We Brits love to drive to Europe on holiday. Under usual circumstances, millions of us do it every year. So for anyone planning to take their car across the Channel, we explain what you’ll need to do to get European car insurance plus if and when you need an insurance Green Card.
European car insurance is cover to drive your car (or another car from the UK) in Europe.
If you have a UK car insurance policy, you’ll usually be covered to legally drive the car covered by that insurance in European Union (EU) and European Economic Area (EEA) countries. However, in most cases the policy will only give you third-party cover to drive in Europe. This applies even if your policy is fully comprehensive for driving in the UK. Third-party cover is the minimum legal requirement and it won’t cover injury or damage to yourself, your passengers or your own car.
Your UK policy may also impose limits on how many days you can drive in Europe, in a single stretch and overall in a year.
If in doubt, contact your insurer and find out your level of coverage before you zoom off on holiday.
It depends. Driving abroad can seem pretty scary and alien, thanks to driving on the “wrong” side of the road and having to remember the different rules that apply. You may not want to risk being stranded on a foreign road after an accident without the certainty that it’s your insurer’s job to help you pick up the pieces.
If your UK insurance only covers you to drive in the EU on a third-party basis, you might want to ask your insurer if you can pay extra for a higher level of cover when driving abroad.
And if you want to spend more time driving in Europe than your policy allows, you may need to to buy an extra European car insurance policy. Depending on how long you need extra cover for, short term European car insurance may do the trick.
If you want to get a higher level of cover than your insurer offers as standard for when you’re driving in Europe, let it know. It should be able to boost your cover for the period you’re overseas. This is likely to cost extra. Your insurer may also be able to advise you on any extra cover you may want. For example, depending on the insurer, you may be able to add on European breakdown cover.
Regardless of whether you want to boost your level of cover or not, you will need to carry evidence of valid car insurance with you when driving in Europe; your policy documents, for example. In a few European countries, you also need to ask your insurer to issue a Green Card as proof that you are insured to at least the minimum level.
Most European countries are covered by a standard UK car insurance policy. All EU member states are covered, as are European Economic Area (EEA) countries such as Liechtenstein and Norway. Some other European countries, such as Switzerland, are also likely to be covered, but check with your insurer before you leave to be sure.
However, there are a few popular destinations that aren’t. These include Russia and Turkey. So you don’t suddenly turn your holiday into a Jason Bourne film, check your policy with your insurer before you go abroad.
As before Brexit, any UK car insurance policy that offers the legal minimum coverage for travelling in countries in the European Economic Area (EEA) will still work.
For a few months after the UK left the EU, UK licence-holders driving in Europe also needed to carry an insurance Green Card, as proof of valid UK insurance. From August 2021, this requirement was waived in EU countries. While you need to carry a hard copy of your insurance documents with you when driving in EU countries, there are now only a handful of non-EU countries that require you to carry a Green Card.
A Green Card is an internationally recognised document that serves as proof of insurance. You get one from your insurer and it shows that you have (at the very least) third party cover. If you don’t carry one with you in countries that require it, you could face a fine or prosecution, and risk your car being impounded.
You don’t need to carry a Green Card in EU countries and select non-EU countries, including Norway and Switzerland.
European countries that do require you to carry a Green Card include:
Get in touch with your insurer well before you’re due to head off. The Association of British Insurers says you should make the request at least a month before you travel – longer is better. Your provider will need to process your request and post the Green Card to you, which can take a while. Also, depending on your insurer, you might have to pay a fee to get one.
Yes. There are several reasons why you might want to take out short term European car insurance:
If you’re hiring a car from a rental company, you probably won’t need to worry about taking out your own car insurance policy. Necessary cover should be included as part of the rental package.
The preparation below applies wherever you’re headed. Check any specific rules for each country, too, to avoid risking an unexpected fine.
Take these documents with you and be prepared to show them if asked by officials:
In most cases, no. Your UK licence should cover you if you’re driving in the EU, Iceland, Liechtenstein or Switzerland. You’ll never need one if you’re driving in Ireland under a UK licence.
However, you might need an international driving permit to drive in some EU countries and Norway. This may be the case under the following circumstances:
You can check if you need an international driving permit on gov.uk. If you do, you can get one over the counter at the Post Office for a fee of £5.50. You must be 18 or over, a UK resident, and have a full UK driving licence.
By and large, the rules of the road are similar in the UK and Europe. Follow the same basic principles and you should (usually) stay on the right side of the law. For example:
Some European countries have specific laws to follow, so brush up before you go. For example, some require you to keep your lights on at all times, or that all kids under 12 must sit in the back. Check what safety equipment the country you’re driving in expects you to carry too. Many require you to carry a reflective safety vest and red safety triangles. In France, you’re also expected to carry a Breathalyser.
And, of course, you must drive on the correct side of the road. Before you roll your eyes at this statement of the blooming obvious, it’s intended as a reminder that driving in Europe can be trickier than driving at home. This can particularly be the case if you’re driving a right-hand-drive car on the right-hand side of the road, as your visibility may sometimes be more restricted.
If you’re understandably concerned about this, consider boosting your European car insurance beyond the third party cover included in most UK insurance policies. It’ll seem a small price to pay in the event of an accident on foreign roads.
If you have a valid UK licence and an up-to-date UK car insurance policy, you’ll be legally covered to drive in most (though not all) European countries. You’ll need to carry proof of your car insurance with you. Bear in mind that your UK insurance may only cover you on a third party basis. There’s also likely to be a time limit on how long you can drive in Europe, per year or in one go. Check with your provider about what and where you’re insured for before you go; it may be able to boost your cover to a level that suits you better.
| Response | Yorkshire and the Humber | West Midlands | Wales | South West | South East | Scotland | Northern Ireland | North West | North East | Greater London | East of England | East Midlands |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| No | 71.76% | 66.09% | 54.55% | 69.57% | 70.86% | 63.16% | 70.83% | 63.64% | 64.29% | 50% | 58.62% | 71.59% |
| Yes | 28.24% | 33.91% | 45.45% | 30.43% | 29.14% | 36.84% | 29.17% | 36.36% | 35.71% | 50% | 41.38% | 28.41% |
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