It may be a great idea to choose car rental for independent travel around Ukraine. Cheap car rental in Ukraine is not a dream but a reality. Compared to other European destinations, such as Rome, where car rental starts at 50 euros per day not including ridiculously high gas prices, in Ukraine, it’s at least twice cheaper. Let’s discuss the specifics of renting a car in Ukraine from an affordable local versus international service and their requirements.

REQUIREMENTS FOR CAR RENTAL IN UKRAINE

Firstly, we would like to share with you certain local requirements for renting a car in Ukraine. If you are an experienced car renter, you already know that service providers require some documents which are dictated by local laws. What are those in Ukraine? Let’s check them out!

In order to be a driver in Ukraine, you have to be of a certain age. If in the USA one can drive a car since the age of 14 (even though with restrictions), in Ukraine it is not possible to get behind the wheel under any circumstance until you reach the age of 18.

In general, local car renting services require their customers to be at least 21-25 years old. On premium cars, there is a minimum 30 years’ age requirement. These limitations guarantee that there are only responsible and experienced drivers on the road.

Another requirement for those who are looking to rent a car in Ukraine is an international license. This license looks the same way in all European countries. So, the good news is that there is no need to get any additional verifications or certifications if you already have a standard international driving permit.

The last but not the least important consideration is the deposit. Every car rental service provider will ask you to leave a deposit. In Ukraine, standard sums are the following:

• $40 for a standard-class car
• $50-60 for a premium car

Please note that the above deposits apply to local rental companies. International firms will charge more. For example, Hertz sometimes charges 50% of the whole rental price with a minimum $200 deposit. These deposits can usually be waived at the expense of more lengthy or expensive rental agreement.

THE MAIN QUESTION: FOREIGN OR LOCAL?

In Ukraine, car rental companies have specific requirements. You may opt for an international name or choose a local company. There are such international companies as SixT or Hertz. There are also local services.

WHY CHOOSE INTERNATIONAL SERVICE?

When you deal with an international service provider, you may also encounter fees for additional drivers. For instance, if you would like to switch driving places with your friend, you would have to pay around $10 per every day for this option.

In addition, foreign car rental services charge a young driver fee. As already discussed, you have to be at least 21 to be able to rent a car in Ukraine. But, when dealing with foreign companies, you will have to pay extra $25-30 per day unless you are 25 or older. With local rental services, there are usually no such charges.

Another important aspect to consider before renting a vehicle is short-term vs. short-term car rental options. This is what will determine the final cost calculation. The best way to demonstrate the differences between these options is on an actual example.

Let’s take a look at 2 options below:

Check out 2 options below:

A SixT car for 2-3 days (pick up and drop off in Kyiv) will cost you $80 per day if you are 25 or older. However, if you go above 400 kilometers, you will have to pay $0.23 per extra kilometer. This calculation excludes gas which costs around $1.1 per liter. There is an option to add one more driver for $15 daily.

The same car rented for 3 weeks will cost you $50 per day. However, you will get fewer kilometers included, but, on the positive side, excess mileage is less expensive ($0.2 per kilometer). You can also get unlimited free kilometers for 5$ per day. An additional driver will cost only $1 per day.

In both cases, the company will offer different insurance plans which may cost you up to $20 per day if you rent a car short-term. If you rent long-term, basic loss and damage insurance will be free.

Having compared these two options, it becomes obvious that an international car service offers more attractive conditions for long-term rental. However, do not forget about parking fees which will be different depending on the parking spot of your choice.

Normally, parking in Kyiv starts at $1 per hour but would be cheaper with a daily or monthly subscription.

WHY GO LOCAL?

Let’s make some more calculations. Talking about the local services, their approach is not as elaborate as that of the international firms. Most likely local car rental services will not provide a calculation per every cent of their services. They often have just a flat deposit fee and a flat price that includes a basic insurance. Gas would be the full responsibility of the renter.

For example, let’s take a look at the Ukrainian car rental service whose offices are present all over Ukraine. The rent for a local car per day starts at $25 but you would need to leave a deposit of $150 for such low rental price. You do get basic insurance and limited mileage with this company.

It is clear that there are some reliable local service providers which have a presence all over the country. Unfortunately, they do not offer such attractive long-term rental discounts as international companies.

Additionally, there are abundant small rental shops which you would need to negotiate with directly. They may offer discounts for long-term renters but they decide it on the case-to-case basis. They may also offer cars with drivers if they have the capacity at the moment.

The last but not the least, car sharing is not very popular but present in Ukraine. Check out their service as the pricing for it may seem more attractive mainly because they allow to pick the cars up and drop them off for driver’s convenience.

ANY ADVICE?

You may check out our driving tips and maps and also look for parking suggestions there. The most important piece of advice we have for you is this:

Opt for visiting places within the driving distance from the city as opposed to driving around the city itself

The reason is simple: when you rent a car in the city like Kyiv or Lviv, you are likely to spend hours in such traffic when you drive within the city:

Now that we know the exact prices and differences when it comes to international car rental firms, let’s take a look at some local options. There are distinct differences in the way local service providers approach their customers. They are outlined below.

Since most often tourists are interested in car rental in Kyiv or Lviv, you are most likely to find such services there. Of course, once you get a car you can visit any other city. However, it is not very likely that you will find a reliable service there so we suggest getting a car in one of the bigger cities if you opt for a local Ukrainian service.

Other common safety considerations include road conditions and possible bribery. Good news is that many roads in Ukraine have been renovated. One major road to be careful about in the Kyiv-Odessa rout as it is still in bad shape. In other words, the pace of driving on this road is slower than normal due to the holes and cracks in the asphalt.

Talking about bribery, the corruption issue in Ukraine is getting under control. All police have been replaced – both in the cities and on the intercity roads. If you ever become a victim or witness of corruption, make sure to alert the newly formed anti-corruption bureau. They have different phone numbers that you may use in case you face any unpleasant situation related to bribery while in Ukraine.

To sum it all up, we have created a cheat sheet for you to consult before making your final decision on the car rental option that will suit you the most.

As experience shows, these prices will be several dollars per day cheaper if you decide to leave a deposit with the company (usually $40-$60 with the local firm or $150-$200 with the international one).

* unlimited km option included
** foreigners and young drivers are asked for a deposit

Now you are armed with the most important information about where and how to rent a car in Ukraine. Do you have any experience renting a car in another European city? Would you like to see more car sharing services in Ukraine? Let us know your thoughts!