What's cheaper — a fine for driving without a Green Card or buying a Green Card for a year?

07.09.2026

Ірина Кіріна

Fine for No Green Card

Ukrainians cannot drive on the roads of Europe and a number of other countries without international insurance — the Green Card. Even so, there are still drivers who ignore it. And yes, it may seem that the fine for not having a Green Card will cost less than buying the policy. So below we will look at what happens if you have no Green Card and whether the fine really is the cheaper option.

Fine for Driving Without a Green Card in Ukraine

The Green Card is used in Ukraine for vehicles with foreign license plates. If a driver does not have this document, they fall under Article 126 of the Code of Ukraine on Administrative Offences. The fine for not having a Green Card in Ukraine ranges from UAH 425 to 850, depending on the circumstances.

For example, if you're fined for an expired Green Card in Ukraine, you'll have to pay UAH 425. A complete lack of a policy, however, will cost you UAH 850. Keep in mind that if you fail to pay on time, the amount doubles.

It may seem that paying even UAH 850 is cheaper than buying a policy for UAH 3,000–4,000. However, you can get caught more than once. And in the event of an accident, you'll have to pay the compensation out of your own pocket.

Fine for Driving Without a Green Card in Poland and Moldova

Fines for driving without a Green Card abroad are considerably higher than they are here. In Poland, for example, the penalty for not having a Green Card can cost you up to 7,200 zlotys (roughly 1,800 dollars). In certain cases, your car may even be towed to an impound lot.

In Moldova, as in many other countries, you cannot drive without a Green Card. You may even be refused entry at the border if you do not have a valid policy. The fine for not having a Green Card in Moldova is set by the local authorities, and its amount is determined based on the individual circumstances.

What happens if you have no Green Card or it has expired?

A missing or expired Green Card can result in the following:

  • a substantial administrative fine;

  • towing or impounding of the vehicle;

  • paying compensation to accident victims out of your own pocket;

  • deportation and a temporary entry ban.

Moreover, an expired document is the same as having none at all. The fine for an expired Green Card is also quite steep.

Many travellers also wonder whether the Green Card is checked at the border. The answer is definitely yes. There is no way to trick the system, because border guards use the MTIBU database for verification and carefully check the validity period. It is also useful to know how to extend a Green Card while abroad. This will help you avoid unpleasant situations.

How to Extend or Buy a Green Card?

If you have the time and inclination, you can buy or renew your policy at an insurance office in your city. However, many people wonder whether it's possible to buy a Green Card online. After all, it's faster and easier that way. And you really can do it on our KIRINS website. The whole process takes just 10–15 minutes. The electronic version will be sent to your e-mail.

And if you're already abroad, here's what you need to do to get a new policy:

  • take out a policy on our website;

  • receive the document by email;

  • save the policy on your phone or print it out.

Avoiding fines is easy — the main thing is to buy or renew your policy on time.