Brexit and Driving in Europe after 31st December 2020
The UK transition arrangement with the EU ends at 23.00 hours on 31st December 2020 and in absence of an agreement to the contrary, free movement of vehicles within the EU will cease for UK drivers.
This means that any driver taking their vehicle abroad after 31st December 2020 will need to carry a Green Card that guarantees they have the minimum motor insurance cover legally required for driving in the countries that they are visiting.
The need to carry a Green Card means:
- You will need to contact us before you travel outside the UK (including to the Republic of Ireland as well as mainland Europe) so that a Green Card can be issued prior to departure. The more notice you give, the better.
- You will need to provide the vehicle registration number, the dates when you’ll be abroad, who will be driving the vehicle, and the countries you’ll be visiting.
Making sure that as well as specifying the number plate of your vehicle, you provide the trailer registration mark (if you have, for example, an articulated vehicle or a draw-bar trailer) so that the trailer can be issued with its own Green Card
Making sure that if you receive your Green Card as an e-mailed PDF rather than in hard copy format that you print out and bring it with you (despite the name, a Green Card can now be printed on white paper)
- If your motor insurance policy is due to expire during the Green Card period, you will need to be issued with two Green Cards, one up to renewal date and the other covering the period post-renewal date.
- Green Cards apply to the registration number of the vehicle rather than the driver. Green Cards are issued for a minimum period of 15 days. If you make frequent and/or lengthy trips abroad, you may want to talk to us about arranging an Annual Green Card cover.
- A Green Card only confirms you have the minimum level of cover legally required in the countries within which your vehicle is traveling. That means as well as requesting a Green Card, we must also instruct your motor insurer to provide you with the same level of cover whilst abroad as you enjoy in the UK
Please note It is the driver of the vehicle that is responsible for carrying a Green Card, even if the driver is an employee. No employee should drive a vehicle abroad without first having received a Green Card via their employer. If you drive abroad without physically holding a printed Green Card, you may be prosecuted for driving without insurance, fined and have your vehicle impounded.