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Car insurance abroad: what you need to know

Are you covered once you cross the border? Here are the essentials on the green card, the cover to check, and what to do if an accident happens far from home.

General guidance only. Insurance rules and the list of countries covered change and depend on your policy. This information was compiled carefully but may have changed since it was last updated. AcciZen provides it "as is", on a best-effort basis. Always check your policy and your insurer's terms before you travel.

Are you covered abroad?

Third-party liability (the harm you cause to others) is in principle valid across the whole EU and EEA. Optional cover, however — assistance, comprehensive damage, theft, glass, replacement vehicle — may apply differently abroad, or not at all. Before you leave, check:

• the list of countries covered by your policy;
• the scope of assistance (from 0 km or only far from home, vehicle repatriation, accommodation);
• whether damage and theft cover continue outside your home country;
• the applicable excess.

The green card (international insurance card)

The international motor insurance card, known as the "green card", certifies that your vehicle is insured. Good to know:

• It is no longer compulsory to drive in the EU/EEA and several neighbouring countries (Andorra, Switzerland, Norway, Iceland, Liechtenstein, Serbia, Montenegro, Bosnia and Herzegovina): in that zone, your registration plate is enough to prove insurance.
• It remains a handy proof and shows the representative of your insurer to contact for a claim abroad.
• It can now be presented printed in black and white on ordinary paper.

Where is a green card still required?

Outside the zone above, a green card (or frontier insurance bought on the spot) may be required, for example for: Albania, Azerbaijan, Belarus, Moldova, Russia, Turkey, Ukraine. Some countries may not be covered at all by your policy. Ask your insurer for a green card listing those countries before you go.

If you have an accident abroad

1. Safety first: warning triangle, vest, and call 112 if anyone is hurt or there's a hazard.
2. Fill in the European Accident Statement: it's identical across Europe, you can use your own copy.
3. Photograph the scene, the positions, the plates and the damage before moving the vehicles.
4. Note the other driver's insurer and contact your insurer's representative (shown on the green card).

Frequently asked questions

Last updated: June 2026.

Source: the international motor insurance card ("green card") system. Always check the terms of your own policy before you travel.

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