Green Card
Green Card for Europe: when to buy and for how long
International motor liability is needed before the border, not “if they stop you”. How to match the term to the route, why a short policy is not always cheaper, and which countries are in the system.
A Green Card is MTPL for trips outside Ukraine. Without it you may be forced to buy local cover at the border, or not be let through. Buy it when the route is clear, with spare days for the way back.
Why you need it if you already have MTPL
Ukrainian MTPL does not work in the EU. Local police and insurers look at the international certificate. It confirms that third-party damage abroad will be handled under the rules of the country of the accident.
It is not CASCO and not health cover for the driver. Repairs to your car, luggage and medical care are separate products, usually travel insurance and, if you want, CASCO with a territory extension.
How to choose the term
- 15 days — short weekend trips if you are sure about the dates
- one month — a typical holiday with a buffer for a ferry delay or a repair
- one year — if you travel often and do not want to remember each trip
A policy that ends “on the day you return” is risky: a border queue, a breakdown or a route change can eat the last day. Build in a buffer.
When to buy
Online issue takes minutes, but do not leave it for the car park in front of the barrier. Connectivity, payment and email can fail in the border zone. Buying 1–3 days before departure, when dates are stable, is comfortable.
If the trip is cancelled, read premium-refund rules in the contract in advance, not in a reverse queue. For most short policies refunds are limited.
What to carry
An electronic Green Card is accepted, but keep the PDF offline. Add the vehicle certificate, licence and MTPL for the road to the border. After an accident abroad, call the numbers on the certificate and do not sign foreign papers you do not understand without a translation or advice.