New rules for issuing a Green Card from January 1: what drivers need to know
1 January 2025 05:13
On January 1, 2025, new rules for issuing international liability insurance – the Green Card – came into force. Now the insurance certificate for drivers is valid only the day after it is issued. This is reported by "Komersant Ukrainian" with reference to the Motor (Transport) Insurance Bureau of Ukraine (MTIBU).
Previously, drivers had the opportunity to issue a Green Card insurance certificate, which came into effect on the day it was issued, immediately before crossing the state border. However, since the beginning of 2025, the rules have changed: now international insurance comes into force only the day after the information about it is entered into the MTIBU’s Unified Centralized Database.
What does this mean for drivers?
With the new changes, drivers should keep in mind that they need to apply for the Green Card certificate at least one day before the trip. The insurance document will come into force only from 00:00 the next day after it is issued, which means that it will not be possible to obtain a policy that will be valid immediately on the day of crossing the border.
In addition, it is important to remember that if the information about the concluded agreement is not entered into a single database, the document may be invalidated, and this may lead to a refusal to cross the border.
Free pricing and electronic “Green Card”
Starting from January 1, 2025, state restrictions on prices for the Green Card have also been canceled. Insurance companies will now be able to determine the cost of policies independently, depending on the risks that arise during the payment of insurance compensation. This means that prices for international insurance may vary depending on the insurer and its tariff policy.
Another important change is the introduction of electronic certificates. Drivers will be able to store the Green Card digitally, for example, in PDF format on their mobile device, and present it when crossing the border. However, in order to avoid possible misunderstandings, the MTIBU recommends that you also have a paper copy of the certificate with you.
How to get a Green Card?
It should be noted that the Green Card can only be obtained through insurance companies that are members of the MTIBU. The list of such companies can be found on the official website of the association.
Tips for drivers
Given the new regulations, drivers should carefully plan their trip and insurance arrangements. Remember that the lack of a valid Green Card can lead to problems with border crossing. Therefore, when applying for a certificate, do not leave it to the last minute and plan your application in advance.
Don’t forget that the electronic certificate will be available in all member states of the system. However, for safety reasons, it is recommended to have a paper copy of the document with you to avoid any problems during border control.
We would like to add that the Green Card is a system of insurance coverage for victims of road accidents, regardless of their country of residence and the country of registration of the vehicle. “The Green Card covers 47 countries in Europe, Asia and Africa.
According to the decision adopted by the General Assembly of the Council of the Bureau of the International Motor Insurance System “Green Card” in Luxembourg in May 2004, Ukraine became a full member of the system on January 1, 2005.
