Guide
Driving from Poland to Ukraine: Documents, Crossings and Map Links
Nine road crossings, all open around the clock — and a queue that can be fifteen minutes or six hours depending on which one you pick. Here is what the car needs, what you need, and where to cross.
Last updated: 2026-10-14
Documents for you and the car
- Passport (and a visa if your nationality needs one) for every person in the car.
- Driving licence. Carry an International Driving Permit as well if your licence is not in Latin script or if your country's licence is not widely recognised.
- Vehicle registration certificate.
- If the car is not yours — a power of attorney from the owner, or written permission from the leasing or rental company. Check this before you book a rental: many Polish rental companies prohibit taking cars into Ukraine at all.
- Motor liability insurance valid in Ukraine — see the next section.
- Personal medical insurance for the driver and every passenger. The car's insurance does not cover you.
Customs rules for what is in the boot — cash, medicines, goods, alcohol — are in our guide to entering Ukraine from Poland.
Car insurance: the Green Card question
Ukraine is part of the international Green Card system, under the country code UA. Before you leave, look at your Green Card: if the UA box is crossed out, your motor insurance does not apply in Ukraine. Some insurers exclude it.
If yours does not cover Ukraine, you need a Ukrainian motor liability policy for the trip. These are usually sold at or near the border crossings, but buying in advance online saves time in the queue.
And remember that motor liability pays for damage you cause to others. It pays nothing toward your own treatment if you are hurt — that is what personal medical insurance is for. More on this for professional drivers in our drivers' guide.
Bringing a foreign-registered car in
As a non-resident you can bring a foreign-registered car into Ukraine temporarily, for your personal use during the stay. It enters with you and must leave with you: you cannot sell it, lend it to a Ukrainian resident or leave it behind without going through customs clearance. Customs may record the vehicle on entry.
The nine road crossings
All nine Polish–Ukrainian road crossings operate around the clock. Polish name first, Ukrainian second. Map links open the location in Google Maps on your phone.
| Crossing | Ukrainian region | Notes | Map |
|---|---|---|---|
| Medyka – Shehyni | Lviv | Near Przemyśl. The busiest crossing, with a pedestrian lane. Queues can run to several hours. | Open map |
| Korczowa – Krakivets | Lviv | End of the A4 motorway from Kraków and Rzeszów — the main route to Lviv. Often busy. | Open map |
| Hrebenne – Rava-Ruska | Lviv | On the route from Lublin and Zamość. | Open map |
| Budomierz – Hrushiv | Lviv | Smaller crossing, often a quieter alternative to Korczowa. | Open map |
| Krościenko – Smilnytsia | Lviv | In the south, toward the Carpathians. | Open map |
| Malhowice – Nyzhankovychi | Lviv | Passenger cars. Frequently one of the shortest queues. | Open map |
| Dorohusk – Yahodyn | Volyn | Near Chełm, on the route toward Lutsk, Kovel and Kyiv. | Open map |
| Zosin – Ustyluh | Volyn | Toward Volodymyr and Lutsk. | Open map |
| Dołhobyczów – Uhryniv | Volyn | Smaller crossing toward Sokal and Chervonohrad. | Open map |
Vehicle categories at each crossing — cars, buses, trucks, pedestrians — change from time to time. Check the current status on the State Border Guard Service website, dpsu.gov.ua, before you set off.
Picking a crossing
- Check live queues before you commit. The State Border Guard Service and several queue-monitoring services publish waiting times. Medyka and Korczowa can show five or six hours while Malhowice or Budomierz show fifteen minutes.
- A detour often wins. Thirty extra minutes of driving to a quieter crossing regularly saves hours of standing.
- Avoid Friday evenings, Sundays and the days around holidays, when queues build in both directions.
- Fill up in Poland and carry water and food — once you are in the queue you cannot leave it.
Driving in Ukraine under martial law
- Curfew is set regionally, and local authorities are recommended to set it from 01:00 to 05:00. Plan the drive so you reach your destination before it starts — a long queue can push you into curfew hours.
- Air-raid alerts apply on the road too. Install an official alert app, and if a red alert is declared, follow local instructions and avoid stopping near bridges, fuel depots or other infrastructure. How the two levels work: yellow and red alerts explained.
- Checkpoints inside the country are normal. Keep passports, the vehicle documents and your insurance at hand.
- Stay out of restricted areas. Areas of active hostilities, a 50 km band around them and territories under a special access regime are also outside the cover of the medical policy sold on this site.
Emergencies on the road
112 is the single emergency number; 102 police, 103 ambulance. For medical help, call the assistance line on your certificate — 0 800 501 001 within Ukraine, +38 044 247 44 77 from a foreign number. Embassy contacts: our embassies in Kyiv guide.
Frequently asked questions
Are the Poland–Ukraine border crossings open 24 hours?
Yes. All nine road crossings between Poland and Ukraine operate around the clock. Vehicle categories can change, so check the State Border Guard Service before travelling.
Which Poland–Ukraine border crossing is fastest by car?
It changes daily. Medyka–Shehyni and Korczowa–Krakivets are usually the busiest; smaller crossings such as Malhowice–Nyzhankovychi and Budomierz–Hrushiv often have short queues. Check live waiting times before choosing.
Is my Green Card valid in Ukraine?
Only if the UA box is not crossed out. If your insurer excludes Ukraine, buy a Ukrainian motor liability policy for the trip — usually available at or near the crossing, or online in advance.
Can I take a rental car from Poland to Ukraine?
Only with the rental company's written permission, and many Polish rental companies prohibit it. Check before booking.
Does car insurance cover my medical treatment in Ukraine?
No. Motor liability insurance covers damage you cause to others. Personal medical insurance is a separate document needed for every person in the car.
Get your certificate before you travel
Instant PDF, accepted at every open crossing. From €3.56.
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