Green Cards

In Europe we have a green card system. It is a document issued by your insurance company that gives you third party insurance in another European country.

It is green and made of card.

That said, recently, insurance companies have taken to not bothering to issue green cards and instead have indicated that your regular insurance certificate will be fine.

In Western Europe maybe. In the rest of Europe that is horseshit.

When you arrive in Macedonia they want to see a green card that has a little X next to the symbol for Macedonia. Otherwise you'll be told to piss off to the hut over there where you can fork over EUR20 for a temporary green card for Macedonia. With some luck it'll be valid for a few days.

Waving your UK issued insurance certificate quoting wise words from the call centre in Milton Keynes will simply add to their already bad temper.

Third Party Insurance

If you're outside of Europe (or not European) you'll have to purchase some temporary third party insurance. They won't be selling you fully comprehensive insurance, ie. your vehicle itself is now uninsured but they won't be letting you in the country either unless you're insured against causing damage to others.

You might think it's something of a scam to extract hard currency from foreigners. You, I suggest, are far too cynical.