Green Card or local insurance: what to choose for a trip abroad?

Among all the steps involved in preparing for a trip abroad, there is one crucially important item — insurance coverage. It can be provided either by a Green Card or by an insurance policy purchased in the destination country itself. Let's take a closer look at the difference between them and figure out when each option is the best choice.

What the Green Card Means and What It Gives You

We covered what a Green Card is in detail in another article. In short, this policy is an international contract of compulsory insurance covering vehicle owners' civil liability. It is required for drivers travelling from Ukraine to a country that is a member of the international system. And as the MTIBU notes, without a valid international insurance contract, a car with Ukrainian registration simply cannot enter such a country.

The policy covers the driver's liability for damage caused to third parties in a road accident. However, this type of insurance for a car with Ukrainian plates does not cover the cost of repairing the at-fault driver's vehicle.

How does local insurance differ from a Green Card?

What is the difference between a Green Card and regular local insurance? At the very least, the latter operates under the rules of a specific country. Local insurance suits a driver who is switching to local insurance terms or whose car is already registered abroad.

At the same time, a local policy is not suitable for a Ukrainian car that is only crossing the border temporarily. In such cases, you must obtain a Green Card.

Do You Need Green Card Insurance Abroad If Your Car Is Parked?

Sometimes a car that has crossed the border simply sits in the garage. And that's when owners start wondering: do you need a Green Card if the car isn't being driven? After all, a vehicle that's permanently parked in a lot or outside the house is a rather different situation from one used on the road every day.

The Green Card policy is designed to cover damage caused to third parties injured in a road accident. Accordingly, it applies to situations where the vehicle is actively in use.

So if the vehicle isn't being used, there's no need for a policy. However, if the car is going to be back on the road, you should check whether your existing policy is still valid before getting behind the wheel. Or take out a new one if necessary.

Now, about taking out a new policy. If your old one expired while the car was parked, you can easily get a new policy online on our website. Keep in mind, though, that it will only take effect at 00:00 the next day at the earliest.

Which Is Better Value: a Green Card or Insurance Purchased in Europe?

Naturally, everyone planning to travel in their own car wonders which is more advantageous — a Green Card or local insurance. And here you need to consider the purpose of your visit to another country. Because in this case it doesn't matter which is cheaper, a Green Card or insurance in Europe. For example, if you're simply heading off to another country for a while, you should get a Green Card. That's exactly what it was created for.

However, if you plan to use the car abroad on a permanent basis, you will need a local insurance policy. It is also required if the car is registered in another country. Such a policy will be governed by the laws of the country of residence.

What should you check before setting off?

To avoid running into any problems on your trip, it's worth checking the following in advance:

• take out a Green Card if it is a short trip;

• check the validity period of your policy and the countries it covers;

• make sure the vehicle details are correct;

• verify that the contract is valid in the MTIBU database.

Our managers will be happy to help you with arranging your Green Card and answering any questions you may have.