Updated: November 2026
Contents
- Is It Worth Renting a Car in Lviv?
- Documents and Driving Licence
- Driving Rules and Local Specifics
- Parking and Access to Central Lviv
- Where to Rent: Companies and Aggregators
- Prices, Insurance and Deposit
- Pitfalls to Watch For
- Tips for Tourists
- FAQ
Is It Worth Renting a Car in Lviv?
You don't need a car to explore Lviv itself. The Old Town is compact, most of the center is a pedestrian zone that you can't enter without a permit, and the surrounding streets come with cobblestones, tram tracks and paid parking. It is easier to get around on foot, by tram and bus (a ride with a LeoCard costs 23 UAH) or by taxi through Uklon and Bolt. We explain how local transport works in our article “Transport in Lviv”.
Renting a car in Lviv makes sense if you plan to leave the city. Buses and trains to many castles and mountain villages run infrequently, while with a car you can plan the route yourself:
- Zhovkva: about 31 km, 40 minutes;
- the Golden Horseshoe castles of Zolochiv (about 70 km), Olesko (75 km) and Pidhirtsi (89 km): by car, you can visit all three in one day;
- Truskavets: about 83 km, 1.5 hours;
- Tustan fortress in Urych: about 120 km, almost 2 hours by car compared with 4.5 hours by public transport;
- Skole and Slavske in the Carpathians: 110–140 km, 1.5–2 hours.
A car is also handy for families with children or travelers with lots of luggage. If you only need a car for a couple of hours, Lviv has the Getmancar car-sharing service: cars are unlocked through the app, and fuel and insurance are included in the rate.
Documents and Driving Licence
This is the main question for tourists. The final list of documents is set by the rental company, so check it in the rental terms before booking.
Drivers from Ukraine
A national category B driving licence and a passport or ID card are enough. You don't need an international driving permit within the country.
Foreign drivers
Ukraine is a party to the 1968 Vienna Convention on Road Traffic. According to the Main Service Center of the Ministry of Internal Affairs, foreigners temporarily staying in Ukraine may drive with their national licence if it complies with the convention. If it does not, you will also need an international driving permit. Avis also requires an international permit if your national licence is not issued in Latin script. The safest option is to bring both documents.
Age and driving experience
At Sixt and Avis in Ukraine, the minimum driver age is 21, or 25 for higher car classes. You need at least two years of driving experience. Avis charges young drivers a $30 surcharge per rental, and some Ukrainian companies double the deposit for drivers under 21 or with less experience.
Card for the deposit
The deposit is blocked on the main driver's bank card, and the card must be in their name. Sixt in Ukraine accepts only personal Visa and Mastercard credit cards. It does not accept debit cards, Maestro, Visa Electron, American Express or cash. Avis does not accept cash deposits either.
What to bring
- a passport (for foreigners, an international passport);
- a driving licence and, if needed, an international driving permit;
- a credit card in the driver's name;
- your booking confirmation, printed or as an email.
Driving Rules and Local Specifics
- Driving side: right.
- Speed limits. In built-up areas, the limit is 50 km/h, and in residential and pedestrian zones, 20 km/h. Outside towns, cars may drive up to 90 km/h, up to 110 km/h on divided roads and up to 130 km/h on motorways. Drivers with less than two years of experience may not exceed 70 km/h outside towns.
- Headlights. Outside built-up areas, daytime running lights or dipped headlights must be on during the day all year round.
- Alcohol. A reading above 0.2 per mille counts as drunk driving. The fine is 17,000 UAH plus a one-year licence suspension, so it is best not to drive even after a glass of wine.
- Seat belts and phones. Seat belts are mandatory for everyone, and you may not hold a phone while driving. The fine for each violation is 510 UAH.
- Winter tires. The rules set no fixed dates for switching to winter tires, but tires must suit the weather and car tread depth must be at least 1.6 mm. If you are driving to the Carpathians in winter, check the car's equipment when booking.
- Cameras and fines. Ukrainian roads have automatic traffic cameras. Speeding by more than 20 km/h is fined 340 UAH, and by more than 50 km/h, 1,700 UAH. The fine goes to the car's owner, the rental company, which charges it to your card: Avis, for example, adds a $20 administrative fee to each fine.
- Martial law. There are checkpoints on the roads: keep your passport, licence and car documents handy, and stop when asked. Do not film checkpoints or military facilities. Lviv Oblast has a curfew, which as of November 2026 runs from midnight to 5 a.m.; you may not drive during these hours without a special pass. Read more about the rules in our article “Safety in Lviv”.
Parking and Access to Central Lviv
Most of the historic center is a pedestrian zone. You can only drive in with a permit, which is issued, among others, to residents and hotel guests. If your hotel is in the pedestrian zone, ask it about a permit in advance. Stopping on Rynok Square is prohibited.
Parking in the center is paid. The city is divided into zones, and the closer to the center, the higher the price. The table shows the city council's rates as of March 2025, so check them on site before your trip:
| Zone | Price per hour (March 2025) | Paid hours |
|---|---|---|
| Zone I (center) | 35 UAH; 45 UAH at the equipped lots on Valova Street and by the Vernissage market | daily 8 a.m.–8 p.m.; equipped lots around the clock |
| Zone II | 25 UAH | daily 8 a.m.–8 p.m. |
| Zone III | 20 UAH | weekdays 8 a.m.–8 p.m. |
| Zone IV | 15 UAH | weekdays 8 a.m.–8 p.m. |
| Zone V (railway station, parking garages) | 45 UAH | check on site |
You can pay for parking with the QR code on the parking sign, through Privat24, EasyPay and other services, or at terminals and parking meters. The city council publishes the zone boundaries on its website. The most convenient option is to leave the car at your hotel or in a car park outside Zone I and explore the center on foot.
Where to Rent: Companies and Aggregators
The international brands currently operating in Lviv are Sixt, Avis and Budget. Aggregators make it easy to compare their offers with those of Ukrainian rental networks.
| Type | Company / service | In Lviv |
|---|---|---|
| Brand | Sixt | Station at the railway station (1 Dvirtseva Square): there is no office, and a staff member meets customers at the station. Open on weekdays, 9 a.m.–6 p.m. |
| Brand | Avis | City office at 6 Akademika Pidstryhacha Street, about 7 km from Rynok Square. Open on weekdays, 8 a.m.–5 p.m.; weekends by arrangement. |
| Brand | Budget | Same address as Avis, open on weekdays, 9 a.m.–6 p.m. |
| Aggregator | DiscoverCars | Shows offers in the city and at the railway station. |
| Aggregator | Kayak, Skyscanner | Compare prices from almost two dozen rental companies operating in Lviv. |
When choosing a Ukrainian company, make sure it has an official website, a rental agreement and recent reviews, and that its deposit and insurance terms are spelled out in advance.
Prices, Insurance and Deposit
The price depends on the car class, the season and the rental period: the longer the rental, the cheaper each day. Guide prices as of November 2026, based on the Sixt and DiscoverCars websites:
| Class | Example | Price per day |
|---|---|---|
| Economy | Seat Ibiza or similar | from $28 on the aggregator, €26–48 at Sixt |
| Compact and crossover | compact sedan or crossover | $31–42 on the aggregator, €34–55 at Sixt |
| SUV | Volkswagen Tiguan or similar | €54–83 at Sixt |
| Minivan | Volkswagen Transporter | about $140 on the aggregator |
- Deposit. The amount is blocked on your card and released after the car is checked. Sixt charges from €500 for economy to €4,000 for premium cars, and Avis from $500 to $2,000.
- Insurance. Rentals include compulsory third-party liability insurance (OSTsPV), which is valid only in Ukraine. Sixt also includes damage and theft protection (LDW) with an excess from €500 for the economy class. Additional packages reduce the excess, down to zero.
- Fuel. The usual policy is full-to-full: you get the car with a full tank and return it the same way. Sixt charges €2 for each missing liter.
- Mileage. Rates come with or without a mileage limit. Ukrainian companies usually set a limit of 200–300 km per day, so check these terms before a trip to the Carpathians.
Pitfalls to Watch For
- Extra charges. An additional driver costs €15 for the whole rental at Sixt and $20 at Avis. Pick-up or return outside office hours costs €25 at Sixt.
- Office hours. The Sixt station and the Avis office work on weekdays. If you want to pick up a car on a Saturday, arrange it in advance.
- One-way rentals. Returning the car in another city costs more: Sixt charges €150 for a return in another city with a Sixt station.
- Driving abroad. Sixt does not allow you to leave Ukraine in a rental car. Avis allows it only with an application submitted three days in advance: this costs $95, and the trip may last up to 15 days. You will need a Green Card insurance policy, because Ukrainian third-party liability insurance does not cover you abroad.
- Inspection at pick-up. Walk around the car with a staff member, photograph the body, interior, wheels and fuel level, and make sure all scratches are recorded in the handover report.
Tips for Tourists
- Book early and online. You get a wider choice of cars, and you can see the deposit and insurance terms before paying. If you arrive by train, it is convenient to arrange pick-up at the station.
- Check where you book. Use the companies' official websites and well-known aggregators rather than social media ads that ask for a card prepayment.
- Don't rent a car for the center. Pick it up on the day you leave the city: the pedestrian zone and paid parking make driving around the Old Town inconvenient.
- Plan to be back before the curfew. On the way back from the Carpathians, allow extra time for checkpoints and weather.
- Download an offline map. Mobile coverage sometimes drops out in the mountains near Tustan and Slavske.
FAQ
Do I need an international driving permit to rent a car in Lviv?
Ukrainian drivers don't. Foreigners may drive with their national licence if it complies with the 1968 Vienna Convention; otherwise, an international permit is also required. Some rental companies, such as Avis, require an international permit if your national licence is not issued in Latin script.
What documents do I need to rent a car in Lviv?
A passport, a category B driving licence with at least two years of experience and a bank card in the driver's name for the deposit. Sixt accepts only credit cards, and major companies do not take cash deposits.
What is the minimum age to rent a car in Ukraine?
At Sixt and Avis, it is 21, or 25 for higher car classes. Young drivers may have to pay a surcharge, such as $30 per rental at Avis.
How much does it cost to rent a car in Lviv?
As of November 2026, an economy car costs from $28 a day on aggregators and €26–48 at Sixt, while an SUV costs €54–83 a day. A deposit is also blocked on your card, usually from €500 or $500.
Which rental companies can I trust in Lviv?
The international brands Sixt, Avis and Budget operate in the city. It is convenient to compare offers from Ukrainian rental companies on DiscoverCars, Kayak and Skyscanner; choose companies with an official website, a rental agreement and clear deposit terms.
Can I drive a rental car abroad?
It depends on the company. Sixt does not allow it, while Avis allows it with a prior application for $95. You will need a Green Card for the trip.
Should I rent a car in Lviv or use public transport?
Within the city, it is easier to walk and use trams or taxis: the center is pedestrianized, and parking is paid. A car is useful for trips out of town: to Zhovkva, the Golden Horseshoe castles, Tustan or the Carpathians.
