Driving to Ukraine is possible: around 1,000 km from Berlin to Lviv via the A4 or A2 and through Poland, 10–12 hours of pure driving plus a 2 to 8 hour wait at the border. You need a passport, the vehicle registration certificate, your German driving licence, a Green Card valid for Ukraine (or border insurance) and health insurance for the driver and passengers.
Which route is best from Germany?
From Berlin, Dresden and the south, take the A4: Görlitz, Wrocław, Katowice, Kraków, Rzeszów and on to the border crossing of your choice. From northern Germany, the alternative is the A2 to Warsaw and Lublin. Some Polish motorways are tolled (A4 Katowice–Kraków, sections of the A2). From Munich or Frankfurt add 400–600 km. Many travellers stay overnight in Kraków or Rzeszów and drive to the border early in the morning, when the queues are shortest.
Which border crossings can I use by car?
| Crossing (Poland → Ukraine) | Direction | Notes |
|---|---|---|
| Korczowa → Krakovets | Lviv (approx. 70 km), motorway | Continuation of the A4, often faster than Medyka |
| Medyka → Shehyni | Lviv (approx. 80 km) | The most used, open around the clock, long queues at weekends |
| Hrebenne → Rava-Ruska | Lviv (approx. 60 km) | A good alternative, medium waiting times |
| Dorohusk → Yahodyn | Kovel, Kyiv | Handy when travelling via Warsaw, heavy lorry traffic |
Current waiting times are published by the Ukrainian border guard (dpsu.gov.ua) and Polish customs. In summer and around public holidays 5–8 hours are not unusual (approximate values, as of September 2026).
Which documents do I need for the car?
- Passport (Reisepass) for every person in the vehicle. The German ID card (Personalausweis) is not enough.
- Vehicle registration certificate (Zulassungsbescheinigung Teil I) in the driver's name. If the car belongs to someone else or is leased, you need a power of attorney or the leasing company's consent, ideally with a translation.
- German driving licence: it is recognised. An international driving permit is not mandatory, but it spares you discussions at checks.
- Green Card (Grüne Karte, the International Motor Insurance Card) on which the country code «UA» is not crossed out. Note: since 2022 many motor insurers have excluded Ukraine. If your card does not cover «UA», buy Ukrainian border insurance (motor third-party liability) at the crossing — terms from 15 days to one year, from a few dozen euros (approximate).
- Health insurance for Ukraine for the driver and passengers: a separate document, independent of the motor insurance, which is checked at the border just as it is when you arrive by train.
Green Card or border insurance — which applies when?
The Green Card is sufficient if «UA» is valid on it; ask your motor insurer in writing before you leave. If Ukraine is excluded, border insurance is mandatory: you may not enter without valid third-party motor liability cover. Both cover only damage you cause to others. Neither the Green Card nor border insurance pays for your own treatment after an accident — that is what health insurance for Ukraine is for. Comprehensive (own-damage) cover for your vehicle is usually not provided in Ukraine under German contracts.
What happens with the car at customs?
A vehicle registered abroad enters duty-free for temporary private use and must be taken out again within the period customs notes on the slip issued at the crossing: keep it safe. You may not sell or lend the car in Ukraine. Cash above €10,000 has to be declared; the fuel in the tank and one spare canister are allowed; drones, body armour and radios require permits. Aid supplies in a car pass with the Ukrainian recipient's paperwork. The general allowances are in the guide Entering Ukraine as a German citizen.
Which traffic rules apply in Ukraine?
- Speed limits: 50 km/h in built-up areas, 90 outside them, 110 on expressways, 130 on motorways. Speed cameras and patrols are frequent on the main routes.
- Blood alcohol limit: 0.2 ‰, effectively zero. The penalties are high.
- Dipped headlights outside built-up areas during the day as well, from October to May.
- Military checkpoints: drive slowly, music off, passport and registration certificate ready. Do not take photographs.
- Curfew: you may not drive at night without a special permit. Plan your stages so that you arrive beforehand — times by region are in the guide on the curfew.
- Fuel is available everywhere and card payment is normal; the big chains (OKKO, WOG) have a café and clean toilets.
Car or train — which is worth it?
The car is worth it if you are transporting aid supplies or equipment, travelling as a family with a lot of luggage, or visiting several cities. For one person heading to Lviv or Kyiv, the train from Przemyśl is cheaper, faster overall and avoids the car queue at the border; the connections are described in the guide on getting to Ukraine from Germany. The health insurance is the same in both cases: buy it online before you leave, valid for the whole stay.