Russia-issued 'green cards' to lose validity in EU on June 1, 2023 - Russian Association of Motor Insurers

MOSCOW. April 25 (Interfax) - Russia-issued international motor insurance certificates, also known as green cards, will lose their validity in the European Union from June 1, 2023, but will stay valid in friendly countries operating within the system, the Russian Association of Motor Insurers (RAMI) said in a statement.

"This will happen due to the expiration of bilateral agreements signed between RAMI on one side and bureaus/unions of motor insurers of the European Economic Area member states, Switzerland and the United Kingdom on the other side, which stipulate mutual recognition of green card insurance certificates," RAMI said.

Until June 1, such insurance certificates will operate as usual. At the same time, Russia-issued green cards will remain valid without limitation with regard to travel to some other countries within the Green Card system, including Azerbaijan, Belarus, Moldova, Serbia and Turkey, it said.

Green card insurance certificates issued by the EU, Switzerland or the UK will become invalid in Russia on the same day regardless of the expiration date indicated on a specific certificate. Russian insurers who are members of the national Green Card Bureau may not issue certificates expiring after May 31, 2023.

In this regard, in order to travel across the EU, Switzerland or the UK after May 31, 2023, using a motor vehicle registered in Russia, drivers will have to take out a border insurance policy issued in the relevant country at a border crossing. In order to drive in Russia after that date, using a motor vehicle registered in the EU, Switzerland or the UK, motorists need to purchase a compulsory motor TPL insurance issued under Russian law.

Any claims from victims of road accidents occurring before June 1, 2023, are subject to settlement under the standard procedure, RAMI said.

RAMI placed a bid for membership in the Green Card international system in 2006. Its admission procedure required guarantees from the Russian government. Under the decision of the General Assembly of the Council of Bureaux, RAMI was admitted to the Green Card system and granted transitional membership status and the right to start operations within the system from January 1, 2009.

In late May 2015, the General Assembly of the Council of Bureaux moved to admit RAMI as a full member of the Green Card system beginning on July 1, 2015. The Russian association was granted the new status ahead of schedule: under the original decision, RAMI's transitional membership was to remain in force until the end of 2018.

Russia's national Green Card Bureau is a structural subdivision of RAMI. The Bureau members, Russian motor insurers, provide strategic guidance to the Bureau and determine its tariff policies.