Green Card?

[Grehan]

I've been pestering our broker (NFU) about the situation, after December 31st, during the year and on 16th December (before the Deal announcement) received this -
"The Department for Transport has secured agreement from the Council of Bureau (the organisation that oversees the international Green Card system) that British drivers will still not need Green Cards following Brexit.’ Please note this may change. "

Obviously this advice might well change now, or become more certain in the coming days.
They were also in the process of asking me for start/end dates for the card, but perhaps that's now irrelevant.

So, I was wondering if anyone here had any different/better Green Card information . . .

 

[jordanbasset]

Some info here
Brexit: What are the rules on driving in the EU after transition?
In short it looks like you will need a green card

 

[Sailfree]

You need a green card. We are with Saga that issued them quickly and did not previously limit EU travel but wonder if they will in future.

Just realised I should check whether green card gives comprehensive cover or its reduced to just third party.

Trying to be prepared we also have unecessary international driving permits!!

 

[Davy_S]

This is what it says on mine.

The wording below contains a multi-lingual explanation of how your Certificate of Motor Insurance
applies abroad. This wording should be presented to the relevant authorities, together with your
Certificate of Insurance, if requested. Please ensure that you take your Certificate of Motor Insurance
with you.
This Certificate of Motor Insurance also applies throughout the countries of the European Union,
Croatia, Iceland, Norway and Switzerland. This is in place of an International Motor Insurance Card
(Green Card) and provides cover at least to the minimum extent required by the law of these
countries.

 

[st599]

Suppose I should check before my next trip as my employer self insures vehicles.

 

[greeny]

This is what it says on mine.

The wording below contains a multi-lingual explanation of how your Certificate of Motor Insurance
applies abroad. This wording should be presented to the relevant authorities, together with your
Certificate of Insurance, if requested. Please ensure that you take your Certificate of Motor Insurance
with you.
This Certificate of Motor Insurance also applies throughout the countries of the European Union,
Croatia, Iceland, Norway and Switzerland. This is in place of an International Motor Insurance Card
(Green Card) and provides cover at least to the minimum extent required by the law of these
countries.

Is this what it says now in relation to the situation now and will it still be valid after 31st December, or will the statement change and require a green card to be issued?
Or is this a new certificate that's been issued getting ready for post 31st Dec. with this statement added.

 

[Lightwave395]

I've had an annual green card from Aviva for the past three years.
A green card provides the same fully comp cover as you would have in the UK, I believe, at least with Aviva so could otherwise be wrong, that whilst your pre brexit insurance cert give Euro cover it is only basic if you don't /didn't have a green card

 

[Davy_S]

Is this what it says now in relation to the situation now and will it still be valid after 31st December, or will the statement change and require a green card to be issued?
Or is this a new certificate that's been issued getting ready for post 31st Dec. with this statement added.

It is a new policy that starts on the 5th of January 2021.

 

[greeny]

It is a new policy that starts on the 5th of January 2021.

So maybe good news and a sign of things to come. We maybe won't need a green card after all if all companies take the same stance. Years ago I wondered why we had to ask for one anyway when all it would have taken was a statement included in the certificate like yours has now. Although at that time, English was not as widely spoken and accepted as it is now. (excepting one or two countries). It was a good excuse to make a bit more money for them though. There was of course the additional requirement for a "bail bond" for Spain in those days. IIRC.

 

[syvictoria]

I've had an annual green card from Aviva for the past three years.
A green card provides the same fully comp cover as you would have in the UK, I believe, at least with Aviva so could otherwise be wrong, that whilst your pre brexit insurance cert give Euro cover it is only basic if you don't /didn't have a green card

We've driven extensively throughout the EU/mainland Europe and have never had a green card. Our UK insurance cover has provided fully comp for 30/60/90 days depending upon the policy, and then dropped to third party only thereafter. As we've always had a cheap car, the latter hasn't personally concerned us! It was my belief that our experience was completely standard.

 

[Davy_S]

Just a cautionary note! I posted what my policy showed (I am allowed 60 days driving abroad) simply to give an idea to others, please do not take this as gospel! for peace of mind check your own policy, i would hate to see someone in trouble for following my post.

 

[Sailfree]

All policies vary. We investigated this and went with SAGA as it was for a period not exceeding 6 months and if you returned to UK for 1 day you could have another 6 months.

 

[MoodySabre]

Had a letter from Admiral today saying that we would need a green card to take the car to Europe. 7 days notice required.

 

[Beneteau381]

Some info here
Brexit: What are the rules on driving in the EU after transition?
In short it looks like you will need a green card

We were given a green card when we drive to Paris last December, I phoned the insurance company to check we were covered fully comp, she said yes and I will email a green card. So no change.

 

[Beneteau381]

We've driven extensively throughout the EU/mainland Europe and have never had a green card. Our UK insurance cover has provided fully comp for 30/60/90 days depending upon the policy, and then dropped to third party only thereafter. As we've always had a cheap car, the latter hasn't personally concerned us! It was my belief that our experience was completely standard.

As I saud in my previous post, Brexit hasnt made any difference.

 

[Hadenough]

As I saud in my previous post, Brexit hasnt made any difference.

Of course it has! Previously you didn’t need a green card. Now you do because of our loss of freedom of movement. OK if you are flitting between your boat in the med and your house / second home / motor home / boat, probably all , in little England. But the loss of freedom of movement in the EU has bolloxed it for serious cruisers.

 

[nortada]

Of course it has! Previously you didn’t need a green card. Now you do because of our loss of freedom of movement. OK if you are flitting between your boat in the med and your house / second home / motor home / boat, probably all , in little England. But the loss of freedom of movement in the EU has bolloxed it for serious cruisers.

Not for us, because like many serious cruisers, we don’t have a car.

Far too much hassle trying to keep car and boat together.

 

[Hadenough]

Not for us, because like many serious cruisers, we don’t have a car.

Far too much hassle trying to keep car and boat together.

Agreed. But even without the car (which we abandoned years ago) the hassle of visas, residency and all the rest of the crap has bolloxed it for European cruising. Ok if you just want to stay on a mooring in Faro but not if you want to cruise around.

 

[Sailfree]

Suggest everyone checks who is covered on their Green card as many its just policyholder and not other named drivers.

 

[nortada]

Agreed. But even without the car (which we abandoned years ago) the hassle of visas, residency and all the rest of the crap has bolloxed it for European cruising. Ok if you just want to stay on a mooring in Faro but not if you want to cruise around.

Think you are drifting this thread into the rights and wrongs of Brexit

This forum aims to help liveaboards, Brits long-term visitors overseas and expats so please do not divert it into a whinge about Brexit.

There are plenty of other places to do that.