On vacation with the caravan: do I need a green card?

With the caravan in the Netherlands

In the Netherlands, you are not required to carry your vehicle's green card. The police can see from the license plate of your car whether you are insured. Your caravan is always WA co-insured on your car insurance free of charge. However, it is always wise to take your green card with you, either digitally or on paper. The green card tells you which emergency numbers to call in case of an accident or breakdown.

What about the green card for the car?

In the Netherlands, it is not mandatory to carry the green card for your car. Different rules may apply abroad. For example, there are some countries where the green card is still mandatory. Read here in which countries the green card is mandatory for the car.

Green card; useful to have with you

Even though it is not mandatory everywhere. Still, it can be handy to have the green card with you, especially abroad. The green card contains all kinds of practical information, such as telephone numbers you need in case of a breakdown, damage or theft. The green card is an international certificate of insurance. Throughout Europe, the green card is set up the same which makes it easy to read even abroad by, for example, the police.

Where do you only need to carry a green card for the car?

Many countries do not require you to carry the green card. However, there are some countries that require you to carry a green card for the car. Please note that in these countries the green card should really be printed on green paper. In case you do not have such an original green card on green paper (anymore), you can always request it from your car insurer. Below is an overview of the countries where you are obliged 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
• Belarus

Which countries require a separate green card for the caravan and car?

If you are traveling with a caravan that has its own registration number and is heavier than 750 kg, you are obliged in Germany, Poland and Spain to carry an original green card for both your car and your caravan. This separate green card for the caravan can be obtained from your car insurance company. The car insurance company will need a copy of the caravan's registration certificate.