Driving abroad on short-term cover
Taking a short-term policy out of the UK is possible but rarely automatic. Foreign use is a specific section of an insurer's terms, and on short-term products it is frequently limited, conditional or excluded entirely.
First published . Checked against our editorial policy and re-reviewed whenever the underlying rules change.
What a green card actually is
A green card is an internationally recognised certificate proving that a vehicle carries at least the minimum motor insurance required in the country you are entering. It is issued by the insurer, not by us and not by a government body, and it names the vehicle, the policy period and the countries covered.
Green cards are not required for travel between the UK and EU/EEA countries, Switzerland, Serbia or Andorra. They are required for a number of other countries, and the list changes, so confirm the position for your destination before you travel.
Foreign use terms are where cover is lost
The common trap is assuming that comprehensive cover in the UK stays comprehensive abroad. On many policies it does not. A typical foreign use clause reduces cover to the minimum legally required in the destination country for the duration of the trip, which means damage to the vehicle you are driving may not be covered at all.
Where cover is extended in full, it is usually limited to a set number of days per policy period and may require the insurer to be told in advance. Short-term products are shorter than that window by definition, so the terms are often written differently again.
Tell us before, not after
If a journey leaves the UK, that is a material fact. Say so when you enter your details. An insurer that accepts a request on the basis of UK-only use and later discovers the vehicle was abroad may treat the arrangement as prejudiced, and the consequence falls on you at the worst possible moment.
We forward what you tell us. We cannot tell an insurer about a trip you have not disclosed to us.
What to check in the documents you receive
If an insurer accepts your request it issues you a certificate of motor insurance and a policy schedule. Read three things in them before you travel.
- The territorial limits — the countries and the geographic scope the policy actually covers.
- The foreign use section — whether cover is full or reduced to the legal minimum outside the UK, and for how many days.
- Whether a green card has been issued or is needed, and how the insurer supplies it.
Frequently asked questions
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