FAQ on green cards for motor policies following Brexit
Authored by NIG
The current Government guidance to UK motor policyholders who are travelling within the EU/EEA, including the Republic of Ireland from 1st January 2021 is that a Green Card will now be required. If this guidance changes due to negotiations over the coming weeks, then we will review what actions or documents are needed and advise accordingly. This doesn't change the cover provided by our insurance policies.
Our policies do not cover travel outside of the EU/EEA, however Bosnia and Herzegovina is now included within the Free Circulation Zone of the EU/EEA as of the 19th October 2020.
Frequently Asked Questions
Q: How do I request a Green Card for the policyholder?
A: You will need to request the Green Card on behalf of your client by emailing your regional mailbox 15 – 30 days before travel. We will not accept any requests received directly from the policyholder. To find your regional contact information, please click here.
When you send the request please title the email ‘Green Card request’ and include the following information:
policyholder name and number
dates of travel
name/s of the driver/s
name/s of the countries visited
vehicle registration number, make and model
trailer or caravan make and model
Q: How does the policyholder receive the Green Card?
A: The Green Card will be emailed to you, the broker. The Green Card must be printed as a physical document but the paper no longer needs to be green. You can either print the Green Card and send the physical document to the policyholder or they can print it themselves. The policyholder needs to take the printed document with them on their travels. An electronic PDF version will not be accepted.
Q: Will a Green Card incur an additional premium?
A: No, there will be no charge to issue a Green Card. Please refer to the policy booklet and additional endorsements to see if a charge is applicable to increase the cover (above the minimum level afforded by the Green Card).
Q: What happens if the policy is due for renewal whilst the policyholder is away?
A: Green Cards will be issued for a minimum of 15 days unless the policy is due for renewal whilst the vehicle is abroad. In this instance the Green Card will only be valid until the renewal date. If renewal is confirmed before the Green Card is issued, then cover will be extended for the full period of travel.
Q: Does the policyholder need a Green Card for their trailer?
A: Yes, a separate Green Card will be issued for the trailer, registered or otherwise.
Q: Does the policy cover the vehicle whilst driving within the EU/EEA?
A: Yes, and there is no change to the cover afforded by the policy.
Q: The motor certificate currently documents European cover on the back page. Does the policyholder still need a Green Card?
A: Yes, current advice is that a Green Card will need to be carried along with the motor certificate from 1st January 2021.
Q: What happens if the policyholder does not take a Green Card?
A: It’s difficult to know how the various countries, border or law enforcement officials will react. It’s not always possible to buy insurance at the border so there’s a chance that the vehicle will be confiscated and a fine issued.
Q: Will you be sending the European Accident Statement with the Green Card?
A: No. The policyholder will need to continue to obtain this document themselves and ensure that they comply with the rules and regulations of the countries visited.
Q: Where can I find more information on the Government’s guidance for travel post Brexit?
A: More information can be found on the Government website.
About NIG
We’ve been experts in commercial insurance for 125 years.
The National Insurance and Guarantee Corporation (NIG) is a broker only insurer; we believe in getting to know both the brokers we work with and their clients’ businesses, building trusted partnerships that last for the long-term. Our highly experienced underwriting team are focused on working with brokers to identify and understand the risks faced by UK enterprises. Together, with our risk control experts and risk management tools we develop solutions to help UK enterprises reduce and mitigate key exposures. We offer a wide range of products with flexibility to create tailored insurance cover and when clients need us, claims are dealt with quickly and fairly through a proactive claims approach.
Our trading model has been designed to reflect the differing requirements of how brokers like to trade, with regional offices, National Trading Centre, National Schemes Centre, eTrade Centre of Excellence and dedicated experts for specialist sectors.
We’re investing in new technology to make us even easier to trade with. We’re launching an online risk management resource supported by our in-house Risk Control Team and introduced online claims submissions to speed up the claims process, minimising disruption to clients’ businesses. We are also the only insurer two years running with a five-star rating for both TheHub and Software Houses, in the Insurance Times 2019 and 2020 eTrade survey.
We are dedicated to making UK enterprises more resilient.
NIG is a wholly owned subsidiary of Direct Line Insurance Group plc, providing stability and financial strength. Our policies are underwritten by U K Insurance Limited.