Conference terri::cars_uk

    I seem to remember this has already been discussed elsewhere...

    It has been discussed elsewhere. However...
    
    By Euro-law, all EC-insured drivers enjoy insurance in another EC
    country up to the minimum level required by law in that country; this
    is included in your normal premium. However, if you require
    home-country level insurance, for instance fully comp, you'll require a
    green card. If you stay abroad so long that it becomes a material fact
    affecting the insurance company's risk, you must inform the company:
    either of these options will cost money (lots for a whole year).
    
    So, for a short trip, and if you're prepared to accept the local
    minimum (often TP only, no F or T) then no, no need for a green card.
    Bear in mind though, that "foreign" plod expects to see a green card as
    in the rest of the EC, it *is* the insurance certificate. You pays your
    money, and you takes your choice. Many UK premiums now include 30 days
    or so "free" green card for the asking.
    
    Laurie.

>    I seem to remember this has already been discussed elsewhere...

but there in't a Green Card topic so I'll leave this one alone!  :)

Chris$mod.

    There is one common misconception about Green Cards:
    
    As Laurie said, in most of the EU, a GC serves the same purpose as the
    UK insurance certificate, it certifies that you have the legal minimum
    cover. So, the fact that you have (say) FC in the UK and  GC covering
    (say) France does not mean that you have FC in France. Most of the big
    companies do give you your UK cover for wherever the GC goes but there
    have been reports of nasty surprises when UK drivers take their FC car
    abroad with a GC issued by one of the cheapo merchants.
    
    The moral is that it is up to you to check the cover that _you_ have
    from your insurance company.
    
    (Sorry if this point has been covered but as I cannot find the previous
    topic and the point is important so I thought I'd make it.)
    
    John O'Connor

    What is the position regarding Austria and Switzerland? I know Austria
    is in the throes of joining the EU. Presumably when this is complete
    normal insurance will cover Austria too. Switzerland isn't in the EU.
    Does this mean that you definitely need a green card to drive in
    Switzerland?
    
    Brian

�   What is the position regarding Austria and Switzerland? I know Austria
�   is in the throes of joining the EU. Presumably when this is complete
�   normal insurance will cover Austria too. Switzerland isn't in the EU.
    
    The insurance certificate on my French hire car has a list of countries
    that the car is insured in; A and CH are part of that list (don't think 
    that the Green Card is restricted only to the EU).

    I can provide the full list, if required.

    Martin.

    
    I have just taken out a new policy with "Eclesiastical" (or something)
    and their UK policy is automatically a Green Card - in other words
    I automatically have full cover in the whole of Europe (except Spain).
    For Spain I need to ask for a separate document (free of charge).
    
    - Jonathan
    

    How much did it cost in comparison to a "normal" UK policy?
    
    Laurie.

    Jonathan, can you put in address/phone no. for Ecclesiastical as well?
    
    Cheers,
    Brian

    
    My wife called Ecclesiastical. The green card is available for a full
    year, but is only valid for periods of 2 weeks at a time, longer
    trips/stays are not covered, unfortunately.
    
    Mark

    Your wife has an unusual name.
    
    ;-)

    
    I recently had to cancel my policy with Zurich, because they wouldn't
    provide me with full GC cover for more than a couple of weeks now that
    I'm in Munich.
    
    My premium in the UK was around �450 and ran until next March, so I was
    a little dissapointed to only receive �90 refund. In fact, I was so 
    dissapointed that I sat down and wrote them a letter stating that I
    felt it was a failing on their part which had _forced_ me to cancel
    the policy and that they should repay ALL the outstanding premium. I 
    also mentioned that it struck me as unusual that Zurich (an international 
    company) didn't provide such cover, as most of the mainland European
    insurers throw it in for free!
    
    To be honest, I just wrote the letter to let off some steam, but an
    additional cheque for �101 arrived yesterday with a letter agreeing 
    that the failing was theirs, so it was well worth writing.
    
    However, the most interesting (potentially) point was that Zurich are
    'reviewing' offering 1 year Green Card cover from the UK. They said
    that the market for such cover was 'small, but increasing'. Maybe, in 
    the not too distant future, the UK motorist will enjoy some of the same
    benefits as our European neighbours?
    
    Mark
    
    PS GRE were the only people prepared to offer this cover, that I could
    find. However, it was at a substantially higher price than my UK cover.

    I recently got quotes from the AA and some cheapie place, whilst doing
    so I mentioned that I travel to Bruxelles quite a lot. The AA offered
    45 days Green Card free and then supplement green cards at a low price
    opon telephoning - they did say however that they insisted on a green
    card being valid whilst I was in a foreign country.
    
    The cheapie place said that I could have a green card if i wanted too
    but i'd have to pay. They were quite happy for me to go abroad without
    a green card but I would get only minimum cover whicch means TP but no
    Fire or Theft.
    
    On asking the AA how much it would cost to have a green card lasting
    one year, they replied i'd need a continental insurance policy.....
    Cost:  over a grand!!!
    
    Shaun
    

You'll need some sort of cover, otherwise it'd be a bugger getting your
car back to England if it was rendered immobile...

Chris.

    As has been discussed previously in this topic (you did read it all
    didn't you H'anus), under current EU legislation, anyone having home
    cover in an EU country also enjoys the *minumum legal cover* in another
    EU country. This varies from country to country. If you want home
    cover abroad (where home cover may be fully comp, and local TP only)
    then you have to pay for it. Proof that this cover exists is the green
    card.
    
    There's another element. A green card is automatic in almost every EU
    country except the UK and Ireland, and as such is expected by the local
    plod. Failure to produce a green card in the event of an accident or
    being stopped will raise eyebrows, and will cause you a lot of hassle.
    You cannot expect some thick country gendarme to be au fait with
    current EU law.
    
    It's entirely up to you whether you're prepared to pay the additional 
    �500-odd which on average a 1 year green card costs, or not, but
    personally I wouldn't risk being without one.
    
    I hope this clarifies things a little.
    
    Cheers, Laurie.

On the Thursday before bank holiday - we decieded to go to France/Holland with
my Motorbike - and I telephoned the Insurance brokers to ask about the green
card - they assured me that I did not need one - and I would still have the same
level of cover as the UK (Comprehensive) all I had to do was take my insurance
cerificate with me. Perhaps I should 'phone them up and get them to check
again.....

Elaine

    Many brokers assure you you don't need one, and technically they're
    correct. But, get the "home cover" aspect in writing, and bear in mind
    the problem of credibility abroad for a UK insurance certificate.
    
    Laurie.

    RE:. 16
    
    ## they assured me that I did not need one 
    
    Ask them where this is written in your contract and if it's not there
    ask them for a letter or FAX if you need the proof quickly - if the
    worst did happen a phone conversation could be very difficult to prove! 
    
    Dave

    If i'm allowed to drive without a green card then Mr Plod can raise his
    eyebrows as high as he likes.
    
    Shaun

    You'd better not bother ringing me when you get locked up then, Shaun.
    
    Laurie.

    I'll just say my names Nigel....sorry, Lozzer Brown, and I left the
    card at home.
    
    Shaun
    

    
    Anyone heard about Norwich Union's green card policy. A contractor here
    tells me they've given him a full year's Green card for nothing!
    
    A bit annoying as I'm paying more for a Rover 220 than he is for a TVR
    Griffith 500!
    
    Mark

My bike policy is with NU - so perhaps that is why they said my cover is 'full'
even without the green card - and that actually taking one with you  is only to
make things easier abroad if Mr foreign Plod wants to take an interest in what
is going on! 

And, as much as you might have the law on your side driving around without one,
if Mr foreign Plod wishes to not understand /make an example of you/ just be
difficult about it - he could waste an awful lot of your time - and nerves if he
wanted to!

Elaine

    As luck would have it, a colleague has reminded me where I saw that
    stuff about NU and green cards. It was a letter in last Saturday's DT:
    
    Foreign Cover.
    
    I used to be able to obtain a Green Card to extend my UK insurance for
    travel in Europe. With the Norwich Union it was free for 35 days and
    cost �9 a week for longer. On July 13, I asked for one and was told
    that it was no longer needed as UK insurance now provided pan-European
    cover. However, my wife's car is insured by Churchill, which says UK
    policies provide only minimum legal cover in Europe and that to extend
    normal cover, a Green Card is needed. I went back to Norwich Union,
    which said it had taken legal advice and believed that under EU
    regulations, a policy written in one EU country must be applicable with
    the same amount of cover in any other. However, it did issue me with a
    Green Card as I required a bail bond element for Spain. C.C., Oxford.
    
    Answer:
    
    Brokers ABM (0181-681-8986) tell me that from June 1, NU has provided
    full pan-European cover on all policies. If holders of policies taken
    out before that date ask for a Green Card, they are send a "Continental
    Pack" detailing the extension of their policy and including a bail bond
    for Spain, which is what happened in your case. You are better off than
    you were before. This action by Norwich Union may prompt other insurers
    to do likewise.
    
    My opinion:
    
    If you have a policy with NU, you seem to be covered, if the policy is
    with someone else, get the "extension" in writing (a Green Card is,
    effectively, just that). In view of the potential for unlimited hassle
    with some clay-kicking gendarme, I'd insist on a GC, whatever the
    insurance company said.
    
    Hth, Laurie.

    
    Yup, NU definately cover you Europe wide. I have my bike covered with
    them for that reason.
    
    Al

    Well Loz, I just phoned ABM and he confirmed all what you said. So i
    asked for a quote: At 288 quid it was 100 quid more than my current policy -
    however, this does give TP,F & T cover all over the EU and avoids me
    having to phone up every time I decide to *pop* over to belgium!!
    
    The fully comp quote was for 350 quid - whic is not too bad either.
    
    I'm now thinking about changing my policy, however I only just got
    insured a week ago today!
    
    Shaun