On 18^th July 2022, the EU Council decided the regulation of the European Parliament and the Council of the European Union for the stipulation of special and temporary measures in view of the invasion of Ukraine by Russia and in reference to the driving documents issued by Ukraine in accordance with its legal regulations. Regulation (EU) 2022/1280 came into effect on 27 July 2022.

In accordance with Section 9 (2) of the regulation, it will be terminated on 5^th March 2025 at the latest, if the protection status is lost, it will be terminated earlier. The BMI published relevant advice on its website.

• You have a valid Ukrainian driving license:

You do not have to take any action until the protection status has expired. At the moment, your Ukrainian driving license is recognized in Germany and all EU member states, based on the regulation mentioned above. Carrying along a certified translation or an international driving license is not necessary. This also applies when your Ukrainian driving license expired after 31^st December 2021.

• You have a digital Ukrainian driving license:

If, on presentation of a digital Ukrainian driving license, it can be confirmed by accessing corresponding Ukrainian data that a driving authorization exists, this authorization will be recognized.

• You have lost your Ukrainian driving license or it has been stolen from you:

Please visit the driving license authority (Fahrerlaubnisbehörde) at the place where you live. Here, it can be verified by accessing the Ukrainian register if you are in possession of a valid driving license.

The following data is needed for an inquiry, which makes early copying of your driving license appear useful:

• Serial number of the Ukrainian driving license (three letters)
• Driving license number and
• Date of Birth

A search based on the last name is not possible.

For the license classes AM, A1, A2, A, B and BE, prior medical examinations are generally not necessary. For the license classes C1, C1E, C, CE, D1, D1E and DE, medical examinations are necessary. Please inform yourself at the local driving license authority in charge.

As far as the existence of a Ukrainian driving license can be confirmed by inquiry and as soon as you have brought the medical certificate necessary, you will receive a document with which you are temporarily permitted to drive a vehicle in Germany. As soon as the regulation mentioned above has been transposed into German law, you will receive a driving license with which you can participate in EU traffic for the duration of your protection status.

• You are a professional driver from Ukraine:

The driving licence is recognised for the duration of the protection status. In addition, an EU professional driver qualification is required.

Regulations for vehicles with Ukrainian licence plates

For vehicles registered in Ukraine, the Federal Ministry for Digital and Transport Affairs (BMDV) has agreed with the federal states that they will initially be regarded as being in so-called international traffic for a period of one year. If you own a vehicle with a Ukrainian licence plate, you do not have to register it in Germany for the first year after crossing the border in accordance with the current regulation.

Vehicles with Ukrainian registration that have been in Germany for more than one year must be registered in Germany. Vehicle registrations are carried out by the responsible vehicle registration office at your place of residence. As a rule, you must make an appointment in advance. You can find the registration office responsible for your place of residence and the opening hours (in German) in the registration office finder. Prerequisite for a German registration is a valid vehicle insurance.

It should be noted that the application and implementation of road traffic regulations is the responsibility of the federal states or the authorities responsible under federal state law. The assessment of specific circumstances is therefore the responsibility of the registration offices of the federal states.

For vehicles registered in Ukraine, the required insurance can be obtained and verified in various ways:

• With a Green Card, which the policyholder has received from their Ukrainian vehicle insurer. The Ukrainian insurer's Green Card can currently also be obtained digitally. More information can be found here. The Green Card guarantees vehicle insurance cover for the countries marked on the Green Card.
• With a valid frontier insurance policy purchased at the external EU border. This guarantees vehicle insurance cover throughout the European Union and in any other
  countries listed in the frontier insurance policy.
• With a frontier insurance policy purchased in Germany. This likewise guarantees vehicle insurance cover in the European Union and in any other countries listed in the frontier insurance policy.

Drivers must carry the Green Card or the confirmation of purchase of a frontier insurance policy with them and present it or hand it over for inspection in the event of a check.

• Drunk driving: from 500 Euro
• Exceeded the speed limit by 20 km/h: from 100 Euro
• Exceeded the speed limit by more than 50 km/h: from 480 Euro
• Red light violation: from 90-360 Euro
• Violation of “ No Overtakting”: from 30-300 Euro
• Parking violation: from 10-110 Euro 
• Mobile phone while driving: from 100 Euro 
• Non-use of seat belt: from 30 Euro