Driving in Ukraine

[straggler]

Hi all,

I'm looking at taking my car (bog standard Peugeot 406 - I'm into the whole banger thing) for a trip round Ukraine. I'd be crossing from Poland. My UK car insurance would not cover me outside the EU. Is it easy to buy insurance at the border (I speak no Polish, Ukrainian or Russian)? And is there anything else I'd need apart from this and an IDP?

Thanks!

[JanTheMongol]

Be careful with the "police" and stay as far as you can from them.

[chris gale]

Avoid driving at night and don't underestimate distances involved. We did both a few years ago riding from Slovakia to Lviv. Coming back the same way after a few days in what was a cracking city we came across a hole in the road on a slight bend that had a branch poking out of it as a warning. My friend has a pic of his zx600 in the hole up to its saddle, we got some locals to put it in there just for fun and some cash. They thought we were nuts but everyone laughed when they stood back....... So mind the potholes

[markharf]

I've been in Ukraine twice, for just a couple of days each trip. I don't remember specifically about insurance, but I didn't have any real trouble so there must have been something available. Like you, I speak no Russian or Ukrainian, which was a minor problem but never insurmountable. I brought a couple of pages of Lonely Planet phrasebook hints, which occasionally came in handy.

There are often speed traps on the edges of towns. I got stopped once or twice, but managed to out-wait them. Patience is key.

I also was required to produce my original registration (ownership document) at the border--one of the very few times in the world I've not been able to use a laminated copy. The border guards were notably humor-less, and again patience was the key.

Hope that's helpful.

Mark

[duibhceK]

You can get insurance for Ukraine at the border. Although in my experience not at the border itself, we got ours at a little grocery shop just after the border. Ask the border guards / custom. They'll be able to point you in the right direction.
our biggest challenge was to get the insurance lady to understand we wanted insurance for Ukraine, not for the EU.
I doubt the insurance is worth anything but it is good to have it because the police will take any opportunity to complement their rather limited wages.

[Snakeboy]

Police in Ukraine is the worst I have encountered EVER around the world. They had fake breathalyzers that showed more than 4/00 blood-alcohol level on a totally sober fellow rider and they demanded 500 € from him. Just be very careful with those bastards.

[Tenere99]

Originally Posted by Snakeboy

Police in Ukraine is the worst I have encountered EVER around the world. They had fake breathalyzers that showed more than 4/00 blood-alcohol level on a totally sober fellow rider and they demanded 500 € from him. Just be very careful with those bastards.

+1 Be aware that the legal blood alcohol level in Ukraine is ZERO. And don't confuse the corrupt thieving police with the the ordinary citizens who are helpful and friendly to a degree seldom seen anymore.

[straggler]

Thanks for the replies.

I've lived and travelled in quite a few countries that have "interesting" police tactics. Not sure if driving a 22 year old, foreign-registered car will help or hinder me in this respect. Maybe they will realise I am not a wealthy man!

Not a fan of driving at night in any country but will definitely try and avoid it in Ukraine.

Cheers!

[straggler]

Is it easy to exchange money (Euros and/or Polish Zloty)? And are cash machines easy to find and/or advisable to use (just had my card hacked so a bit wary.....)

Cheers!

[klausmong1]

Well, I have been a few times now in Ukraine and never had a problem with korrupt police.

Only with korrupt border officers

[NicoGSX]

Originally Posted by straggler

Is it easy to exchange money (Euros and/or Polish Zloty)? And are cash machines easy to find and/or advisable to use (just had my card hacked so a bit wary.....)

In most larger towns there are exchange booths open also in the evening and by night. Most of the time you'll easily spot the booths because they have displays hanging with red digits showing the current rate. During the day you can also exchange your money in regular bank offices, they give the same rate than the above mentioned booths.

In smaller towns, beware that there might be no exchange available after office hours. Last year I came to Khmelnytski after 6 PM - all exchange booths were closed.

If possible, take EUR or USD rather than Polish Zloty. Not that you would be stuck with PLN, rather that it's always easier with EUR and USD everywhere.

Using cash machines and paying with credit card is safe. When you withdraw cash from the ATM there's a small fee - as in most places around the world.

[duibhceK]

Originally Posted by klausmong1

never had a problem with korrupt police.

Only with korrupt border officers

It was the other way around for us. Cops looking for "coffee money" with trumped up speeding infractions and friendly and uncommonly cheerful border officials.
Only once a border officer came to ask whether we had any gifts or cigarettes for him. He was just as friendly after we told him no.

[Lexozz]

As a Ukrainian I can definitely agree that you must avoid driving at night but with a one remark: it can be acceptable on the main roads like Lviv-Kyiv or Kyiv-Odessa (yes, pretty much it ).
Problems with a night driving outside of main routes is a bad pavement condition, lack of lights along the road and no road marking (e.g. horizontal sings).
Also driving +20 kmh to a speed limit is "legal" (e.g. no fines, but a warning), but not recommended though.
Cops outside of the big cities or main roads would most probably stop you and will try to find ANYTHING to hook you up for a bribe. Unfortunately this is a really big problem that is starting to solve in big cities.
Green card insurance is required.

https://www.instagram.com/lexozz_on_two/

[moggy 1968]

I've travelled to Ukraine a number of times and can confirm the police are a pain. They will generally ask for 50 euros, avoid paying anything but certainly no more than 10 euros. Keep your fines money seperate to your main stash (no more than 20 euros) or they will just use you as a cash machine. I also got caught by the breathalyser scam last time I was there.
I think I got my card cloned in Ukraine so avoid using anything but bank ATMs and avoid paying for stuff on your card.
Never really had a problem with having to pay bribes on the border, although if you don't speak Russian you might have to pay someone 20 euros or so to translate for you. The borders take a long time (20 hours back into Poland being my record!) so get chatting to the people around you and you might be able to get one of them to help with the paperwork.
The roads are shit! I did drive at night though without any problems, except to the east there are regular roadblocks and the police have an armed soldier with them because of the russian situation (or they did when I was there 2 years ago but maybe thats changed now)
Last time I was in a mercedes CLK so your peugeot will have no trouble. As above, despite the police being arseholes the people are really lovely (mostly!). Food is cheap and so is accommodation.

[ooogra]

indeed police can be a pain (if you do just one simple mistake, they'll just check all your documents and stuff and try find something to get more money out of you) but luckily I speak a little of Russian and could get out of most of uncomfortable situations. still what was more of a shock is hotel/motel accommodations. am not that picky but as long as you not in the places remotely related to tourism the quality of service and rooms changes drastically. once was driving through Alexandria, a small city and I barely found a place to stay (just in case someone else will be passing trough it, here's that hotel https://www.phnr.com/en)