Do truck drivers need a green card for international road haulage in Europe?
A Green Card is not required for UK or EU road haulage since 2021-08-02, but is still required for Ukraine, Turkey, Moldova, Albania and Azerbaijan routes.
Logifie Team
Logistics Technology Experts
A Green Card is not required for road haulage within the EU/EEA, UK, Switzerland, or a handful of neighbouring countries since 2021-08-02, when a vehicle's registration plate became sufficient proof of insurance. It is still required, for both the truck and the trailer, when hauling to Ukraine, Turkey, Moldova, Albania, or Azerbaijan.
Which countries still require a Green Card for road haulage?
Since 2021-08-02, an EU Commission Implementing Decision (EU) 2021/1145 treats a registration plate as sufficient proof of cover across a single box: the EU/EEA, the UK, Andorra, Bosnia and Herzegovina, Montenegro, Serbia, and Switzerland. A Green Card is not needed inside that zone. Outside it, hauliers still need a valid Green Card for Albania, Azerbaijan, Moldova, Turkey, or Ukraine. Belarus and Russia are currently suspended from the Green Card system, so confirm cover directly with your insurer for those corridors.
| Corridor | Green Card required? |
|---|---|
| EU/EEA, UK, Switzerland, and neighbouring single-box countries | Not required since 2021-08-02 |
| EU to Ukraine or Moldova | Required |
| EU to Turkey | Required |
| EU to Albania or Azerbaijan | Required |
| EU to Belarus or Russia | System suspended - check cover with your insurer |
Do you need a separate Green Card for the trailer?
Yes, wherever a Green Card is required at all. It only covers the vehicle named on the certificate, so a tractor unit and its semi-trailer are treated as two separate risks needing two separate cards, even under the same fleet policy. This is the detail most private-car guides miss, since a car and its trailer are rarely split across policies the way an HGV combination is. A missing trailer card, not a missing truck card, is one of the most common reasons a vehicle gets held at a border. For corridor-specific compliance breakdowns, see the Logifie blog .
How do carriers get a Green Card, and what happens if you are stopped without one?
A Green Card is issued by the haulier's own motor insurer, or by the national Green Card Bureau, alongside the standard policy; it is not bought at the border. Coverage and issuing rules are set by the Council of Bureaux , the international body that administers the Green Card system. Fleet operators should request cards for every truck and trailer combination well before a run, since replacing a lost card at the crossing is rarely possible. A driver stopped without a valid card can be refused entry, fined on the spot, or required to buy temporary insurance at the border. Operators unsure which corridor applies can get in touch with Logifie's team before departure.
Frequently asked questions
Is a Green Card the same as a certificate of motor insurance?
No. A certificate of motor insurance proves cover under national law, while a Green Card is a separate international document. Most insurers issue both together, but only the Green Card is accepted as proof of cover where it is required at a border.
Do EU-registered trucks need a Green Card to enter the UK?
No. Since 2021-08-02, the UK has been part of the same registration-plate zone as the EU/EEA, so EU-registered HGVs do not need a Green Card to enter the UK, and the reverse applies to UK-registered vehicles entering the EU. The UK Motor Insurers' Bureau confirms drivers still need valid insurance, just not a Green Card for this route.
What happens if a driver is stopped at a border without a valid Green Card?
Where a Green Card is required, authorities can refuse entry, issue an on-the-spot fine, or require the driver to buy temporary insurance at the border before the load continues. Delays routinely cost more than the card itself, and repeated violations can affect a carrier's standing with insurers.
Does a Green Card cover the cargo, or only third-party vehicle liability?
A Green Card only proves third-party motor liability cover for the vehicle; it does not cover the cargo, the truck's own damage, or the driver. Cargo needs separate insurance for the load itself, arranged and documented alongside the Green Card on any route where one applies.
Carriers preparing a Ukraine, Turkey, Moldova, or Balkan-adjacent route can apply to join Logifie's carrier network to have Green Card and trailer documentation checked before the first cross-border booking.
