Hi Joe:

It is very simple and easy to purchase European 'Green Card' insurance at the Bulgarian border - I did exactly that about 2 weeks ago. I've attached a photo of the document below (it still has a few weeks validity left, but I'm back in Canada now).

There are small booths or kiosks run by private insurance brokers located just past immigration & customs control at most major border crossing points into Bulgaria. You ride up to Customs & Immigration, they will ask to see your passport, vehicle registration document, and insurance. Tell them that you have to purchase insurance. They'll ask that you park your moto off to the side (within sight of the customs booth) and they will retain your passport.

You then walk over to the insurance booth with your vehicle documents, pay the fee (it is listed in Bulgarian Lev, it's about €55 for a month), get the green card, go back and show it to the Customs guy - who will then give you back your passport - and then you ride off into the sunset.

In my case, two weeks ago, I already had Green Card coverage for Europe that I had purchased from another vendor, but unfortunately the actual physical document did not reach me before I set off on my trip. I had a scanned copy, but the Bulgarian Customs officials would not accept the scanned copy, so I had to purchase another (identical) policy at the Bulgarian border.

Fortunately, Bulgaria is the least expensive place in the entire EC vehicle insurance system when it comes to buying insurance. It was annoying to have to pay €55 for coverage I already had, but at least it was not double that price (as it would have been, for example, in Germany).

Michael

PS: Be aware that 'European Green Card Insurance' and 'a Green Card for Turkey' are mutually exclusive. The policies sold for all of Western Europe don't include Turkey, and the Turkish policies don't include the rest of Europe. I believe this has to do with Turkey not being part of the 'treaty group' that has been established for insurance purposes.

2017 Bulgarian Border Insurance ('Green Card')

Hi,

Your insurance states category B, which is cars, but make is Honda I assume motorbike. I'm traveling with the car, so should I expect the same price? Which border did you cross? turkey has like 3 border crossings.

Do you know anything about prices in Greece?

Category B is not cars, it is motorcycles.

Look carefully on the picture of the green card that I posted - about 20% of the document width to the right of the 'B' you will find the legend, which clearly indicates that 'B' is motorcycles. Cars are 'A'.

I have no idea what the price of the same insurance (for the same countries) is if you buy it in Greece. The prices are all over the map, they vary significantly depending on what country the policy is purchased in. I find this quite remarkable, considering that the product being purchased (basic liability coverage for 30 different countries) is identical.

Michael

Ah another confusion to add to the bunch, Cat B is cars in driving license that's the reason I got confused. So green card insurance has different denomination, great.

It didn't work for me, I chose the biggest border coming from Turkey (Edirne) entering Bulgaria they did not ask me for insurance and just waved thought but I didn't saw any place I could have bought it either. My insurance (in Germany) keeps telling me that I don't need a green card in the EU each time I request one, maybe there is some truth in that

On many borders in many countries (eastern Russia-Vladivostok is the last example) there are less options to buy insurance at the border.
I believe the insurance companies/brokers are cutting their costs and reducing the number of employees on broader level.

Cheers
Dooby

I see that when you bought a frontier insurance policy in Bulgaria, it also came with a green card, which is valid in other european countries. Am I right?

Yes, mandatory traffic insurance in one EU country gives you coverage for all Green Card countries.

You may need to specifically request the paper Green Card though, they won't always print it automatically.

Has anyone recently done a crossing from Turkey into Europe? If yes, can you share the prices for motorbikes for 3 and 6 months?

Many thanks!

Here are the prices bellow:

Türkiye Turing ve Otomobil Kurumu

In any case you pay less you for sure will know that it was a fake one, which happens at Turkish border on yearly base often, amounting to 60-70 mln eur losses for the insurers.

Have fun.

Cheers
Dooby

Hi Guys,

I know this thread is a bit old but i shipped my Australian plated car over to europe and am looking for cheap green card insurance , is the Bulgarian border insurance still as cheap? I've checked mototouring and uci which are around 400 euros for 180 days, i still feel like theres cheaper options out there, logabola is charging 790 Euros for 90 days which is just insane. Would appreciate any input.

Thanks

Hi,
I’m a Swedish citizen crossing from Turkey to Bulgaria on my Hong Kong registered bike in about a month time. Is the green card insurance still possible to buy on the Bulgarian side?

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Best to buy in advance, either dooby - posted above - or Ivo at Motocamp Bulgaria Welcome to motosapiens.org | motosapiens.org will be able to help you.

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Grant Johnson
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Inspiring, Informing and Connecting travellers since 1997!
www.HorizonsUnlimited.com

Thanks Grant! I checked with Moto Camp and this is what they said:

“Hey, thanks for contacting us. We can help, but also I recommend to buy it at the border if you are entering from Turkey to Bulgaria - easier and cheaper as well. If not, I will need an address where to send it and copy of your passport and copy of motorcycle registration.”

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I would recommend you check the customs requirements as well - once you hit the EU border, your bike may be considered to be permanently imported, as it's owned and being ridden by an EU citizen. You might need to do customs paperwork and pay duties or a customs deposit until you get it plated in Sweden (if you can at all). Best to check that in advance.