On holiday with the caravan: do I need a green card?
The green card is an international insurance certificate. When you take out a car insurance policy, you will receive the green card from your insurer. Are you going abroad with your caravan? Then it is possible that you need an extra green card for your caravan.
In the Netherlands, trailers and caravans are (co-)insured on the third-party insurance of the towing motor vehicle. This means that only one green card is issued. Also in case a separate caravan insurance has been taken out.
When is a green card for caravans obligatory?
The green card for caravans is compulsory when:
- You are going on holiday to Poland, Germany, Croatia or Spain, and:
- the total weight (empty weight + load capacity) of your caravan exceeds 750 kg.
In the above cases, you therefore need a green card for your caravan. You do not know exactly where you are going? Then it is wise to apply for a green card for your caravan in advance. This way you know for sure that there will be no surprises. If you do not have a green card with you, you run the risk of getting a fine.
Requesting a green card for a caravan
If you are going on holiday to one of the above countries, it is advisable to apply for your green card for your caravan in good time. In the Netherlands, caravans are (co-)insured on the third-party insurance of the towing motor vehicle. You can apply for the green card for your caravan at your car insurance. Click here to apply for your green card.
With the caravan in the Netherlands
In the Netherlands, you are not obliged to carry the green card of your vehicle. The police can see from the license plate of your car whether you are insured. Your caravan is always insured for free on your car insurance. Nevertheless, it is always wise to take your green card with you, either digitally or on paper. On the green card you can see which emergency numbers you can call in case of an accident or breakdown.
What about the green card for the car?
In the Netherlands, it is not compulsory to carry the green card for your car. Different rules may apply abroad. There are a number of countries where the green card is still compulsory. Read here in which countries the green card is mandatory for the car.
Green card; handy to have with you
Even though it is not compulsory everywhere. Nevertheless, it can be useful to have a green card with you, especially when you are abroad. The green card contains all kinds of practical information, such as telephone numbers that you may need in case of breakdown, damage or theft. The green card is an international insurance certificate. The green card has the same layout throughout Europe, which makes it easy to read, even when you are abroad, for example by the police.
Where do you only need to carry a green card for the car?
In many countries it is not compulsory to have a green card with you. Nevertheless, there are some countries which require you to carry a green card for the car. Please note that in these countries the green card has to be printed on green paper. If you do not have such an original green card on green paper (anymore), you can always ask your car insurance company for one. Below is a list of countries in which it is compulsory to carry a green card for the car.
- Morocco
- Albania
- Bosnia-Herzegovina
- Iran
- Israel
- Moldova
- Montenegro
- Ukraine
- Russia
- Serbia
- Tunisia
- Turkey
- Former Yugoslav Republic of Macedonia
- Macedonia
- Belarus
In which countries is a separate green card required for the caravan and car?
In Germany, Poland and Spain, when you travel with a caravan that has its own registration plate and is therefore heavier than 750 kg, you are obliged to carry an original green card for your car as well as for your caravan. You can apply for a separate green card for the caravan at your car insurance company. The car insurance company will need a copy of the registration certificate for the caravan.
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