The Green Card is your essential pass to driving all across Europe and beyond. It means that you can travel throughout the Green Card zone without having to buy specific insurance for each country you visit. Yet, a 2024 YouGov survey found that only 30% of the British public had heard of the scheme.

So, if you’re taking your car, van or 53-foot RV (well, if they were good enough for Vin Diesel, J-Lo and Will Smith…) to any of the 50 countries that make up the Green Card zone, then you need to add a few items to your to-do list.

Item one: Make sure you’ve got insurance

OK, this seems an obvious one, but having valid UK motor insurance means that you have at least the bare minimum of cover for driving in the EU.

Item two: Check the level of cover

Not all policies cover you to the same extent. All policies will provide third-party insurance, but some policies will give you more, up to the level of protection that you have in the UK.

Remember that third-party cover means that you’ll be covered for damage to any other vehicle involved in an accident, but not yours. We all love a bargain on holiday but some ways of cutting costs may be more trouble than they’re worth – that cheaper 4am ferry, that hotel room with a view of the bins, that snack from the dodgy street vendor. You’ll need to decide if only having third-party cover is another on that list. Check your policy and make amendments as required.

Item three: Find out if you need a Green Card

If you’re driving within the EU (including Ireland), Andorra, Bosnia and Herzegovina, Iceland, Liechtenstein, Montenegro, Norway, Serbia or Switzerland (this is sounding a bit like Eurovision) you do not need a Green Card. For other countries in Europe including Albania, Azerbaijan, Moldova, Turkey and Ukraine, or beyond including Morocco and Tunisia, a Green Card is required. If you’re not sure, ask your insurer.

Item four: Get everything ready in good time

Like the Scouts or Scar in the Lion King, you need to be prepared. Nobody likes a mad rush just hours before you’re meant to leave or (heaven forbid) having to miss that 4am ferry because you’ve not got your paperwork sorted. Your insurer will provide you with a Green Card, but you’ll need to let them know, ideally at least six weeks before you travel. You might need an additional Green Card for a trailer or a caravan and these might also need to be registered.

While you’re on the road

You must show your Green Card if you’re involved in an accident and you may have to show it at the border or if you’re stopped by the police. As of the start of 2025, you no longer need to carry a physical copy of your Green Card, digital PDF versions will also be accepted.

Anything else?

You might also need other things. You should:

• check that your driving licence is in date for the whole of your trip
• take a copy of your motor insurance certificate
• get an International Driving Permit (IDP) for non-EU countries
• take your vehicle registration document
• take a European Accident Statement (EAS) form if you’re travelling in Europe
• check what other equipment you need to take in your car (things like a warning triangle or hi-vis jacket, not tins of travel sweets).