Driving through Ukraine. Easy? or Not?

[BigO]

Hi All,

I'm planning to drive out to the Stans via Poland, Ukraine, then Russia in April 2013.

As far as I can tell Ukraine is drivable without too many issues. Though I been told of the possibilities of charges at the border.

Has anybody driven through recently? and if so what were the issues you need to prepare for?

Jon
Big O's Adventures

[Tiger3]

hello, I travel the south ok ukrainia, . (kerck /bolrad Border at moldavia)
many policemen , but no problem if you take care at radar speed.
i go to the stan in may ;
tiger

[peter-denmark]

Drove there with my wife in a Citroen C5 last summer. Completely hassel-free. I found Romania more accomodating for travelers though, but don't let that put you off.

Romania is very nice and the transylvania region would be awesome on two wheels.

Happy roads!

[markharf]

Speed limit drops at the point where a sign is posted indicating any sort of town. New speed limit may not be posted--you're expected to know this. There are often police hiding just past that point.

Most roads are of the long and boring sort. The (few) mountainous areas are nice.

I don't recall any particular trouble at the borders on two trips there, although I think that was one of the very rare places where the border guards noticed I was using a photocopied registration document rather than the real thing.

Mark

[motoreiter]

Originally Posted by markharf

Speed limit drops at the point where a sign is posted indicating any sort of town. New speed limit may not be posted--you're expected to know this. There are often police hiding just past that point.

Most roads are of the long and boring sort. The (few) mountainous areas are nice.

I don't recall any particular trouble at the borders on two trips there, although I think that was one of the very rare places where the border guards noticed I was using a photocopied registration document rather than the real thing.
Mark

Completely agree with Mark on all points. Watch out for speeding tickets. They also noticed my photocopied title, I think they use an ultraviolet lamp or something to look for watermarks on the document. The guy spent quite some time looking at my document, turning it over, and then asked me if I had any other documents. I said no, and they let me in, but that was the only place that has happened...

[strimstrum]

We entered Ukraine from Russia at the Taganrog/Novoazovsk border crossing heading north west to avoid going into Moldova and then south to Chernivsti before entering Romania - some 1500 kms or so in Ukraine.

Although we saw lots of traffic cops/radar we had no hassles as we kept within the limits (most of the time) and had no problems or fees at border crossings coming in or leaving - just the usual scramble at the kiosks and jostling to get your documents cleared.

Roads, on the whole, were not too bad compared with some of the ones we encountered in Siberia - maybe the odd manhole cover missing so perhaps not a good idea to drive/ride at night.

People were very friendly and always welcoming.

[motoreiter]

I forgot to mention one thing: when you enter Ukraine, get a tourist visa rather than a transit visa--IIRC with a transit visa you need to specify the exit point, but with a tourist visa you don't. I got a transit visa and didn't know about this rule, so they made a slight fuss when I exited at the "wrong" border crossing.

[colebatch]

Originally Posted by motoreiter

The guy spent quite some time looking at my document, turning it over, and then asked me if I had any other documents.

Another document .... such as a portrait of Andrew Jackson "document"?

[sciii]

On Russia - Ukrain border (Kursk - Gluhovo) customs official (Ukrains) asked for a gift in offical room, I rejected him ("gift remained in Siberia") and I had no problem.

[MuzToo]

Hi. We found the major roads extremely bus with trucks, cars, horse wagons, drunken people.... so we did as many unpaved road, mainly in the south as possible. Great fun, friendly people, best bush camps, no police.

[BigO]

Thanks guys. Did anybody get charged any fees when entering Ukraine with their car? i.e car registration fees

[Kestrel_KLR]

Originally Posted by BigO

Thanks guys. Did anybody get charged any fees when entering Ukraine with their car? i.e car registration fees

Cost me $25 at the Russian/Ukraine border my first time then I learned how the Maybe Document Problem scam worked. Carry USD $5 $10 increments for when you get caught SPEEDING, CROSSING NO PASSING SOLID LINE or doing U-TURNS, it can get expensive.