A Green Card is an international motor third-party liability policy, i.e. an analog of a third-party liability insurance policy for traveling abroad, which is mandatory for entry into countries that are members of this insurance system. Here's who needs a Green Card to enter the EU in 2024 and where to buy it

Issuing a policy Green card for traveling abroad by car

BUY

The Green Card insurance policy is an analog of a motor vehicle liability policy that covers the driver's liability in the event of an accident abroad. Such international insurance is mandatory for entry into countries that have signed an agreement to introduce a mandatory international insurance system. This list includes 46 countries, including the EU and Ukraine. The full list of member countries can be found on the official website of the MTIBU.

Do Ukrainians need a green card to enter the EU?

Given that the European Union countries are members of the agreement on compulsory international insurance, all drivers are required to have a Green Card for their car to enter the EU.

If a person does not have insurance, or if its validity period is expired, they will simply not be allowed to cross the border. It should be understood that insurance verification can be carried out not only when entering a particular country, but also during a routine document check by police officers in the host country.

Please note: in 2022, at the beginning of the full-scale russian invasion of Ukraine, Ukrainian drivers could cross the borders of Poland, Slovakia, Hungary and Moldova in their own cars without Green Card policies, but as of 2024, such conditions no longer apply. And the absence of an insurance certificate is subject to serious fines and, in some cases, deportation from the host country with a subsequent entry ban.

At the same time, to travel freely in the EU, you do not need to take out several insurance policies, as the Green Card is valid in all EU member states. However, it should be borne in mind that the limit of liability under the Green Card (i.e., insurance coverage) is determined by the legislation of the country where the person is located. That is, in the event of an accident, the amount of compensation may differ from country to country. We have described in detail the limits of liability under the Green Card in 2024 in this article.

Visit Ukraine on social media: Telegram | YouTube | Instagram | Facebook | Twitter | TikTok

How to buy a Green Card online?

To apply for a Green Card for the required period (from 15 days to 1 year), a Ukrainian must have

– a foreign passport of a citizen of Ukraine and TIN;

– car registration certificate (technical passport);

– driver's license.

You can buy an insurance policy on the Visit Ukraine website at this link. The online insurance process takes a few minutes, and the finished insurance will be sent to the specified e-mail immediately after registration and payment. 

You can check the validity of the insurance policy through the MTIBU database. To do this, go to the website and specify the insurance policy number and the date on which you want to check the insurance.

Please note: the Green Card electronic policy cannot start on the current date, but only on the next date. This should be taken into account when you take out insurance before traveling abroad, as well as in cases when your insurance expires and you need to purchase a new one.

The cost of insurance is fixed for all insurance companies and countries, it depends only on the term of the policy and the type of vehicle. Find a comparative table of the cost of the Green Card in 2024 here.

We remind you! Knowing about the presence of fines for traffic violations both in Ukraine and abroad is an important aspect of maintaining a clean road reputation and ensuring road safety. Read how to easily track and pay fines in Ukraine and EU countries in our previous article.

Photo: Straz Graniczna