How to Get a Category D1 Driving Licence in Ukraine?

Ukraine sets a notably demanding prerequisite for D1: you need more than three years of continuous driving experience on Category B, C1, C, or T before you're even eligible to apply, a notably stricter bar than the one or two years many neighboring countries require. This piece covers what D1 authorizes, the specific requirements, and how it relates to the full Category D.

What Category D1 covers

D1 authorizes passenger buses with 9 to 16 seats, not including the driver, for a total capacity of 17, including the driver.

Minimum age

You need to be 21 to hold a D1.

The demanding experience requirement

This is worth clarifying before you plan your route to D1. You need to already hold a driving license for Category B, C1, C, or T, and have more than three years' continuous driving experience in that category within the recent period, a notably longer requirement than many other categories.

Documents you'll need

• A copy of your passport (relevant pages) or plastic ID card, both sides, plus a registration certificate
• A medical certificate confirming fitness to drive, plus two copies
• Two copies of your identification code certificate
• Your existing driver's examination card, if you have one
• Confirmation of your continuous driving experience in the qualifying category

What full Category D requires

Full Category D authorizes buses with more than 16 passenger seats. You need to already hold Category B, C1, C, D1, or T, which is more flexible than D1's own prerequisites, since D1 itself counts toward qualifying for D.

D1E and DE: adding heavier trailers

D1E and DE require you to already hold Category B, C1, C, D1,1, or D (or several of these), with more than one year of driving experience in that category or categories.

What it costs

Theoretical course fees for D1 and D training typically start at around 5,000 UAH, depending on the driving school and region.

Training vehicles

Many Ukrainian driving schools train D1 candidates on appropriate minibusses, such as the GAZ 32213 "Gazelle," a common Ukrainian-market vehicle that meets D1's technical specifications.

Automatic transmission

As with other EU-aligned systems, testing on an automatic-transmission vehicle typically restricts the resulting license to automatic machines only.

What holding D1 or D lets you do professionally

Once qualified, you can work as a public transport driver, transport employees for a company, run tourist or intercity passenger services, or even pursue a driving career abroad through international license exchange arrangements.

Where D1 sits in Ukraine's licensing system

Ukraine currently issues 15 categories of driving licenses, considerably more than a decade ago. D1 sits between Category B/C1/C and full Category D, specifically for smaller passenger transport needs.

Age thresholds across the system, for context

Ukraine's minimum ages run 16 for Categories A and A1, 18 for B1, B, C1 and C, 19 for BE, C1E and CE, and 21 for D1, D, D1E, DE and T.

Validity

Ukrainian driving licenses for D1 follow standard administrative validity periods, subject to any applicable renewal requirements.

Tips that actually help

• Plan your route through Category B, C1, C, or T well in advance, since D1 actually requires over three years' experience.
• Gather your medical certificate, copies of identification, and experience confirmation early, since the documentation requirements are extensive.
• Compare pricing across a few driving schools, since course fees vary by region.
• Check whether your driving school trains on a D1-appropriate vehicle before enrolling.

Where this fits going forward

D1 in Ukraine offers a genuine, if demanding, route into passenger transport, rewarding drivers who've first built real experience. If your plans involve professional driving down the line, take a look at the driver section, browse current vacancies, or see which employers are hiring on FastDriver.eu, as well as our broader job guides. Our driving license in Ukraine and license eligibility pages cover the wider picture.

Declaration

This article is provided for general information only and does not constitute legal or professional advice. Fees, training requirements, and administrative rules can change and may vary by driving school in Ukraine. Always confirm current requirements with official Ukrainian sources before making decisions, such as the Ministry of Internal Affairs (MVS) service centers. FastDriver.eu accepts no liability for decisions made based on this information.