Brexit: Your Cover

The Green Card system has been in place since the 1940s and the documents were traditionally green in colour. Changes to the regulations in July 2020 mean they can now be green or in black and white and will be accepted by authorities on white paper in all 48 countries that are part of this system (including all countries in the EU).

To make it easier for you to print them if needed, we’ve chosen to produce them on white paper, and any Green Cards we send to you will be white. We’ll still refer to them as Green Cards.

The local authorities in each country need to see a hard copy of your Green Card to prove you have valid insurance. You could be stopped from entering at the border, pulled over to check minimum requirements and your vehicle could be seized.

There are many countries within the Green Card system where we won’t provide any cover and regulations mean insurers must show these countries by putting a cross over them. You’re covered to drive in countries without a cross within the terms of your policy. 

For a full list of the countries in the Green Card system, please visit the Council of Bureaux.  

Please request your Green Card at least 7 days before you travel using our online form.

Once we’ve received your request, we’ll send the Green Card to your postal address, and we can email it if you prefer or if you need it urgently. If you receive it by email, you’ll still need to print a hard copy to take with you as it’s not enough to show it on your phone or other device.

We'll post your Green Card to you and you can also print it out yourself – the important thing is you take a hard copy.

If you print your own, use white A4 paper with black ink (no colour). Make sure the ink hasn’t smudged and there are no other marks on the page as the Green Card won’t be accepted if it's unreadable.

This isn't currently allowed as part of the Green Card system. You must make sure you have a physical copy of the Green Card with you.

If you're towing, you'll need two Green Cards – one for your vehicle and one for the trailer being towed, as many countries in the EU and EEA require a Green Card as evidence the trailer being towed has the minimum level of third party cover. Please contact us so we can provide you with another Green Card depending on what you're towing.

You should take your vehicle logbook (V5C) with you and other similar documentation if you're leasing a car when driving abroad. Please check GOV.UK for the most up to date information on driving abroad and what documentation you'll need to take with you.

You may also need an international driving permit (IDP) to drive in some countries, as well as your UK driving licence. For more on this, check the Government's guidance.