Don Madge
Deceased RIP
As one of the MMM travel consultants (unpaid) I often get asked what is a Green Card.
These days you don't usually need a green card in the EU (except Bulgaria). On the back of your insurance certificate it also gives details of other countries you can travel in without the GC. In fact your insurance certificate replaces the GC.
You will still need to apply for a G C if you want to visit Turkey or Morocco, if your insurers won't/don't issue a G C for these countries third party insurance can be bought at the borders.
Green Card History
Following the Second World War the increase in road traffic made it necessary to devise a system to manage and expedite the movement of vehicles across borders.
The problem was considered by the Working Party of the Inland Transport Committee of the Economic Commission for Europe (a United Nations body) which decided to recommend a solution based on a system originally implemented by the Nordic countries in the 1930s.
That solution, embodied in the "Geneva Recommendations", led to the establishment of the Green Card system, which even today still reports to the ECE.
The Green Card System is designed to fulfill two principle objectives, which are:
1. To facilitate the movement of vehicles across international borders by the use of an internationally acceptable document proving the existence of insurance (the Green Card or International Insurance Card).
2. To ensure that victims of foreign registered vehicles are not disadvantaged.
The System came into effect in 1952, and there are now over 40 member countries.
Membership
To qualify for membership of the system, a country must first be within the geographical scope of the system, which is currently defined as "Europe, including Russia as far east as the Urals, countries to the west of the Caspian Sea, and countries bordering the Mediterranean". For historical reasons, Iran is also a member of the System.
Thereafter, a country must fulfill the following conditions:
1. Operate a law requiring the compulsory insurance of vehicles.
2. Set up a Bureau, complying with the Geneva Recommendations, which is recognised by its Government.
3. Put in place laws recognising the validity of the Green Card.
4. Give a written assurance to the ECE that there will be no impediment to the free transfer of currency.
Having satisfied those conditions, application for transitional membership can be made to the Council of Bureaux, which then places the application before the General Assembly. The General Assembly must then vote by 75% in favour
Once accepted, a country has to put in place the requirements for transitional membership as set out in the Constitution, under which certain guarantees must be given to ensure that any debts incurred are met.
As soon as the Management Committee approves the guarantees, the new Bureau is free to invite other Bureaux to sign the Internal Regulations with them.
Green Card
This document is specified by the Inland Transport Committee of the ECE, which specification is enforced by the Secretariat of the Council of Bureaux.
Deviation from the standard can cause considerable inconvenience for policyholders and in some instances can lead to insurers or the paying bureau being exposed to greater risks than they had intended.
Whilst the responsibility for issuing Green Cards is that of the local Bureau, many Bureaux, including the MIB, allow insurers to print and issue their own cards in the interests of efficiency.
No charge is made for a Green Card. However, if cover is increased at the same time the Green Card is issued, an insurer is entitled to make a charge for the extension of cover. Intermediaries are also entitled to charge for obtaining Green Cards for their clients.
Safe travelling.
Don
These days you don't usually need a green card in the EU (except Bulgaria). On the back of your insurance certificate it also gives details of other countries you can travel in without the GC. In fact your insurance certificate replaces the GC.
You will still need to apply for a G C if you want to visit Turkey or Morocco, if your insurers won't/don't issue a G C for these countries third party insurance can be bought at the borders.
Green Card History
Following the Second World War the increase in road traffic made it necessary to devise a system to manage and expedite the movement of vehicles across borders.
The problem was considered by the Working Party of the Inland Transport Committee of the Economic Commission for Europe (a United Nations body) which decided to recommend a solution based on a system originally implemented by the Nordic countries in the 1930s.
That solution, embodied in the "Geneva Recommendations", led to the establishment of the Green Card system, which even today still reports to the ECE.
The Green Card System is designed to fulfill two principle objectives, which are:
1. To facilitate the movement of vehicles across international borders by the use of an internationally acceptable document proving the existence of insurance (the Green Card or International Insurance Card).
2. To ensure that victims of foreign registered vehicles are not disadvantaged.
The System came into effect in 1952, and there are now over 40 member countries.
Membership
To qualify for membership of the system, a country must first be within the geographical scope of the system, which is currently defined as "Europe, including Russia as far east as the Urals, countries to the west of the Caspian Sea, and countries bordering the Mediterranean". For historical reasons, Iran is also a member of the System.
Thereafter, a country must fulfill the following conditions:
1. Operate a law requiring the compulsory insurance of vehicles.
2. Set up a Bureau, complying with the Geneva Recommendations, which is recognised by its Government.
3. Put in place laws recognising the validity of the Green Card.
4. Give a written assurance to the ECE that there will be no impediment to the free transfer of currency.
Having satisfied those conditions, application for transitional membership can be made to the Council of Bureaux, which then places the application before the General Assembly. The General Assembly must then vote by 75% in favour
Once accepted, a country has to put in place the requirements for transitional membership as set out in the Constitution, under which certain guarantees must be given to ensure that any debts incurred are met.
As soon as the Management Committee approves the guarantees, the new Bureau is free to invite other Bureaux to sign the Internal Regulations with them.
Green Card
This document is specified by the Inland Transport Committee of the ECE, which specification is enforced by the Secretariat of the Council of Bureaux.
Deviation from the standard can cause considerable inconvenience for policyholders and in some instances can lead to insurers or the paying bureau being exposed to greater risks than they had intended.
Whilst the responsibility for issuing Green Cards is that of the local Bureau, many Bureaux, including the MIB, allow insurers to print and issue their own cards in the interests of efficiency.
No charge is made for a Green Card. However, if cover is increased at the same time the Green Card is issued, an insurer is entitled to make a charge for the extension of cover. Intermediaries are also entitled to charge for obtaining Green Cards for their clients.
Safe travelling.
Don
