The information on this page was collected from public resources and does not constitute legal advice.
Are there any differences in traffic rules in this country compared to Ukrainian ones?There are some minor differences between Dutch and Ukrainian traffic rules. The most important one regarding the speed limit:
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Is it possible to drive a car with a Ukrainian driver's license?Yes, assuming you fall within the scope of the temporary protection directive. Until March 4, 2023, you can drive a car with a Ukrainian driverโs license without any administrative obligations. |
Is it necessary to register the car in the new country of residence?No, for now it is not necessary to register a car if you do not want to apply for a Dutch registration sign on your car. |
Is it possible to drive a car that has Ukrainian registration, but is registered not to the driver, but to another person? What documents are needed for this?In general, if you have a valid driverโs license, this is possible. Depending on your insurance however this might not be allowed. |
Is it necessary to insure the car in the host country? Is Ukrainian insurance enough?Yes, it is necessary to have car insurance. Refugees from Ukraine can renew their car insurance from Ukraine or get car insurance in the Netherlands, even if the insurance is not on a Dutch license plate. The owner or license plate holder of a motor vehicle is obliged to take out insurance under the Motor Insurance Liability Act (WAM), if this vehicle is used in traffic in the Netherlands. The WAM is based on a European directive. The insurance obligation under the WAM does not apply to motor vehicles normally based in another country and stored in another country and thus have a foreign registration number, if that country is part of the so-called "green card system. Ukraine is part of this system, as well as all EU countries. Under this system, motor vehicles must have insurance with international coverage (a green card) when entering another other green card country. Inquiries with the Association of Insurers appear to show that insurers issuing green cards in Ukraine are still doing so. This means that car insurance policies can be renewed by Ukrainian insurers. Should this still not be possible, the Vereende offers a solution. De Vereende is a Dutch insurer specialized in insuring special risks. De Vereende offers refugees from Ukraine a so-called "Short Term Insurance''. That insurance offers coverage for three months and can be extended for a maximum of three months extension. More information on this can be found here |
What is a vignette? Do Ukrainian drivers need to buy it? How and where can they buy it?A vignette means that you are paying a fee to use a certain area of the road. In the Netherlands, we do not have a vignette in the strict sense of the word. However, in Sealand to use a certain road you need to pay a (small) fee. You do not need to buy this vignette in advance, but when you are driving toward the roads you will need to pay the fee and can then continue your drive. |
What are the parking rules?There are certain places where you are not allowed to place your car either for a short moment or long-term parking:
In urban areas you have specified parking places. In general it is not allowed to park at the side of the roads, unless there is a specific parking place. However, in some areas it is allowed to park at the side of the roads. It is most of the time required to pay for parking within central areas of cities. |
What are the most common fines? How and where can Ukrainians pay them?The most common fines are fines for parking without paying or parking at spots that you are not allowed to and fines for exceeding the speed limits. If you get a fine for parking without paying or parking at spots that you are not allowed to, in general you will find a ticket directly attached onto your car. This letter contains the information, and sometimes even a QR code which gives you the opportunity to pay. For speeding tickets, you will receive a letter connected to the address of the registration of your carโs license plate. |
What documents are required for registration of trailers/cargo (equipment, furniture, etc.)?You need to obtain a registration for the trailer which means that you need to register for a license plate. Registering a license plate can be done at the local state council, and they can help you with the exact documents that you need. This depends on the question whether you have bought a trailer or brought one from Ukraine. |
Do Ukrainians need to declare what they bought in Europe?If you are buying things in Europe without the aim of bringing it back to Ukraine, in general you do not need to declare. If you are leaving the EU, the EU custom rules apply, which means that you have to declare certain medicines, money above 10,000 euro and that legally forbidden stuff is not allowed to cross the border. |