Cars after leasing without the “debt trap”: the government has simplified the re-registration process and removed a key obstacle
2 January 20:16
As of January 1, 2026, new rules for re-registering vehicles purchased through financial leasing have taken effect in Ukraine. The government has revised the procedure for registering such vehicles so that drivers who have already paid off the full cost of their cars are no longer affected by the financial difficulties of leasing companies.
The relevant changes are enshrined in Cabinet of Ministers Resolution No. 1727, adopted in late December, reports "Komersant Ukrainian".
Previously, a car’s re-registration could effectively be blocked if the lessor was listed in the Unified Register of Debtors. Even after fully paying off the car, the driver could not register it in their name due to the debts of the company with which the contract was signed.
Now this mechanism has been revised. The government has designated the situation with financial leasing as an exception: the presence of a leasing company in the debtors’ registry is no longer grounds for refusing re-registration.
The key change is the protection of the rights of the actual owner of the vehicle. If a citizen has fully fulfilled the terms of the financial leasing agreement and paid the full cost of the vehicle, they can freely re-register the car in their name at an MIA service center.
In this way, the state has separated the lessor’s liability from the rights of the person who has already paid for the vehicle.
How re-registration works now
To register ownership at the Ministry of Internal Affairs service center, you must submit a standard set of documents:
- an application (to be filled out on-site);
- the owner’s passport or that of their authorized representative;
- taxpayer identification number (TIN);
- a financial leasing agreement and documents confirming full fulfillment of obligations;
- vehicle registration certificate;
- receipt for payment of administrative services.
Financial leasing remains one of the most popular ways to purchase a car in Ukraine, particularly for small businesses and private drivers. The new rules reduce legal risks for customers and make the system more predictable.
