Car registration in Ukraine: step-by-step instructions, deadlines, and required documents

The process of vehicle transfer in Ukraine is strictly regulated by law and is carried out in cases where ownership of a vehicle changes: through purchase, gift, or inheritance. A car can be purchased both domestically and internationally, for example, if you decide to import a car from the United States . Currently, there are two ways to complete the official procedure: online through the "Diya" service or in person at an MVS service center. There are many nuances. Therefore, the Acars team has developed a detailed guide in which we explain each step of the correct title transfer, from preparing for the transaction to obtaining the new documents.

What is considered vehicle re-registration and when is it necessary?

The concept of vehicle re-registration covers all situations where the state needs to update information about the legal owner of a vehicle and the basis on which they are disposing of it. However, please note that this procedure is only carried out in cases where the information in the register is intended to be changed, and not simply the transfer of the vehicle "for use" to another person.

Purchase and sale, donation, inheritance

The most common reason is a sales contract. However, transfers of title can also occur through a gift agreement, the transfer of a car by inheritance, or the execution of an acceptance certificate between co-owners. In each case, the state must confirm the transfer of title, otherwise the owner will not be able to legally dispose of the car.

After customs clearance and import from abroad

If you decide to import a car from the USA , Canada, China, or Europe, you'll need to register it for the first time after customs clearance and obtain Ukrainian license plates. Without this, the car is considered unregistered.

Change of ownership with a loan or lease

When a vehicle is pledged to a bank or leased, a change of ownership is only possible with the lender's written consent. Once the debt is settled, the vehicle is transferred to the new owner as usual.

Preparing for the transaction: what to check in advance before transferring the title to your car

Before making a deal, you should ensure that the vehicle is legally clear and that the current owner is actually entitled to drive it. Most of the data is now publicly available, so you can conduct a basic vehicle check yourself.

To check by VIN, go to Driver's electronic account on the Ministry of Internal Affairs website . The service displays the registration history available in the state registry (the number of registration transactions with a clear chronology). You can also independently check for fines and enforcement proceedings through the "Diya" app, the "PDR Fines" service, or other official online services. At this stage, you can filter out vehicles under arrest or pledged to another vehicle.

Next, the seller's authority is confirmed. If the car is registered as jointly owned or shared, the consent of all owners or a notarized power of attorney for the sale is required. If the car is sold by a representative, the MVS service center will request a document confirming their authority and rights to the car.

If everything is clear on the previous points, we'll continue. To transfer the car's title , we recommend immediately establishing the price and terms. To achieve this, the parties can enter into a preliminary written agreement and deposit a deposit. It's best to draft such a document with the assistance of a notary or lawyer to minimize the likelihood of disputes during the final purchase and sale agreement.

What documents are needed to re-register a car ?

To properly re-register a vehicle, the seller and buyer must submit a mandatory set of documents to the MVS service center. This set of documents is the same across Ukraine and is Resolution of the Cabinet of Ministers No. 1388 .

What is needed to re-register a car: mandatory documents

Additional documents that may be required

These documents are not mandatory for everyone, but the MBC service center may request them depending on the circumstances of the transaction:

• When selling through a representative - a notarized power of attorney and a document confirming authority.
• In case of joint or shared ownership - written notarized consent of all owners.
• In case of inheritance - a certificate of right to inheritance.
• When donating - a gift agreement.
• When re-equipping a vehicle, a document confirming the design’s compliance with safety requirements is required.
• For temporary import – a document confirming vehicle registration outside of Ukraine + customs documents confirming temporary import.
• For VPO, a VPO certificate is required only if the passport does not contain information about the registered place of residence.

Step-by-step instructions: how to re-register a car in Ukraine through an MVS service center

The first step is submitting an application. At the MVS service center, this is done through an online queue. You select a service, receive a ticket, and wait to be called. At the reception, the administrator verifies the identities of the parties, checks documents, and prepares an application for vehicle re-registration .

Subsequently, at the service center's discretion, a verification of identification numbers or an expert examination of the vehicle may be performed. Currently, an expert examination is not mandatory when re-registering a vehicle already registered in Ukraine and is performed at the request of the parties or if the Ministry of Internal Affairs has any doubts. An MVS specialist compares the VIN on the body and plates with the data in the registry. If the numbers are legible and match the database, the registration process continues.

After the inspection, the parties sign the sales contract (if it's being concluded at a service center), and the buyer pays the administrative fees. The final step is the issuance of a new registration certificate and registration of the license plates. At this point, the new owner officially gains control of the vehicle.

Timeframe and cost: how much does it cost to re-register a car and the actual cost of re-registering a car

The cost of the procedure consists of a mandatory administrative fee and a fee for the forms. The basic administrative fee is UAH 350 (as of 2025), plus an additional fee for the production of license plates and the registration certificate form. On average, the cost of re-registering a car at an MVS service center ranges from UAH 700 to UAH 1,200, depending on the vehicle type and region. When completing the transaction through Diya, the final cost may be slightly higher, as the service automatically generates a new registration certificate and license plates, which are sent via Ukrposhta.

The entire process is completed within one business day. The longest stages are waiting in line and document verification. Signing the contract and issuing the new vehicle registration certificate are completed quickly.

You can save money by using your existing license plates (provided the buyer doesn't change the registration region). We strongly recommend avoiding "gray schemes" and not attempting to reduce the vehicle's price in the documents, as this could result in registration denial and fines.

Common mistakes when re-registering a car and how to avoid them

Error with incorrect selection of re-registration method

Many people try to complete a transaction through Diyu, although the service:

• You cannot sell more than 1 car per year;
• it is impossible to register a car that is pledged as collateral for a loan;
• You can re-register a vehicle already registered in Ukraine through Diya, but you cannot initially register an imported vehicle after customs clearance; you still need to contact the MVS service center for this.

Error with missing original documents

The MVS Service Center does not accept copies or scans of contracts without the originals with signatures, nor do they accept photographs of documents in lieu of the original passport and registration certificate.

Error with missing the 10-day period after purchase

By law, Ukrainians have 10 days to register a vehicle if the transaction is concluded outside of an MBC service center. This is the responsibility of the new owner.

Error ignoring temporary import status

Many people re-register a car cleared through customs by other people, but they don’t notice that it:

• or it is in the “time-hour import” mode;
• or registered to a non-resident.

Error when registering for a minor

A vehicle can be registered to a person aged 14 years or older, but notarized consent from parents/guardians is required.

The Acars team handles car registration and importation on a daily basis, and we specialize in turnkey car imports from the US. Our team understands all the nuances of registration, customs clearance, and subsequent registration, helping clients navigate every step safely, from choosing a car to obtaining Ukrainian license plates.