Car insurance and green cards by country
Last reviewed: 9 October 2026
Compulsory motor insurance for foreign-registered cars and whether a green card or other proof is needed. Pick a country for the full list of rules, each with its official source.
| Country | Third-party insurance compulsory | Green card needed for cars from other EU states | Green card needed for cars from the UK | Proof of insurance for cars from EU states | Cars from other non-EU states |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Germany | Compulsory | Not required | Not required | Not needed for EU-plated cars | Border or foreign insurance |
| Netherlands | ⚠ Not yet verified | Not required | ⚠ Not yet verified | ⚠ Not yet verified | ⚠ Not yet verified |
| United Kingdom | Visiting with a foreign-registered car, Great Britain: Compulsory | Green card or other proof | — | Green card or insurer's document | Green card, or UK insurance |
| France | Compulsory | Not required | ⚠ Not yet verified | ⚠ Not yet verified | Green card or border insurance |
| Spain | Compulsory | Not required | ⚠ Not yet verified | ⚠ Not yet verified | Customs may require insurance |
| Italy | Compulsory | Not required | ⚠ Not yet verified | ⚠ Not yet verified | Border insurance or green card |
| Ireland | Compulsory | Not required | Not required | ⚠ Not yet verified | ⚠ Not yet verified |
| Poland | Compulsory | Not required | ⚠ Not yet verified | Carry insurance proof and registration document | Green Card, or border insurance for 30 days or more |
| Portugal | Compulsory | Not required | ⚠ Not yet verified | Green card or national insurance proof | Green card or border insurance |
| Austria | Compulsory | Not required | ⚠ Not yet verified | No green card; spot checks possible | Green card, assumed cover or border insurance |
| Denmark | Compulsory | Not required | Green card or border policy | Deemed insured; no document needed | Green card or DFIM border policy |
| Norway | Liability insurance required | Not required | Not required | Registration number counts as proof | Frontier insurance if outside the Green Card system |
Before you rely on it
This comparison covers national rules. Regional or local rules can apply on top of them, and rules change. A rule marked “to verify” has not yet been confirmed against an official source. Each country page links to the official sources, and those are the place to confirm the details before you act.
General information, not legal advice. Rules change: check the official source before you fly or ride.