What Is Green Card Insurance?

What Is Green Card Insurance? Read This Before Driving Abroad

Traveling abroad with your own car… Even the thought of it feels exciting, right? New roads, different countries, completely new landscapes. But for this enjoyable journey to go smoothly, there’s another preparation just as important as packing your suitcase: your documents. Passport, visa, driver’s license… and one thing that is often overlooked but absolutely essential is Green Card Insurance.

For those hearing it for the first time, the name can be a bit misleading. When people hear “Green Card,” they usually think of the U.S. residency card, but the Green Card we’re talking about here has nothing to do with that. This Green Card is an internationally valid mandatory motor insurance system designed for vehicles traveling abroad. In short, it’s an official insurance document that protects both you and the other party when you cross borders or drive in another country.

Let’s be clear about this: Green Card Insurance is not something that’s “nice to have.” For many countries, this document is mandatory, and without it, you may not even be allowed to cross the border. If an unexpected accident happens during your trip, Green Card Insurance becomes your biggest safeguard both financially and legally. Otherwise, you could face serious expenses and complicated procedures in a foreign country.

That’s why anyone planning to travel abroad with their own vehicle should research Green Card Insurance in detail before hitting the road, understand its coverage, and make sure its validity period matches their travel dates. Because a well planned journey is not only more enjoyable, but also much safer.

Green Card Insurance is an internationally valid compulsory insurance system that covers the material and bodily damages you may cause to third parties if a vehicle registered in one country is involved in a traffic accident in another country. In other words, this insurance is not designed to protect you, but to protect the other party affected by the accident.

To put it more simply, you can think of it as the international version of the compulsory traffic insurance you are required to have for your vehicle in Turkey. The logic is the same, the scope is similar the only difference is that it remains valid beyond national borders.

When driving abroad, a question naturally comes to mind:
“What if, God forbid, I’m involved in an accident… I have a foreign plate how will things work?”
This is exactly where Green Card Insurance steps in and saves you from major uncertainty. Thanks to this system, no matter which country the accident occurs in, procedures are handled according to that country’s traffic and insurance regulations, and the damages of the affected party are covered.

What Does Green Card Insurance Do?

The main purpose of Green Card Insurance is to minimize the financial and legal complications that may arise from traffic accidents between different countries. Driving in a foreign country already requires extra attention and focus, and dealing with questions like “Is my insurance valid here?” or “Who will pay for the damages?” is the last thing anyone wants.

Green Card Insurance eliminates this uncertainty. When you have it before starting your journey, you feel much more at ease at border crossings and on foreign roads. That’s because the system activates according to the traffic insurance rules of the country where the accident occurs and simplifies the entire process on your behalf.

With Green Card Insurance:

You don’t need to purchase separate compulsory traffic insurance abroad
In case of an accident, the material and bodily damages of the other party are covered
Procedures are handled according to the regulations of the country where the accident occurred
Legal processes are faster and much smoother

However, there is one important point to keep in mind. Green Card Insurance does not cover damage to your own vehicle. Just like compulsory traffic insurance, it only covers damages caused to third parties. If you want protection for your own car, you should also check whether you have international comprehensive insurance (casco).

In Which Countries Is It Valid?

Green Card Insurance is valid in countries that are part of the Green Card System. This system mainly includes European countries, but it is not limited to Europe. Many neighboring countries and destinations frequently reached by road from Turkey also accept Green Card Insurance.

Among the most common routes preferred by drivers traveling abroad from Turkey, some of the countries where the Green Card is valid include:

Germany
France
Italy
Bulgaria
Romania
Greece
Serbia
Montenegro
North Macedonia
Bosnia and Herzegovina

Of course, this list is not limited to these countries; there are many others within the Green Card System. The key point to remember is this: not every Green Card policy is automatically valid in all countries.

Your policy clearly shows which countries are covered. If certain country names are crossed out on the policy, it means the insurance is not valid in those countries. That’s why, before setting off, you should always make sure that the countries on your route are clearly listed and not crossed out on your policy.

Who Is Green Card Insurance Mandatory For?

If your vehicle has Turkish plates and you plan to travel to a country included in the Green Card system with your own car, Green Card Insurance is mandatory. This is not an optional extra; it is a basic requirement for taking your vehicle abroad.

Green Card Insurance is especially essential for:

Those traveling to Europe by road
Commercial vehicles engaged in international transport
People planning a holiday with their own car
Those taking their vehicle abroad temporarily

Border authorities always check this insurance. If you don’t have a valid Green Card Insurance, you may face the unpleasant situation of being denied entry to the country.

How Can I Get Green Card Insurance?

Getting Green Card Insurance is actually much easier than you might think. In Turkey, it is issued through authorized insurance companies or insurance agencies. In most cases, you can obtain it quickly through the company that provides your compulsory traffic insurance or a trusted insurance advisor.

When issuing the policy, the following information is usually required:

Vehicle registration details
Vehicle owner’s information
The coverage period of the insurance
Countries you plan to visit

Green Card Insurance can be issued for 15 days, 1 month, 3 months, 6 months, or 1 year. Choosing a duration that matches your travel plans helps you avoid unnecessary costs and ensures peace of mind throughout your journey.

At this point, we’d also like to highlight something important: we provide Green Card Insurance as well. We listen to your travel plans and prepare the most suitable policy for you quickly and smoothly, based on your route and duration. Our goal is to make sure you hit the road without paperwork stress or unanswered questions.

What Happens If You Don’t Have Green Card Insurance?

Traveling abroad without Green Card Insurance means taking a serious risk without realizing it. In the event of an accident, you may have to pay all material and bodily damages out of your own pocket and face high compensation claims. On top of that, you could find yourself dealing with long and exhausting legal procedures in a foreign country without knowing how the system works. And that’s not all if you are checked at the border and don’t have a valid Green Card Insurance, you may even be denied entry, ending your journey before it truly begins.

Salkım Söğüt Insurance Agency