Green Card: Proof of car insurance abroad

What is the Green Insurance Card and why do I need it?

In good official German, the Green Card is called "International Insurance Card for Motor Traffic". When driving abroad, it serves as proof that the car has motor vehicle liability insurance. In some countries, the international insurance card must even be presented upon entry – so it should always be with you when traveling abroad. In the event of an accident abroad, it can make it much easier to settle the claim, as it contains important information about the owner and insurance of the car.

Where can I get the Green Card?

The Green Card is issued by the respective car insurance company. For years, the insurance card was only valid if it was actually printed on green paper – hence its name. As a rule, the international insurance cards were printed by the car insurance company and sent by post; only insurance customers with a colour printer could print out the international insurance card themselves.

How much does the Green Insurance Card cost?

Nothing, proof of insurance coverage with the Green Insurance Card is free of charge.

In which countries do I need the Green Insurance Card?

In many countries, the police like to see the Green Card after an accident because all the important information can be found there and the insurance cover of the vehicle is clearly proven. In the countries of the European Economic Area (i.e. the countries of the European Union and Iceland, Norway, Liechtenstein) as well as in Andorra, Bosnia-Herzegovina, Great Britain, Monaco, Montenegro, San Marino, Serbia and Switzerland, the Green Insurance Card is no longer mandatory upon entry. In these European countries, the so-called license plate agreement applies. This means that even the valid license plate of the car is considered proof of insurance.

However, there are still countries where you can only enter with a valid insurance card. These include the following countries:

• Albania
• Azerbaijan
• Iran
• Morocco
• Moldova
• North Macedonia
• Tunisia
• Turkey
• Ukraine

Can car insurance exclude individual countries from coverage?

In principle, the insurance cover of motor vehicle liability insurance applies in all countries that have signed the license plate agreement. These include all EU member states, Andorra, Bosnia-Herzegovina, Great Britain, Iceland, Liechtenstein, Monaco, Norway, San Marino, Serbia and Switzerland. These countries cannot be excluded from insurance coverage either.

For other countries in the Green Card system, such as Turkey, it depends on the individual insurance contract. A look at the Green Insurance Card helps here: If a country code is crossed out, the protection of motor insurance does not apply in that country. Then a so-called border insurance for the car must be taken out before crossing the border.

What applies in countries that are deleted from the Green Card or are not on it?

If a country is not on the Green Card at all or if it is crossed out, a so-called border insurance must be taken out for the vehicle when crossing the border.

Can I also present the Green Insurance Card in digital form, for example on my smartphone?

No. The Green Card is only accepted in paper form as proof of insurance abroad.

How long is a Green Insurance Card valid?

As with the ID card, the expiration date is on the card itself. As a rule, the card is valid for three years, with some insurers even five years.

Warum ist die Grüne Karte mittlerweile weiß?

Seit 1965 wurde die Karte auf grünem Papier gedruckt. Seit Juli 2020 ist das grüne Papier nicht mehr nötig – auch ein Ausdruck auf handelsüblichem weißem Papier wird als Nachweis akzeptiert. Seit Januar 2021 geben die Kfz-Versicherer die Karte sogar nur noch mit weißem Hintergrund aus. Der Vorteil der weißen Farbe: Autofahrer können ihre internationale Versicherungskarte nun auch per Mail erhalten und sie ganz einfach zuhause selbst ausdrucken. Das ganze Verfahren ist also bequemer und schneller.