just settled in a new country.

How can a foreigner buy a car in Ukraine? Below are the main steps and tips that will help you buy a car in Ukraine.

Choosing a car

First of all, you need to choose the vehicle that you plan to buy, to do this, decide on the type, make and model of the car.

Consider your needs, budget and preferences. Also pay attention to the technical condition of the car, year of manufacture and mileage if you plan to buy a used car.

Where can a foreigner buy a car in Ukraine?

At the second stage, decide where you will buy your car, there are also several options:

1. Buying a new car in a showroom

Of course, the first option that comes to mind after deciding to buy a car is to contact specialized showrooms. They operate throughout Ukraine and offer cars of different brands. The advantage is that you can also save money with such a purchase.

How to save money when buying a car from a showroom in Ukraine?

- Look for cars of the previous year of release, very often they do not differ much in equipment, but they cost a little cheaper.

- View models from the test fleet of the official dealer - showrooms regularly update the fleet of cars used for test drives. And this is a real chance to buy the most complete car with low mileage at a bargain price.

- Buy the car that is already presented in the showroom, and do not take a car to order. From the point of view of saving the budget, buying a car from an importer or dealer's warehouse is always cheaper, because when forming a warehouse, the importer chooses more advantageous “combinations”, both in terms of equipment and price. Therefore, you can find the best option here.

- The equipment of a car is an important criterion that largely determines the comfort and safety of driving a car. And if the choice is between the average and top-end equipment, it makes sense to give preference to the second, although, at first glance, this car costs more, but installing additional systems after the purchase will be much more expensive.

Important! If you do not have enough money to buy a new car in Ukraine, you can consider applying for a loan.

2. Buying a used car in Ukraine

It is worth looking for used cars on the Internet. Most sellers place ads on large platforms, such as AUTO.RIA, OLX.UA, RST.UA, etc.

However, when buying a used car, you should check it carefully, because sellers do not always tell the whole truth about the history of the vehicle.

Problems you may encounter when buying a used car:

- Inflated mileage - using special devices, scammers inflate the mileage, making it less than the real one.

- Recovery after a major accident - the car is repaired, but it is not always possible to restore the safety system (in particular, the operation of airbags), this can be a threat to your life in the event of a repeated accident. Also, a damaged car is more prone to problems with the body, chassis, etc.

- Problems with documents (forgery of documents, a car is wanted, the VIN code in the documents does not match the real one, etc.).

How to check a used car before buying?

To check the history of the car, use specialized databases and services where you can find out about possible accidents, changes of owner and other important facts.

If you are not confident in your knowledge or want to make sure of the quality of the car you are buying, contact professional mechanics or experts for verification.

Also, before buying a car, you must undergo a thorough inspection. This includes a technical inspection, checking the chassis and engine numbers, as well as checking the car for legal restrictions (arrests, liens). For this, you can contact the service centers of the Ministry of Internal Affairs or also independent experts.

3. Specialized fleet

Often car owners hand over their cars for sale to a special fleet, this is very convenient, because you can come, look at several options at once, compare and choose the best one. Also, experts will help you choose a car.

However, do not forget that this is still a used car and before buying, be sure to carry out all the above checks.

Don't want to miss important updates and useful articles? Subscribe to our weekly newsletter!

Signing the sales contract

After inspecting the car and agreeing on the price with the seller, you must sign the sales contract. The contract must be concluded in writing and contain all the important details of the transaction, including the technical characteristics of the car, the price and the data of the parties.

Procedure for registering a car by a foreigner in Ukraine

Registration of vehicles by citizens of foreign countries is carried out at the TSC of the Ministry of Internal Affairs on a general basis, provided that they have a temporary or permanent residence permit in Ukraine.

- List of documents required for vehicle registration at the TSC of the Ministry of Internal Affairs

In the case of purchasing a new vehicle in Ukraine or a vehicle from abroad:

1. Residence permit.

2. Identification code.

3. Certificate of conformity.

4. Document confirming the legality of the purchase of the vehicle (sales contract, in case of purchase from the manufacturer - acceptance and transfer certificate).

5. Receipt for payment of the fee for mandatory state pension insurance (only for passenger cars).

6. Payment documents (receipts) certifying the payment of the administrative service and the fee for blank and special products.

7. Cargo and customs declaration, customs certificate (for foreign-made cars).

8. Vehicle registration certificate issued by a foreign country (for cars imported from abroad).

In the case of drawing up a contract of sale of a used vehicle, a citizen of a foreign country must provide the following to the TSC of the Ministry of Internal Affairs:

1. Residence permit.

2. Identification code.

The seller, on his part, must have:

1. Vehicle registration certificate.

2. Passport.

3. Taxpayer certificate.

4. Conclusion of the Expert Service of the Ministry of Internal Affairs about the vehicle.

Important! The conclusion/information about the expert examination of the vehicle is not mandatory and can be carried out at will when re-registering the vehicle.

Car insurance

After re-registering the vehicle, do not forget to take out insurance:

1. Motor Third Party Liability Insurance (MTPL)

Compulsory civil liability insurance policy. This document is an important financial protection for every vehicle owner, as it protects him from significant material costs and legal complications in the event of an emergency on the road. The insurance policy guarantees financial coverage for losses to third parties that may arise as a result of a road accident.

Important! Only those persons who have a residence permit in Ukraine can purchase a motor vehicle civil liability insurance, insurance is issued exclusively for cars with Ukrainian license plates.

2. Mini Hull

Voluntary car insurance, which is the optimal solution for car owners who want to protect their vehicle, but are not ready to overpay for full Hull. This type of insurance provides basic but effective protection against the most common risks. Important advantages of Mini Hull are also that the insurance provides coverage for war risks and is suitable for cars with Ukrainian and foreign registration.

So, buying a car is an important step that should be approached with all seriousness in order to avoid possible problems in the future. Therefore, be sure to carefully check the car before buying and go through the proper vehicle registration procedure.

Also remember the importance of insurance, which can protect you from unforeseen expenses in the future.

Let us remind you! Foreigners have the opportunity to sell real estate in Ukraine, however, the procedure for buying and selling and subsequent transfer of ownership has certain nuances that need to be taken into account. We have already talked about the procedure for selling housing by a person who does not have Ukrainian citizenship.

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