The content of the article:
- Historical reference
- What is the policy for?
- Features of the Green Card
- What is needed to complete the document
- Actions in the event of an accident abroad
- In what cases the insurance company can refuse to compensate for losses
Modern society has long ceased to perceive the car as a means of demonstrating well-being and social status. The car today is primarily a working tool that provides the car owner with almost limitless travel opportunities both within his country and far beyond its borders.
But not everyone knows that when deciding to travel abroad in a private car, you must definitely take care of the so-called Green Card, otherwise your trip may simply not take place.
What is a "green card", why is it necessary and how to issue it - we will try to make out in detail in the article.
Historical reference
At the end of the 40s of the last century, a transnational conference of automobile insurers was held in the capital of the United Kingdom, as a result of which it was decided to create a Council of the Bureau. During the first meeting of the organization in 1951, uniform standards for the "Green Card" were agreed, which came into force from the beginning of 1953.
According to the adopted document, an insurance policy drawn up in any of the states parties to the agreement is considered valid in other signatory countries of the document.
Today, 48 European countries, as well as the Russian Federation, Azerbaijan, Iran, Tunisia and others are members of the system.
What is the policy for?
So, "Green Card" is a special international insurance policy for automobile civil liability, without which individuals and legal entities are prohibited from entering the EU and some states of the Asian and African continent. In other words, this is an international analogue of the Russian OSAGO, which, as you know, must be issued by each car owner.
Thus, if you are the owner of the "Green Card" and get into an accident in a corner of the planet that is part of its agreement, Compensation for the harm caused to the injured party is undertaken by the Bureau of the Agreement, where the accident was recorded.
If, in such an accident, it turns out that you do not have a “green card”, you will not only have to reimburse the injured person for all the losses, but also a noticeable fine, which in some countries may exceed 1000 euros. In addition, the fine may be followed by a ban on subsequent entry into the Schengen countries.
Features of the Green Card
When applying for a Green Card, it is important to know and remember a few points:
- All cases related to the settlement of the consequences of an accident are carried out in accordance with the current laws of the state where the accident took place.
- The presence of a policy does not exempt from liability of a criminal nature. For example, if a driver, being abroad, finds himself in a situation that in the Russian Federation is qualified as an administrative violation, and in another state - as a criminal one, then he will be prosecuted under the Criminal Code.
- Only citizens of those countries that are among the states that have signed the agreement can purchase a Green Card.
- And the last - the minimum period for which a "green card" can be issued cannot be less than 15 days, and the maximum - no more than a year.
What is needed to complete the document
In the course of issuing a "green card" in Russia, you must provide the following package of documents:
- For individuals - an identity document; for legal entities - a document certifying the fact of registration of a legal entity;
- Car passport or car registration certificate;
- Application for the conclusion of an insurance contract.
In addition, it is recommended to decide in advance on the route and the period of stay abroad, as well as be sure to study the traffic rules of the states that you plan to visit.
Important: if the policy expired at the time of your stay in another country, you will not be able to buy a "card" there. However, most domestic insurance companies offer express delivery of policies anywhere in the world.
The process of obtaining a "green card" does not exceed 15-20 minutes, at the same time, you can issue a policy both at the office of the insurer and at the border. True, it is worth remembering that in the second case there is a risk of noticeably overpaying or even running into a fake document.
Actions in the event of an accident abroad
If being abroad you are "lucky" to get into an accident - do not panic. Show the “green card” policy to the injured person or the patrol police officer, then:
- get an accident notification form from the affected party;
- give the second page of the Green Card to the victim;
- receive a document confirming the fact of the incident from the police officer;
- call your local Green Card office;
- notify your insurer of the incident.
It is important to remember that all documents must be kept until the end of the trip, since in the course of some unexplained circumstances you may simply not be allowed home. However, even after returning to your home country, you do not need to get rid of the documents, since there are cases when claims to the participants in an accident were brought years after the accident.
In what cases the insurance company can refuse to compensate for losses
Even if you have a green card, the insurer has the right to refuse insurance payments if:
- the company decides that the damage to the property of the third party was caused intentionally;
- at the time of the accident you were under the influence of alcohol or drugs
- you abandoned the car and fled the scene;
- The Green Card was issued in a country other than the country in which the vehicle is registered.
Conclusion
When planning a trip abroad on a private car, think in advance about getting a “green card” policy, which will guarantee your full legal and material protection.
