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The Ukrainian national currency is "hryvnia" (UAH). 10 UAH equal approx. 90 Cents. There are banknotes of 1 UAH, 2 UAH, 5 UAH, 10 UAH, 50 UAH, 100 UAH, 200 UAH, and 500 UAH. 1 UAH consists of 100 kopecks. There are 1, 2, 5, 10, 25, 50 kopeck coins and 1 UAH coins. There are a lot of money exchange points, therefore it is not a problem to exchange money. If you are to exchange your Travellers' Cheques into cash, go to a bank. Visa and MasterCard are commonly accepted in hotels and restaurants, whereas American Express is not so popular.
Foreign citizens are entitled to seek urgent medical aid at any state or communal public health institution in Ukraine.
In order to obtain urgent medical aid foreign citizens need to have medical insurance that guarantees the coverage of provided aid.
Foreign citizens without medical insurance cover the cost of provided aid personally.
The cost of urgent medical aid provided to foreign citizen who temporarily stay in Ukraine is determined by medical institution that has provided the aid within the limits of treatment costs determined in accordance with the Procedure approved by the Ministry of Public Health of Ukraine.
If the cost of medical aid provided to the foreign citizen exceeds the amount covered by the insurance policy or certificate, the difference is compensated to the public health institution of Ukraine that has provided the aid by the corresponding insurance company or, in case the foreign citizen has no medical insurance, by him/her personally.
The payment for medical aid provided to foreign citizens can be effected by cashless transfer or in cash at the corresponding public health institution of Ukraine.
If the foreign citizen refuses to cover the cost of provided medical aid, the issue of compensating the expenses incurred by the public health institution of Ukraine in relation to provision of medical aid to the said citizen is resolved with the participation of appropriate foreign missions in Ukraine.
If you have all documents and visa if needed, you should have no problems travelling to Ukraine by car.
There is zero tolerance to alcohol when driving in Ukraine.
It is obligatory for both the driver and the passenger to fasten seat belts.
Speed Limits in Ukraine:
Petrol prices:
95 petrol – approx. 9.00 – 10.50 UAH/litre
Main roads are being reconstructed now, the rest are in varying conditions. The quality of roads in cities also varies from very good to something you couldn't call a road at all.
Any foreigner may bring a car into Ukraine. You will need to have the vehicle registration certificate from your home country, as well as your international driving license. When you cross the border, you will be asked for the car's license plate number, and customs officers will put a special stamp in your passport. The stamp is for the "temporary import" of your car into Ukraine and will have your license plate number on it. This procedure is free.
Border police and customs officers will expect to see you leave the country in the same car as when you entered. In this case, they put another stamp in your passport with your license plate number. If you are leaving Ukraine temporarily without your car, you will have to explain this to them, but there shouldn't be any problems. There will only be problems if they can see you have brought several cars in and are leaving without them, which would suggest that you have been selling them in Ukraine and should be paying import duties. Your vehicle information will be entered into the computer at your border crossing.
Automobiles with steering wheels on the right side are allowed in Ukraine, but they may only be driven by their foreign owners or when the owner is riding in the car.
Insurance: check if insurance companies in your country cover Ukraine. If not, you can buy insurance on the border.
When car accidents occur in Ukraine, drivers are required to leave their cars on the scene of the accident until traffic police come and write up a report. This rule often creates traffic problems in large cities. When drivers don't want to involve police and insurance companies, sometimes they agree on a cash settlement on the spot.
There are a few disadvantages to driving in Ukraine that car owners should be aware of:
Ukrainian traffic police (DAI) are quite active on major roads. Traffic police have long had a reputation for fishing for bribes. They may try to find something wrong with your documents, your mandatory emergency flares, or your car even if you committed no traffic infringement. Or they might scare you with a hefty official fine and lengthy procedures for a real violation, then offer you an "easier way out."
Until recently, fines for driving violations were ridiculously small, but they have jumped up to € 40 - € 100 even for many smaller violations.
After stopping you, traffic police will ask to see your vehicle registration certificate, driver's license, and passport (to check for the entry stamp). They are not paranoid about driver violence and may have you get out of the car to talk. Traffic police are known to check for "warning triangles" and first-aid kits, which every car is supposed to have, and wheedle a bribe out of you if you don't have them. If everything is okay, they will let you go without a fee, of course.
In general, traffic police will not stop you more often for having foreign plates, and they are not prepared to chatter away with you in English. If you waste too much of their time, they will usually let you go. They have better things to do.
To rent a car in Ukraine you will need a valid driving license and a credit card. The major international brands have offices in Kyiv, Lviv, Donetsk and Kharkiv and at all major airports as well. Renting a car in Ukraine is quite expensive. Some companies offer a discount if you book the car online.
