Car insurance and green cards in Italy (2026)
Last reviewed: 9 October 2026
In short: Foreign-registered cars must meet the insurance duty for their stay in Italy. Cars with EU plates are covered through bureau agreements, while cars from non-EU states need border insurance or a green card.
| Rule | What applies |
|---|---|
| Third-party insurance compulsoryVisiting with a foreign-registered car | Yes [1] |
| Green card needed for cars from other EU statesVisiting with a foreign-registered car | No [2] |
| Green card needed for cars from the UKVisiting with a foreign-registered car | ⚠ Not yet verified |
| Proof of insurance for cars from EU statesVisiting with a foreign-registered car | ⚠ Not yet verified |
| Cars from other non-EU statesVisiting with a foreign-registered car | A car with a plate from a non-EU state meets the duty with a border insurance contract, or with a green card issued by a foreign bureau and accepted by the Italian central office. [1] |
Notes
- Directive 2009/103/EC requires a green card only for vehicles based in third countries (article 8(1)). Member states refrain from systematic insurance checks on vehicles from other member states (article 4).
- Not confirmed from an official source: article 125(3) depends on an EU act removing the check for third-country plates, and no such act for UK plates was read.
- Not confirmed from an official source: article 125(4) says the duty is met through bureau agreements but does not say what a driver must carry.
Sources
- Normattiva (Istituto Poligrafico e Zecca dello Stato): Codice delle assicurazioni private (D.Lgs. 7 settembre 2005, n. 209), art. 125 - Veicoli e natanti immatricolati o registrati in Stati esteri (consulted 9 October 2026) · all sources
- EUR-Lex (Publications Office of the European Union): Directive 2009/103/EC of the European Parliament and of the Council of 16 September 2009 relating to insurance against civil liability in respect of the use of motor vehicles, and the enforcement of the obligation to insure against such liability (consulted 9 October 2026) · all sources
Related pages
General information, not legal advice. Rules change: check the official source before you fly or ride.