 What Is A Green Card ?A Green Card is a document that is recognised in over 40 countries
including all the countries in Europe. It makes it easier for vehicles to move freely over
borders and it protects the interests of the victims of foreign registered vehicles.
It’s overseen by the Economic Commission for Europe, based in Geneva.
The Green Card offers no insurance cover. It is proof that the minimum legal requirements
for third party liability insurance in any country for which the Green Card is valid are
covered by the insured's own motor policy.
Where the Green Card is needed
A Green Card is not required by law to cross borders within the European Union and
some other countries. This is because all EU countries and certain other countries comply
with the first directive on motor insurance, which says that every insurance policy issued
in the EU must provide the minimum insurance cover required by law in any other EU
country.
The countries that don't need a Green Card are:
Andorra, Austria, Belgium, Bulgaria, Croatia, Cyprus, Czech Republic, Denmark, Estonia,
Finland, France, Germany, Greece, Hungary, Iceland, Ireland, Italy, Latvia, Lithuania,
Luxembourg, Malta, Netherlands, Norway, Poland, Portugal, Romania, Slovak Republic,
Slovenia, Spain, Sweden, Switzerland
The countries that do need a Green card are:
Albania, Belarus, Bosnia and Herzegovina, Former Yugoslav Republic of Macedonia (FYROM),
Islamic Republic of Iran, Israel, Moldova, Morocco, Russia, Serbia and Montenegro,
Tunisia, Turkey, Ukraine.
Where to get a Green Card
Many insurers will issue a Green Card, but have no obligation to do so. If they
will not, you may wish to make enquiries with other insurers or ask about getting border
insurance at the point of entry into the country.
The Green Card document itself is only proof that the minimum third party liability cover
required by law in the visited country is in force. You should check with your insurer to
make sure that your UK policy cover is fully in force when you travel abroad whether or
not a Green Card is issued.
Within the countries where frontier inspection is no longer required, the Green Card is
still the insurance document most readily recognised and understood by national police
forces. As you may need to produce evidence of insurance other than at a border, for
example after an accident, you may consider it advisable to carry a Green Card to avoid
any inconvenience.
The Green Card system is administered in the UK by the Motor Insurers’ Bureau (MIB).
Motor Insurers' Bureau
Linford Wood House
6-12 Capital Drive
Linford Wood
Milton Keynes
MK14 6XT
Telephone: 01908 830 001
Fax: 01908 671 681
Other questions you might ask if planning
to drive abroad:
What is a Vignette ?
What is a CMR ?
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