Brexit latest: this page was last updated on Wednesday 8th January 2020. To the best of our knowledge, the information below is full and correct as of that date.
The UK will leave the EU on 31 January 2020. If you’ve made plans to visit an EU country, you’re probably wondering how you’ll be affected.
Here’s what you need to know about your motor insurance policy and travelling to Europe.
The UK government has also issued detailed advice about driving in the EU after Brexit.
Will this guidance change? Lots of decisions around Brexit are still to be finalised by the Government, and as a result, our guidance could change. We’ll continue to update this page as the situation develops – so check back for the most up-to-date advice. However, please bear in mind that it may take time for us to reassess how political decisions will affect our customers.
Driving in the EU after Brexit
Will I still be able to use my AXA motor insurance to drive in EU member states after Brexit?
Yes. We’ll continue to provide the legal minimum motor insurance cover for travel to EU countries, as well as to some non-EU countries. So if you’re a UK motorist, you won’t need to buy an extra third-party motor insurance policy to travel to these countries with a UK-registered vehicle. In other words, you’ll have the same third-party cover that you do now.
Do I need to tell AXA if I plan to drive in an EU member state after Brexit?
Yes. There’s documentation you’ll need to have in place for your trip too – click here to find out more.
I regularly drive my vehicle in the EU. Will I need to tell AXA every time I travel after Brexit?
With AXA, you already get 90 days foreign travel free as part of your policy, so you won’t have to tell us. But if you’re travelling in the EU after Brexit, you’ll need a green card. Find out more about the documents you'll need here.
Will I need to display a GB sticker on my car?
Yes. When travelling in any EU country, as GB sticker must be displayed on cars that are registered in all parts of the UK (including Northern Ireland). You can find out more about flags, symbols and identifiers at gov.uk.
Documents you’ll need
Are there any documents that I’ll need to take with me if I’m planning to drive in an EU member state after Brexit?
Yes – you’ll need physical copies of your green card, certificate of motor insurance and unless you’re only visiting the Republic of Ireland (ROI), an international driving permit.
What’s a green card?
A green card is an international certificate of insurance to prove you’ve got the necessary third-party motor insurance cover for the country you’re travelling to. They’re guaranteed by an agreement between the countries that issue them – and the UK will still be part of this agreement even in the event of a no-deal Brexit.
As your insurer, we’ll issue you with a green card when you let us know about your travel plans. Rules around green cards are strict. During your trip, you must carry the physical version we send you – you can’t use an electronic copy or email version, or print another version at home.
What’s an International Driving Permit?
Your UK driving licence may still be valid depending on which country(s) you’re visiting, however in some countries you will require an International Driving Permit (IDP) as well as your current licence (paper and/or photo card) for the duration of your visit – so check this before your trip.
There are different versions of the IDP depending upon which country you are visiting, so you may need to apply for more than one to complete your trip.
Unlike green cards, this document is not issued through your insurer. To find out more about international driving permits, visit the Government website. Or visit the Post Office website to apply for one.
How do I get a green card?
You only need to apply once in each period of insurance, and we’ll send your green card. This card covers you for the length of your personal car insurance policy, until renewal or cancellation, wherever you’re insured to drive. And it means you don’t need to apply for one with every trip you take.
To request a green card, call us on 0330 024 1158, at least seven days before your trip. It’s likely we’ll receive more requests around bank holidays or school holidays, so please make sure you’ve left as much time as possible to request your green card in case of any delays.
Your green card only proves that your insurance policy provides the minimum legal cover and is only valid for the insurance policy it relates to.
If your policy ends (e.g. because you’ve cancelled it) before its expiry date, you must destroy your AXA green card immediately before requesting a replacement from your new insurer.
If your policy is due to expire less than 15 days after the date that you travel, you’ll either need to make sure you’ve renewed your AXA policy before you travel, or you have a green card from your new insurer to cover the period after your current policy expires.
What happens if I travel without a green card?
If you’re not carrying a green card when it’s required, you can’t legally drive in an EU member state. If you attempt to drive in the EU without one, you could be accused of driving without insurance, resulting in a fine, having your vehicle seized or prosecution.
Legally, you could choose to purchase insurance locally when you arrive in another country (often known as ‘frontier insurance’). In practice however, this could be quite difficult and might cost a lot more than a UK-issued policy.
Do I need to let AXA know which countries I’ll be visiting? Do the rules vary depending on the country I plan to travel to?
Travelling to EU member states only (including the ROI)
Green cards are designed to be used in the same way across every EU member state. When you receive your green card, it’ll specify which countries you’re allowed to drive in – currently all EU member states. This might change in the future, so we’ll still need to know which countries you’re planning to visit when you request your green card.
Travelling to a green card country that’s not an EU member state
You’ll need to tell your insurer which countries you’ll be visiting as you may not be automatically be covered for driving in any country outside the EU, even if they are part of the green card system.
Will I be able to use a green card issued by AXA to rent or borrow a vehicle in an EU member state?
No. The green cards we issue are only for your own, UK-registered vehicle. If you want to rent or borrow a vehicle while you’re abroad, you’ll need to arrange separate insurance.
Will I need to show my green card when I cross the border into the EU? Will it be checked when I move from one EU member state to another?
You might need to show your green card at the border when entering the EU and if you’re travelling between other EU member states, so make sure you’ve got the physical document with you. You might also be asked for it by the police at any time, in the country you’re visiting. If you’re involved in an accident, you’ll be expected to have it to hand.
Will authorities in EU countries recognise my green card? Could I be told I need to buy cover from a local insurer while I’m driving abroad?
Authorities in EU member states recognise green cards and will be familiar with them. Green cards issued by AXA use a standardised format agreed by all EU member states and the UK.
As long as you’ve got a valid green card with you, you won’t need to buy additional local insurance for any countries covered by the green card.
Will there be a charge for the Green Card?
No, we don’t charge for green cards.
Do I need to carry any other additional documents if I’m driving with a trailer?
Yes. You’ll need a separate green card for any trailer you plan to take with you on your trip. Depending on the size and type of trailer, you might need to register it with the DVLA so they can issue a separate registration number for it before you travel outside of the UK. Find out more on the DVLA website.
If your trailer has been issued with its own registration number, it’ll be shown on the green card. If it doesn’t have a registration number, the green card will show the trailer’s serial number or chassis number instead.
Accidents while driving abroad
What happens if I’m involved in an accident abroad and I might be wholly or partly responsible? Should I contact AXA?
Remember to ask for the insurance details of any other drivers involved and gather as much evidence as you can, including taking photos if possible. You might be asked for your green card, so make sure you’ve got it to hand.
What help will I get I’m involved in an accident that wasn’t my fault while driving in the EU?
Through the green card arrangement, the UK has well-established relationships with motor insurers in each EU member state. This means that we’ll still be able to settle a claim when you’re not in the UK, as long as you’ve got your green card.
Currently, there’s also a ‘visiting victims’ arrangement for any UK citizen injured in a car accident in an EU state. If the UK exits the EU without a withdrawal agreement, this will no longer be in place. So if you need to make an insurance claim against an EU-registered insurer, you will be subject to the local legal system and your claim may be treated differently to how it would be in the UK.
Driving in the UK after Brexit
I don’t intend to use my car in an EU member state and only plan to drive in the UK after Brexit. Will UK withdrawal from the EU affect my current car insurance?
No. All our UK-issued policies include the minimum level of third-party cover specified in the UK Road Traffic Act. We don’t expect this legislation to have changed by the time the UK leaves the EU.
Driving rules and regulations
Will the rules for driving abroad change after Britain officially leaves the EU?
There’ll be changes to driving rules and licensing requirements that you’ll need to comply with. If you don’t comply with the law, your insurance might not be valid.
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