Green card to cover the Blakans for a UK registered bike
 

Does any one have insurance with Swinton? I am planning a Balkan trip and just need to know if they issue green cards for the Balkans? as I dont want to buy insurance at every border outside the EU-that will be expensive.

It might seem a silly suggestion, but what about asking Swinton?

Surely they know better what they do and sell than anyone else.

i have, the two people i spoke to said i dont need a green card for europe. it seems they have no idea that there is a europe outside the eu, as ive rocked up the the macedonian border last summer and was refused entry with out a green card or unless bought local insurance at the border for €50.

or i could come in, but not with my bike:ban:

Hi, it will be cheaper and a lot less hassle at the borders if you get a green card from your insurer.
Most insurance companies will not want to issue you with one (don't know why) and tell you it is not needed, it is definately needed to travel in the Balkans, also check which counties their Green Card covers. AXA Insurance covered me last year for everywhere in Europe( except Russia but inc Turkey) Cheers Andy

Your insurance probably wont have a clue, from what I remember some balkan states dont require one, some do but its very very cheap, a couple of pounds. Dont sweat it and just go with the flow!

I know that ALL the Balkan countries have a clue, as I've been before- its the UK insurance companies that don't have a clue.

Insurance on the border is not a couple of pounds- €85 for serbia, €50 for macedonia .....

thats why i'm wondering is i can just get a months green card in the UK to cover the Balkans

i was able to get 90 days green card cover for myself and my son at no cost. As Tony said, ask Swinton. Andy

That's bizarre, I rode into Macedonia approaching Lake Ohrid from Albania and didn't get charged a penny in 2007?! Maybe its dependent on which border you go in on?

I am not seeking to defend Swinton - but generally I find the quality of an answer is often dependent on the precision of the question and knowledgeable persistance of the questioner.

Did you specify which country(s) you want to visit outside of the EU? Or did you just say the vague, imprecise and potentially misleading term "The Balkans" - as you use in the thread title and your opening post?

Try them with the actual names of the non-EU countries for which you want/need a Green Card.

If they still say your present UK/EU insurance covers you, ask for a certificate you can present to the Police in the non-EU countries not included on your Certificate of Insurance*.

*The automatic extention of UK insurance to cover use in EU generally also includes use in the non-EU states of Iceland, Norway, Switzerland, Lichenstein and Croatia and this is printed on the reverse of UK Insurance Certificates in a number of languages.

I was asking Swinton for Macedonia, Albania, Serbia and Montenegro. THeir answer was that in Europe the whole green card system has been phased out.

To be honest Im hopping Macedonia, Albania, Serbia and Montenegro will join Croatia and just let me in with the regular UK insurance, since from December they no longer need visas to enter the schangen so there will be much more traffic from now on and it will be easier if we just mutually recognised each others insurance

I would then have insisted on a fuller answer on the understanding that these Countries are not part of EU nor included on my Certificate of Insurance and I need appropriate documentation to provide proof of cover.
Asking for this in writing concentrates their minds to give accurate answers.

Remember you need insurance for two reasons -

-to get "let in" and have paperwork to satisfy Police documents checks,
AND
-to ensure someone capable of paying will pay the consequences of you being held responsible for injury or death to persons.

Your Insurance Company (not the Broker!) will not pay if a claim arose in a territory they were not informed you would be visiting and had agreed to extend cover to.

Insurance is not just for getting past officials, but to protect your financial well-being for potentially the rest of your life!

Good luck. I hope you get it sorted and enjoy the roads.

Strange, that. In France & Germany you still get a green card with your annual insurance!

Don't forget, that unless you make other arrangements, a green card ONLY provides for the MINIMUM cover required in countries visited.
It is the UK companies that is out of step on green cards.

The Green Card system : Directgov - Motoring

Cheers,
John

I'm going to keep my eye on this. As I'm in the same boat. I've e mailed Just about every insurance company I can think of. All I get is, we only cover EEC country's. The country's you need extra cover for are.

Croatia
Bosnia and Herzegovina
Serbia
Montenegro
Kosovo
Albania
Macedonia
And if you go on Turkey.

Link to EEC Country's
List of European Economic Area (EEA) countries

John933

I was reading this thread for info on insurance but my next search was going to be about visa's. As you mentioned it here can you tell me if I need a visa for any of the Balkan countries, I am on a UK passport.

Thanks Guys:thumbup1:

I didn't need any when I went (2007)

Visa, Balkans
 

I traveled through Hungary, Romania and Bulgaria on my way to Egypt and only got a multi entry visa for Syria.

The first time I needed the green card was for Turkey. After that you buy it on the borders.

well after speaking to a few people at Swinton..... no green card- they just wont cover me outside the EU. Seems mental that in the UK we cant get a green card but say in Germany they can and their underwriter is a UK company half the time, sounds like RIP-OFF BRITAIN

I've been looking for the last month six week's. If any one find's a company that will give you cover. I can see a flood of people going to them.
John933

Swinton is a Broker.
That means they are the 'middle man' between the public and whatever Insurers with which they have a commercial relationship that suits them. They also appear to operate on a 'mass-market call centre' basis. They probably use lower cost no-frills Insurers to be attractive to customers, and not really prepared to consider anything that involves more time or effort (i.e. time/cost) to arrange.

Other Brokers have relationships with other Insurers. And some Brokers work much harder than others for their commission.

Try others. It's a competitive market and fundementally Insurers want your premiums and the Broker wants the Commission built in to their quote!

You don't need a greencard but I would really really strongly suggest getting one. Not all borders sell insurance, it will be cheaper to get the right paperwork here and not buy it enroute, and the hassle isn't needed.

Groupama underwriters do it via Carole Nash.

Maybe you don't but:

In October 2009 I needed green cards at the Greece/Macedonia, Macedonia/Kosovo and Kosovo/Montenegro borders. I suspect I should have needed one at the Montenegro/Croatia border but we were waved through by a bored guard at 8pm.

The other borders all required either a literal green card with their country name ticked or that I trot over the road to the little shack and fork out EU50, EU20 and EU13 respectively before I could continue.

September 2010 at the Greece/Turkey border their own llittle shack was shut (it was a Sunday) and they were happy for me to fork out TL50 for a 10km taxi ride to the next available border with an open insurance booth.

The Balkan countries generally do require a green card and will sell you one on the spot.

Cheers,

Ian

Thats exactly my point, a green card is needed so that i can avoid these on the border insurance fees. just seems crazy that in the UK I can't get one, but in Germany it's readily avaliable

I do get a little annoyed at people quick to point out failings within whatever country they choose to live in. If other countries offer a better 'package' of life, liberties, services and lifestyle surely the answer is in your feet - not moaning through a keyboard!

OK. Rant over!

Swinton say they won't - tried any other 'mass market' insurance brokers?
- Or a smaller one who works harder?
- Or one who already handles your other insurances (home, travel, professional, etc)?
- Or the various owners clubs and specialist vehicle activity clubs which have insurance arrangements for members, more specific to the specialist needs of their members?

Looking at it another way, buying Insurance at borders may not be so bad if you have a bad insurance record, no NCD etc. They usually have a set flat rate tariff based on the vehicle and duration of stay.

And what are we talking about when added to the costs of equiping a vehicle and doing the trip? Probably not a very large percentage.