SEARCH
The purpose of the document called “Green Card” consists in certifying that the vehicle for which it has been issued posesses a sufficient third party liability insurance cover when crossing the border of a foreign country. The Green Card is issued by 46 insurance bureaux of mostly European countries, which are all affiliated to an umbrella organisation, the Council of Bureaux (CoB). The Swiss National Bureau of Insurance (NBI) is a member of the CoB. By virtue of this affiliation, it has to follow the requirements set up by the CoB when it issues its Green Cards. The NBI authorised its member companies to issue Green Cards on their own. The Green Card has to be ordered from the insurer with whom the vehicle insurance policy has been concluded. In most cases, the insurers automatically hand out a Green Card after the conclusion of the insurance contract.
Two categories of countries have to be distinguished within the Green Card system:
- The countries whose insurance bureaux signed the Multilateral Agreement (also called registration plates convention - entirety of the EU/EEA member states as well as Andorra, Croatia, Serbia and Switzerland; marked in blue/purple on the map below),
- The rest of the CoB countries (marked in green on the map below).
(Click on the map to see enlarged view)
Motorists whose vehicles are registered in the countries displayed in blue/purple on the map (EU/EEA member states as well as Andorra, Croatia, Serbia and Switzerland) generally no longer need a Green Card when entering other countries displayed in blue on the map in order to enjoy sufficient motor third party liability insurance cover while circulating on their territories.
When travelling to a country displayed in green on the map, motorists have to order a Green Card from their insurer, unless the insurer already supplies them automatically. The Green Card confirms that the vehicle has sufficient insurance cover while abroad. However, swiss insurance companies may restrict cover for the countries displayed in green on the map by crossing out their country code on the Green Card. Whenever a country code is crossed out on a Green Card, the document does not any longer provide cover for the corresponding territory. In such a case, it is necessary to order a new Green Card which provides the needed cover from the insurer or to conclude a frontier insurance policy when crossing the border (further information about the territorial scope of the Green Card can be consulted under the following link).
Since the Green Card is valid for a limited period of time, it is important to check its validity before setting off on a trip. In the event of an accident, the duplicate of the Green Card – if there is one – should be given to the police or the injured party. If a duplicate of the Green Card is not available, a copy will have to be made or the police will record all the relevant data in the police report.
List of the EU/EEA member states:
EU&EEE country summary
Green Card model, compulsory since 1.1.2011
During its General Assembly, 2008 the CoB has approved a new Green Card model. This document has subsequently been approved by the UN (ECE). During its meeting held 27.11.2008, the NBI & NGF Management Committee has also approved the new format (the Swiss version includes the NBI-logo as well as information concerning the Swiss Information Centre).
The new Green Card model is compulsory since 1.1.2011. Old Green Cards issued before 1.1.2011 remain valid until their expiry date (second date in field Nr. 3). A Green Card issued in the old format after the 1.1.2011 will be considered invalid. It can be confiscated by the border authorities.
Front side:
(Click on the picture to see enlarged view)
Rear side:
(Click on the picture to see enlarged view)
Former Green Card model (could be issued until 31.12.2010, remains valid after 1.1.2011 until its expiry date):
Starting from 1.1.2011, national insurance bureaux and motor third party liability insurers are allowed to issue exclusively the new Green Card (cf. below). Old Green Cards that have been issued before the 31.12.2010 remain valid until the expiry date mentioned in field Nr. 3.
(Click on the picture to see enlarged view)
