How long is a green card valid?
As a vehicle owner, you are legally required to purchase at least third-party liability insurance for your car. Third-party liability insurance covers you for damage you cause to others. After taking out auto insurance , you’ll automatically receive a green card. This allows you to prove that your car is insured. The green card is an international proof of insurance. However, a green card isn’t valid indefinitely. Wondering how long a green card is valid? Alpina.nl looked into it for you.
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Green Card Valid for over a year
The expiration date of your Green Card is printed on the card itself. In principle, a Green Card is valid for one year. However, most Green Cards are valid for 13 months. Every year, when you renew your insurance, the insurer will automatically send you a new green card. Of course, you might be on vacation right around the time your auto insurance is due for renewal. That’s why we’ve chosen to make the green card valid for 13 months. This prevents you from being abroad with an invalid green card.
In which countries is a Green Card valid?
A green card is an international insurance certificate. This means it is valid in all EU countries. In the Netherlands, you are not required to carry your Green Card with you at all times. However, in some EU countries, it is mandatory to carry a Green Card. These include Albania, Bosnia (and Herzegovina), Israel, Iran, Morocco, Moldova, Montenegro, Ukraine, Russia, Serbia, Tunisia, Turkey, Macedonia, and Belarus. If you’re traveling to one of these countries by car, it’s important to have your Green Card with you, even if you’re just passing through. In fact, it’s always advisable to carry your Green Card with you. This doesn’t necessarily have to be the original Green Card; a digital version on your phone is also acceptable. That way, in case of an emergency or breakdown, you’ll always have your insurance information and important phone numbers at your fingertips.
Is a copy of a green card also valid?
In the Netherlands, a copy of a green card is also valid. These days, the green card is no longer green—it’s white. In addition, most insurers now only send the green card digitally. This means you can print the green card yourself in black and white. You can also save a copy of the PDF file or a screenshot on your cell phone. You probably always have your cell phone with you, and it also serves as valid proof. In European countries where a Green Card is required, a copy is not always accepted. It is therefore wise to keep your original Green Card in the car and not rely solely on a screenshot.
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