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Trip Paperwork Covers all documentation, carnets, customs and country requirements, how to deal with insurance etc.
Photo by Andy Miller, UK, Taking a rest, Jokulsarlon, Iceland

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


Photo by Andy Miller, UK,
Taking a rest,
Jokulsarlon, Iceland



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  #1  
Old 20 Apr 2008
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Green Insurance Card
Hi all,

I'm in my final week of trip prep & got a bit of a problem with the Green Insurance card. I know it's not strictly speaking necessary to have one in most European Countries. But I heard it can be useful to have – even outside Europe, just in case.

Now... my problem is: I'm with eBikeInsurance, and I asked for the green insurance card. But they'll only issue one if I go to Bulgaria or Romania. I will actually go to Bulgaria, but:

What does a green insurance card look like? Is it gonna be restricted to the countries I tell my insurance.
I got the feeling that REAL world and INSURANCE world might differ, and certain policemen & other 'race marshalls' might be up for playing games. So I'd rather have a Green Insurance Card that fits the bill in any country. (And yes, I am tempted to use some photoshop skills on this one and print the result on a green piece of paper, just to be able to wave something into the police's face...)


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  #2  
Old 20 Apr 2008
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Quote:
Originally Posted by Bjorn View Post
Now... my problem is: I'm with eBikeInsurance, and I asked for the green insurance card. But they'll only issue one if I go to Bulgaria or Romania. I will actually go to Bulgaria, but:

What does a green insurance card look like? Is it gonna be restricted to the countries I tell my insurance.
Bjorn, The Green Card should be a standard format as that is what the participating countries sign up to. If they issue you one for Bulgaria, I don't see how they can delete the other 42 countries from it without physically blanking them out.

What the police/border people look for is that it IS a GREEN card in the correct format, valid at the time they see it and then they turn it over to make sure their countries acronym is written there. If not you have to buy local insurance.

John
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Old 20 Apr 2008
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Green card by exception
There are certainly a lot of different views about Green card insurance. It is my understanding that the EU has common minimum requirements of insurance companies and these apply anywhere within the EU.
Unfortunately, this situation takes time to become known in some countries, including with their police forces.

Here is one take on this:-
Car Insurance Quote - Lifestyle UK Factors
from a random search of the internet.

In the meantime, UK insurance companies, including ebike, have taken this as a general way of not issuing a green card for European travel: their cover note, policy document or whatever states which countries are covered by their insurance, which is always for all EU countries because that is what the EU requires for them to operate as an insurance company.
Therefore, they will issue a green card "if their arms are twisted" but only for those countries which are not in the EU (yet), very likely charging for the admin involved.

Anyone see it differently?
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Old 21 Apr 2008
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Originally Posted by Walkabout View Post
There are certainly a lot of different views about Green card insurance. It is my understanding that the EU has common minimum requirements of insurance companies and these apply anywhere within the EU.
Unfortunately, this situation takes time to become known in some countries, including with their police forces.

Here is one take on this:-
Car Insurance Quote - Lifestyle UK Factors
from a random search of the internet.

In the meantime, UK insurance companies, including ebike, have taken this as a general way of not issuing a green card for European travel: their cover note, policy document or whatever states which countries are covered by their insurance, which is always for all EU countries because that is what the EU requires for them to operate as an insurance company.
Therefore, they will issue a green card "if their arms are twisted" but only for those countries which are not in the EU (yet), very likely charging for the admin involved.

Anyone see it differently?
My wife and I are having this problem at the moment,we are well travelled and have always had a green card on our many continental trips.
However this time, my insurance company says no problem, whilst hers says no?
At the moment the situation is this, I have asked her insurance to provide a translation of her policy into all european languages.(that should piss them off)
We await the reply
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Old 6 May 2008
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green card, once ın Turkey!
Hı, Im ın Turkey where arrıved by traın wıth broke down bıke.
Problem ıs: I couldnt buy ınsurance at the border.
Im ınsured wıth ebıke and they dont ıssue green cards
Any ıdeas!
thanks
dd
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Old 6 May 2008
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Location: Philadelphia, US
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Originally Posted by Dodgydago View Post
Hı, Im ın Turkey where arrıved by traın wıth broke down bıke.
Problem ıs: I couldnt buy ınsurance at the border.
Im ınsured wıth ebıke and they dont ıssue green cards
Any ıdeas!
thanks
dd
Why weren't you able to buy bike insurance at the border...they sell it and is dirt cheap? I'm curious as it may impact future travellers...

Contact the Horizons Community in Turkey wherever you are they will give you a lead on insurance....and who sells it...the HU community in Turkey is a GREAT resource.

PS. There's a BMW dealer in IStanbul, next to the American Embassy...pics are below...
BMW_Istanbul
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Old 6 May 2008
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Green card... again
The Green Card System is a United Nations system overseen by the Economic Commission for Europe based in Geneva.

The Green Card itself doesn't provide insurance cover but does certify that you have at least the minimum compulsory Third Party insurance cover required by law in the countries you visit. However, if you also want insurance against other hazards, such as fire or theft abroad, the insurance company is entitled to demand a supplement if your cover is limited to the Member State in which you reside.

Read more here: I have been told that a green card is not necessary for travel in Europe. Is this true ? and other places.

This ought to be a "sticky"... if its not already...

John
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