Car rental in Kiev

• When driving through tunnels or in poor visibility, drivers must switch on dipped headlights.
• It is strictly forbidden for children under 12 years of age or shorter than 145 cm to travel in the front seat without appropriate restraints.
• Drivers and passengers must always use safety belts.
• Phone conversations while driving are prohibited (you may use a hands-free device).

You cannot pay a fine directly to a police officer. After the inspector issues the fine, the driver must pay it at the nearest bank. Under the new rules, the driver does not have to hand over their documents to the inspector (they can be shown through the car window). Exceptions apply where the police officer needs to confiscate the driver's documents in connection with a traffic offence.

Fines cannot be described as particularly strict or high. However, for certain traffic offences there are substantial fines, loss of driving licence, administrative arrest and corrective labour.

In Kiev, there are both paid and free parking areas. In the city centre, parking is mostly paid. Parking spaces are marked with blue lines on the kerb, on the roadway, as well as with special signs. In the central part of Kiev, parking costs about 10 hryvnia per hour. In other areas it is about 7 hryvnia. For parking violations, the driver can be issued with fines of up to 680 hryvnia. The receipt for payment of a parking space should be placed behind the windscreen for visual inspection.

If no additional information is provided on traffic signs, you must observe the following rules:

• In built-up areas, drivers may travel at a maximum speed of 60 km/h.
• On roads outside built-up areas, the maximum permitted speed is 90 km/h.
• The maximum speed on motorways is 110 km/h.
• On dual carriageways, drivers may not exceed 130 km/h.

In addition, the maximum permitted speed for drivers with less than two years' experience is 70 km/h.

The maximum permitted level of alcohol in the driver's body is 0.0‰. However, the driver will be fined if more than 0.2‰ alcohol is detected in their blood.

The penalty for exceeding the permitted blood alcohol level is from 2,550 to 3,400 hryvnia. Inspectors may also withdraw the driving licence for up to two years. In serious cases, the driver may face administrative detention or up to 50 hours of community service.

For a repeat offence within one year, the driver may face administrative detention (15 days), deprivation of the right to drive for up to 3 years, as well as 60 hours of community service.