Driving abroad

If you’re driving in most European countries

All UK vehicle insurance provides the minimum third party cover to drive in:

  • the EU (including Ireland)
  • Andorra
  • Bosnia and Herzegovina
  • Iceland
  • Liechtenstein
  • Norway
  • Serbia
  • Switzerland

Check with your insurer if your policy has extra cover for things like theft or damage to your car abroad.

You do not need to carry a green card when you drive in the EU (including Ireland), Andorra, Bosnia and Herzegovina, Iceland, Liechtenstein, Norway, Serbia, and Switzerland. You still need valid vehicle insurance.

You may need to carry a green card to drive in other countries, including:

  • Albania
  • Azerbaijan
  • Moldova
  • Turkey
  • Ukraine

Check what insurance you need before you drive in any other countries.

If you’re driving in the rest of the world

You may need to carry a green card to prove you have the minimum insurance cover required by the country you’re driving in. This includes:

  • Iran
  • Israel
  • Morocco
  • Tunisia

You may also need additional insurance for your vehicle, trailer or caravan. Check the travel advice for the country you’re going to.

Getting a green card from your insurer

A green card is proof that you have vehicle insurance when driving abroad.

Contact your insurer to get one for your vehicle. They’ll either:

  • post you a green card - allow up to 6 weeks
  • tell you how to download a green card to print yourself

You will need to carry extra green cards if:

  • you’re towing a trailer or caravan (one for the towing vehicle and one for the trailer or caravan)
  • you have 2 insurance policies covering your trip (one card for each policy)
  • you have multi-car or fleet insurance (one for each vehicle on the policy)

Showing your green card when driving abroad

You must show your green card if you’re involved in an accident.

You may have to show your green card:

  • at the border when moving between countries
  • if you’re stopped by the police
  1. Step 1 Check where you can use your licence

    1. Check the rules for using your driving licence abroad

    You may need an international driving permit (IDP) to drive outside the UK.

    1. Check if you need an IDP
  2. Step 2 Apply for an international driving permit (IDP)

  3. Step 3 Get insurance

  4. Step 4 Prepare the documents you need to take with you

    1. Check what documents you need to take a vehicle out of the UK

    If you're hiring a car you may need to share your driving licence information with the hire company.

    1. Get a 'check code' to share your driving licence information

    If you got your licence in Northern Ireland, you’ll need to show the rental company your paper counterpart instead.

  5. Step 5 Check the rules for the country you're travelling to

    The rules for driving may be different in the country you're going to. For example, drink-driving rules might be different or you might need to carry extra equipment in your car.

    1. Check if you need to display a country sticker on your vehicle
    2. Check what you need to do if you’re driving in the EU, Switzerland, Iceland, Liechtenstein or Norway
    3. Check the travel advice for all countries

    When you have your documents, insurance and any extra equipment you need you can drive abroad.