Travel abroad: are you covered by car insurance?

Verified 23 February 2022 - Directorate for Legal and Administrative Information (Prime Minister)

Yes, your car insurance can cover you when traveling abroad. But you must check your contract or ask your insurer before departure, as there may be restrictions. It may be provided, for example, that only the compulsory civil liability guarantee will apply abroad or that insurance will not work at all in some countries. The situation is different for a trip to Europe and a trip outside Europe.

Territorial validity of insurance

To find out which countries are covered by your vehicle insurance, you should consult your green card or international car insurance card.

This document lists the countries in which your car insurance covers you.

If the name of a country is deleted from this list, it means that your assurance that your insurance does not work in that country.

If you still want to travel to a country where your insurance doesn't work, you need to take out local insurance.

Risks covered abroad

The risks covered abroad depend on the guarantees you have taken out.

If your vehicle is only guaranteed for the civil liability, you will only be covered for damages that your vehicle may cause to third parties.

If you have additional guarantees (for example in the formula "all risks"), their application may be limited depending on the country visited.

It is therefore necessary to check with your insurer the guarantees that apply and those that are limited in your country of destination.

In particular, you must check whether, in the event of theft or accident of the vehicle, the insurance covers the following costs:

  • Vehicle towing costs
  • Costs of repatriation of passengers, or even of the vehicle
  • Accommodation costs during repairs
  • Payment of a driver to repatriate the vehicle and its occupants

Documents to prove that the vehicle is insured

The certificate and the certificate of insurance prove that the vehicle is insured with an insurance company.

The certificate of insurance (green card) shall include information about the insurer and the insured. The list of countries where insurance works is also mentioned.

The presentation of these documents is not necessary at the borders of the the European Economic Area (EEA)).

However, these documents will be indispensable in the event of an accident.

FYI  

it is advisable to write down the details of your insurer before departure to be able to contact him from the foreigner (usually indicated on the cover of the statement).

Documents to be provided in case of accident

The amicable finding or European accident finding is valid in the countries of the European Union.

You can obtain one or more copies from your insurer.

Warning  

the e-statement, which allows you to fill in a digital report with your smartphone, does not work in the event of an accident abroad.

The amicable finding must be completed in the event of an accident in the most complete manner.

Each driver involved in the accident must have a completed copy.

This finding is standardized at European level and can be easily supplemented regardless of the language in which it is written.

Please note

you can fill in the statement with information about the insured and the car, as soon as the insurer gives it to you, or at least before your trip.

Documents to prove that the vehicle is insured

The certificate and the certificate of insurance prove that the vehicle is insured with an insurance company.

The certificate of insurance (green card) is a presumption of insurance which includes information on the insured and the insurer and a list of countries in which the insurance operates.

The presentation of these documents is not normally necessary at the borders of the following countries:

  • Switzerland
  • Andorra
  • Serbia

However, these documents will be indispensable in the event of an accident. In addition, in France, the certificate of insurance (called green butterfly) must be affixed to your windshield.

In addition, for the entry and crossing of certain countries, insurance may be compulsory. It is therefore appropriate to check this point before embarking on the journey.

FYI  

check before departure that you have your insurance contact details to be able to contact it from the foreigner (usually indicated on the cover of the statement).

Documents to be provided in case of accident

The amicable finding or European accident finding can be used, but will not automatically have the same value. You can obtain one or more copies from your insurer.

Warning  

the e-statement, which allows you to fill in a digital report with your smartphone, does not work in the event of an accident abroad.

In case of accident, complete it as completely as possible. Each driver involved in the accident must have a copy.

Please note

certain parts of the statement can be completed beforehand as soon as the insurer delivers it to you, or at least before your trip.

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