The Green Card is a document that is recognised in over 40 countries including all the countries of Europe
with the exception of Iraq and Russia.
It 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 every EU country and certain other countries, complies 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, Moldava, Montengro, Morocco, Serbia, 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 recognized and understood by national police forces. As you may need to produce evidence of insurance
other than at a border ie 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 Number : 01908 830001
Fax
Number : 01908 671681
