Question to the Department for Transport:

To ask Her Majesty's Government what measures they are taking to raise public awareness that (1) drivers travelling in the EU after 29 March may need to obtain a Green Card from their insurers before departure, and (2) those using trailers may need to ask the Driver and Vehicle Licensing Agency whether they need to register their trailer, and ask their insurers whether they need to obtain a separate Green Card for that trailer.

The Government has provided guidance to motorists travelling in the EU after 29 March through various channels.

The technical notice ‘Vehicle Insurance if there’s no Brexit Deal’ was published in September 2018. It outlines that, in the event of ‘no deal’ and the European Commission not taking a decision to allow the UK to remain in the Green Card-free area, drivers of UK registered vehicles will need to carry a motor insurance Green Card when driving in the EU and EEA. The guidance also encourages UK registered drivers towing a trailer to contact their insurer to obtain two Green Cards, one for their trailer and one for their towing vehicle.

Guidance has also been published on trailer registration. UK motorists must register commercial trailers weighing over 750kg and non-commercial trailers weighing over 3,500kg before they can travel to or through most EU and EEA countries. UK motorists can also voluntarily register non-commercial trailers that weigh over 750kg. The Government issued new communications in February 2019, which echoed the guidance in the technical notice. The campaign is live with radio, digital ads and social media directing citizens to gov.uk.

We continue to work constructively with the Motor Insurers’ Bureau, the Association of British Insurers and the rest of the insurance industry to ensure motorists are aware of these messages and are prepared for a ‘no deal’ scenario.

On motor insurance, our intention is to remain part of the Green Card-free circulation area as the UK will continue to meet all of the requirements when we leave the EU. This would allow UK drivers to continue to be able to drive in EU Member States without the need for a Green Card. We continue to urge the Commission to issue a decision on the UK’s membership in the Green Card-free circulation zone.