The Green Card is no longer green
Green Card is an international motor insurance card: paper confirmation that your car has third-party motor liability insurance, which is recognised outside the EU. It used to be printed on green paper and sent by regular post, but nowadays it is a printout on a white sheet.
Since July 2020, the green paper is no longer required, and since January 2021, the card is sent by email — you can print it out at home.
But they only accept paper. A photograph or PDF on a phone is not considered valid proof abroad, so a printed sheet must be kept in the car.
If the car is registered in Ukraine
You cannot purchase a car insurance policy and a Green Card for a car with Ukrainian registration in Germany: a German insurer only insures a car registered in Germany. This option will become available after registering the car here — and by law you are given a year from the date of entry to do this.
What to do before this — two options:
- Green card from a Ukrainian insurer. Many Ukrainian companies issue it online, including for those who are already in Germany. The current list is maintained by the ISSO on its website.
- border insurance — border insurance from a German company. Options below.
You can report a car insurance claim from Ukraine on the website of the German Green Card Bureau.
Once the car is registered in Germany, your insurer will issue the Green Card free of charge by email. We explain what is needed for this on the page registering a car in Germany.
frontier insurance
From 1 June 2022, a Ukrainian vehicle in Germany must be insured: either with a valid Green Card from a Ukrainian insurer, or with German border insurance. Grenzversicherung is issued for a period of one month to one year and covers third-party liability.
German companies that issue it online:
We intentionally do not include prices. The figures that were here previously referred to 2022 and are long out of date: tariffs are revised, and the cost depends on the term, vehicle type and driver. You can check the current price on the company's page — the calculation takes a minute.
Two previous offers have been removed from this list: the border insurance pages for Sparkasse and Dialog no longer work.
What is a Green Card and what is it for
Officially in German, the card is called Internationale Versicherungskarte – «International Motor Insurance Card». When travelling abroad, it serves as proof that the vehicle is insured under Kfz-Haftpflichtversicherung (motor liability insurance). In a number of countries, it must be presented directly at the border, so you must have it with you on your trip.
Green Card insurance covers the minimum mandatory requirements of the legislation of the country where you are located. Let's go to Croatia – Croatian minimums apply, to Turkey – Turkish ones. German coverage amounts are not transferred there: if the damage turns out to be greater than the local minimum, the difference is demanded from you personally.
Hence the practical takeaway: before a long journey, look up the section in your insurance policy Scope and see which countries are listed in it. If the destination country is not on the list, no Green Card will cover the gap.
How much does it cost and how long is it valid
The card is free: the insurer issues it upon request. The validity period is usually 3 years, and for some companies 5 years — the date is printed on the card itself, check it before departure. There is no need to order in advance anymore: the letter arrives by email on the same day.
Countries where required Green card
- Albania
- Azerbaijan
- Morocco
- Moldova
- North Macedonia
- Tunisia
- Turkey
- Ukraine
Countries to which Not needed Green card
- All EU member states
- Andorra
- Bosnia and Herzegovina
- Great Britain
- Iceland
- Liechtenstein
- Monaco
- Norway
- San Marino
- Serbia
- Switzerland
The Kennzeichenabkommen applies here: a German licence plate is sufficient, a separate confirmation is not required.
The lists from various sources differ. The ADAC, for example, still lists Bosnia and Herzegovina and Russia as mandatory. The card is free and can be printed at home in a minute, so in contentious cases it's easier to take it with you than to argue at the border. And specifically check with your insurer whether your policy covers the destination country at all.
The car is already registered in Germany
Then your German insurer will issue you a Green Card — free of charge and by email. And if you don't have a policy yet or it's time to change company, start by looking at the types of cover: Third-party liability, third-party fire and theft, and comprehensive car insurance — what each covers.
Frequently asked questions
Is the Green Card paid for?
No. The insurer issues it upon request free of charge, there is no separate fee for it.
Will a photo of the card on my phone be okay?
No. Abroad, only a paper copy is accepted; the printed sheet must be in the car.
Is a Green Card required for a trip to Italy or Croatia?
No. Within the EU and the countries of the Kennzeichenabkommen, the German number plate is enough. But in the event of an accident, nobody has abolished the exchange of information and the European Accident Statement.
What should I do if the destination country is not part of the Green Card system?
Insurance is arranged separately, usually right at the border. Check this with your insurer in advance: if the country is not listed in the Geltungsbereich section of the policy, you are not insured abroad.
The card is expired and the trip is tomorrow.
Write to the insurer — a new one will be sent to your email the same day. There is no need to wait for a paper letter anymore.
Does the Green Card cover damage to my car?
No. This is confirmation for Haftpflicht only, meaning third-party liability. Your own car is protected by Teilkasko and Vollkasko, and their area of cover is stated separately in the policy.
What else to read about the car
- Car insurance in Germany — types of policies, what the price depends on and when to change the company.
- Documents for registering a car — what to take to the Zulassungsstelle.
- Moving to Germany in your own car customs clearance and registration.
- breakdown cover — roadside assistance, including abroad.
- Exchange of driving licence — timescales and procedure.
- Broken car window — what to do and who pays.
Who wrote this. Valerij Meleh, independent insurance broker (Versicherungsmakler) pursuant to § 34d para. 1 GewO, registration number D-HIAG-TDBW7-60, IHK Rhein-Neckar, Mannheim.
Sources: German Insurance Association GDV In which countries is the Green Card compulsory (updated 09/03/2026) and rules for Ukrainian cars in Germany.
The material is for informational purposes and does not replace checking your policy. The lists of countries were verified in August 2026.
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Hello, can I apply for a Green Card for a car from Belarus with you? For 15 days or a month, and how much will it cost? Thank you
Hello.
You can only arrange a Green Card with a Belarusian company.
If you have registration in Germany, then you can apply for a frontier worker card, the list of companies can be seen in the article.