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Balkans Green Card? Balkans Green Card?
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Europe Topics specific to Western and Eastern Europe, from UK to the Russian border, and south-east to Turkey.
Photo by Alessio Corradini, on the Salar de Uyuni, Bolivia, of two locals

I haven't been everywhere...
but it's on my list!


Photo by Alessio Corradini,
on the Salar de Uyuni, Bolivia,
of two locals



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  #1  
Old 17 Jan 2009
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Balkans Green Card?
Does anyone know definitely what the situation is for UK riders in the Balkans? I just checked the Montenegran tourist board's website where they say their green card includes UK and Croatia. I am most confused. Linzi.
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  #2  
Old 17 Jan 2009
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Quote:
I just checked the Montenegran tourist board's website where they say their green card includes UK and Croatia
What do you mean by "their green card", does their Tourist Board issue insurance or am i missing something? :confused1:
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  #3  
Old 17 Jan 2009
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Amazing how many times the Green Card stuff comes up.

There are around 43 countries signed up to the Green Card agreement, BUT, your insurance company may not issue one AND may not cover all the countries in the treaty.

UK geezers should read this: The Green Card System : Directgov - Motoring

If you actually get a green card, the countries are listed on the back and any that your insurer will not cover, will have the box on the front crossed out. Mine, (French), has Iran (IR), crossed out.

Unless you make prior arrangements with your insurer, you are only covered to the minimum level required by countries in the list. Generally, 3rd party only.

John
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  #4  
Old 17 Jan 2009
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There is a mandatory green card which must be paid for at the border on entry. It covers most of Europe and includes UK. Visit Montenegro || Montenegro - breathtaking beauty || Best Montenegro Tourist Site || dBO web site. Makes little sense to me. Linzi.
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  #5  
Old 17 Jan 2009
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So it's part of the Buy-at-the-border insurance, gotcha.
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  #6  
Old 17 Jan 2009
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Yes, on that website under Basics they state that. Seems we do NOT need one for Croatia but It doesn't look to me as if ANYONE knows least of all the governments. Damned good place to visit with or without insurance. Insurance isn't of much use if you've just been hit head on by a Montenegran or gone down a gorge. Linzi.
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  #7  
Old 17 Jan 2009
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It would appear that UK riders do NOT need a green card for Croatia--they are already covered. They need only buy ONE green card which covers ALL of the Balkan states. Linzi.
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  #8  
Old 17 Jan 2009
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Easier said than done, it would appear! I thought it was the Germans which had this facility from their insurers, but your experience with the limited coverage you got shows we still get a raw deal there. I wonder if ADAC or Albingia offer pan-Balkan coverage for non-Germans...
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Old 17 Jan 2009
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I know
What I mean is when someone is forced to pay at more than one border it's officialdom getting it wrong again. I want to revisit Montenegro and would like to do it fully legally. I now regret not having taken better contact details for lots of people too. Oops. Linzi.
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  #10  
Old 21 Jul 2009
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Balkans and Green Cards
Linzi, et al,
Carole Nash insurance do cover Bosnia/Kosovo/Montenegro/Albania and issue a Green Card covering all the Balkans. To get this service the annual cost of Fully Comprehensive cover for this 66-year old and his FJR1300 is £222. However this includes UK/Foreign breakdown cover.
I am due to travel that way down to Greece in late August/Sept.
Hope this helps.
Whitters
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  #11  
Old 21 Jul 2009
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I just talked with Carole Nash today and they specifically excluded Serbia and Montenegro, though all the other Balkan countries were fine. I assume I'll need to get insurance at the border
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  #12  
Old 23 Jul 2009
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Balkans Green Card
berin,
Which just goes to show that you cannot trust a call centre. However, I shall speak again on Monday 27th, which was when I was going to accept their quote, and see why there has been a change because the bloke I spoke to was adamant (also called Adam) that all was covered. I suppose the bottom line is, when we get to Montenegro one does what is necessary.
Go with the flow
Whitters
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  #13  
Old 5 Nov 2009
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Balkans and Green Cards
Just for info,
After riding the Yamaha FJR 1300 from UK to Athens, via the Balkans and back via ferry to Italy and through France the only border that took longer than 10 minutes (and that included the queuing) was getting back into Britain, there was a 20 minute queue at Portsmouth!
Austria/Slovenia straight through, Slovenia/ Croatia waved through, Croatia to Montenegro they stamped our passports and waved us on our way, no requests for Insurance, Green Card nor vehicle documents, exit equally easy. Entry into Albania - no border formalities at all (crossed on the coast road from Cenj to Murgan) Exiting Albania south of Sarande, again on the coast road, across the Varina channel at Butrint (scary old ferry) and on to Konispol where a quick passport check and a smiling farewell was given and we were in Greece, No worries.
PS While in Montenegro don't miss the Kotor to Citenje road, it's stunning. So is the Albanian Llogora Pass between Vlore and Himare, beats the Stelvio into a cocked hat
Go well....
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  #14  
Old 9 Nov 2009
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Another point of view.

Having tootled down and back up through Turkey Syria and Jordan in October (all of whom double checked you had green card cover, purchasable at the border) I popped into Greece and headed up into:

Macedonia - obliged to purchase; EUR50 only usable in Macedonia
Kosovo - obliged to purchase; EUR20 only usable in Kosovo

The rumour supplied by the border official at the Kosovo border was that the Serbian green card was going to be EUR75. As it happens I broke down in Prishtina and got some advice to head to

Montenegro - no obligation; EUR13 only usable in Montenegro
Croatia - no obligation; don't know how much it would be, no-one seemed fussed at 8:30pm...

I sense it might have been better to arrange a green card that covers the Balkan countries before I left.

Cheers,

Ian
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  #15  
Old 7 Dec 2009
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Quote:
Originally Posted by berin View Post
I just talked with Carole Nash today and they specifically excluded Serbia and Montenegro, though all the other Balkan countries were fine. I assume I'll need to get insurance at the border
I was insured with them last year when I rode down to Albania.

I tried to speak to as many of their staff as possible but they wouldn't issue me a green card which covered me in Montenegro or Serbia.
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