Driving to Ukraine from Spain is around 3,000 kilometres and two and a half days of driving through France, Germany and Poland, plus a 2 to 8 hour queue at the Polish-Ukrainian border. You need the car's Green Card with Ukraine included and, separately, Ukrainian medical insurance for every occupant.
Recommended route
Barcelona or Madrid → Lyon → Strasbourg → Nuremberg → Dresden → Wrocław → Kraków → Rzeszów → border. From Barcelona it is around 2,700 km; from Madrid, 3,100. Allow for tolls in France (around €80) and vignettes on some stretches, fuel (€250 to €350) and at least two overnight stops. Avoid Austria and Czechia if you want to save on vignettes; the route through Germany has toll-free motorways.
Which border crossing should I choose?
| Crossing (Poland → Ukraine) | Usual queue | Comment |
|---|---|---|
| Medyka → Shehyni | 3 to 8 h | The best known and the most congested. Near Przemyśl. |
| Korczowa → Krakovets | 2 to 5 h | On the A4 motorway. Better infrastructure, somewhat shorter queue. |
| Hrebenne → Rava-Ruska | 1 to 4 h | Further north, a good option towards Lviv or Kyiv via the M-09. |
| Dołhobyczów → Uhryniv | 1 to 3 h | Small, cars only. Short queue but access via secondary roads. |
| Budomierz → Hrushiv | 1 to 3 h | Cars only. A good alternative to Korczowa. |
Waiting times can be checked in real time on the Ukrainian State Border Guard website (dpsu.gov.ua) and on the "Кордон" Telegram channel. Crossing on a weekday and in the early hours saves hours.
Car documents
- Green Card (international insurance certificate) with the "UA" box not crossed out. Many Spanish insurers issue it but exclude Ukraine since 2022. Ask your insurer; if it is excluded, you can buy Ukrainian third-party liability insurance at the border or online (around €25 to €40 for 15 days).
- Vehicle registration document and technical inspection card. If the car is not in your name, a notarised authorisation from the owner.
- Spanish driving licence. An international driving permit is not mandatory, but it helps at checkpoints.
- Emergency kit: warning triangle, hi-vis vest, fire extinguisher and first-aid kit are mandatory in Ukraine.
Temporary import and time limits
The car enters under the temporary import regime for up to one year for foreign-registered vehicles driven by their non-resident owner. Exceeding the limit or leaving the car with a Ukrainian resident is punished with heavy fines and can end in confiscation. Note the date of the entry stamp.
Medical insurance is a separate document
The Green Card covers damage you cause to third parties with the car. It does not cover your medical care or that of your passengers. At the border you will also be asked for medical insurance from a Ukrainian insurer for every occupant of the vehicle. Buy it here; the whole car (up to 10 people) fits on a single policy.
Driving inside Ukraine
- Curfew from 00:00 to 05:00: no driving without authorisation. Plan your stages.
- Military checkpoints at the entrances to cities: dipped headlights, window down, passport to hand. They are quick with foreigners.
- Petrol and diesel available across the network (OKKO, WOG, SOCAR), at prices similar to Poland. Pay by card.
- Speed limits: 50 km/h in towns, 90 on open roads, 130 on motorways. Speed cameras are common on the exits from Kyiv and Lviv.
- Main roads are in good condition; secondary roads in the east and south may be damaged or closed.
For the return journey, expect a similar queue on the Ukrainian side and a more thorough customs check on exit.