Helpful information for the Police concerning cross border claims and green card issues.
(The information below is also available as a MS Word document) using Visiting motorists - Information for police.
The points below are intended to provide a brief guide to the insurance position on foreign registered vehicles and UK vehicles with foreign insurance.
Foreign Vehicles
- A Green Card on a foreign registered vehicle provides evidence that the third party liability cover required by law is in force. For visitors from the EU and certain other countries a Green Card is not legally required. A Certificate of Insurance or equivalent is valid proof of insurance. For further information please see the Green Card Country details.
- If no documents are produced some countries allow general access to their insurance database - see Green Card Country details.
- Many European policies cover any driver even if not named on the documents. There is no "driving other vehicles" extension.
- It is an offence not to re-register the vehicle if it is in the UK in excess of 6 months within a 12 months period. If there is an intention to reside permanently in the UK from the outset, the vehicle should be re-registered immediately (See the Foreign motorists visiting the UK area of the website).
- Failure to re-register the vehicle does not, in MIB's view, invalidate the insurance.
- In some European countries, for example Poland, if the vehicle is sold, there is a legal obligation to transfer the insurance to the new owner.
UK Registered Vehicles - Foreign Insurance - General Position
The insurance may have been obtained and provided in good faith but it does not comply with Section 145 of the Road Traffic Act 1988 unless the insurer complies with the following criteria:
- The insurance must be provided by an authorised insurer who is approved under the Financial Services and Markets Act 2000 and who is a member of MIB - Section 145 of the Road Traffic Act 1988 refers.
- If the insurance company is not a member of MIB, the third party liability insurance does not comply with the law in the UK unless the vehicle is in the course of being taken to another member state - see below.
UK Registered Vehicles - Foreign Insurance - Vehicles being exported
There is an exemption from the general position following the implementation of the 5th Motor Insurance Directive (now incorporated into the Codified Directive 2009/103/EC) into UK Law.
If a UK vehicle is being exported to another EEA state (the EEA comprises EU countries plus Iceland, Norway and Liechtenstein), an insurer in that state can give cover on the vehicle for 30 days, to allow it to be taken to that state and re-registered there.
The risk is assumed by the insurer in the member state of destination of the vehicle being imported, who will ultimately be responsible for compensation in respect of any accidents occurring during the 30 day period.
For further information, please see The Financial Services and Markets Act 2000 (Motor Insurance) Regulations 2007 (pdf).
Accident with a foreign registered vehicle
If the foreign insurer's name is known check for any Green Card agents who will handle the claim on behalf of the foreign insurer.
If the foreign insurer's name is not known contact the MIB's Cross Border Claims team on 01908 830001.
If the accident involves a foreign lorry, take the registration number from the front of vehicle (there may be a different number on the trailer) as well as the policy and Green Card numbers.
For security reasons we can't reproduce a Green Card here. However the numbered boxes relate as follows:
3 - Validity dates
4 - Green Card number
5 - Registration or chassis number
6 - Category and make of vehicle (Boxes 6 and 7 in new format Green Card)
7 - Policyholder and user name and address (Box 9 in new format Green Card)
8 - Insurer's name (Box 10 in new format Green Card)
For a guide to the position in individual countries please see the Green Card countries coverage chart.