Impact on International Motor Insurance Card (IMIC) Green Card
MIBI would like to highlight the following information which relates to the insurance position of Ukrainian vehicles that may come into Ireland as a result of the influx of refugees from Ukraine.
Following the invasion of Ukraine by the Russian Federation, and the subsequent refugee crisis, many member Countries of the Green Card System including Ireland are being confronted with a large number of UA registered vehicles entering their territories. It is important to note that vehicles originating from Ukraine and entering Ireland are required to have MTPL insurance.
Ukrainian drivers can ensure their vehicles are insured in one of two ways;
- A Ukrainian insurer, or the Ukrainian Motor Insurance Bureau (similar to MIBI) has issued an International Motor Insurance Card (IMIC) /Green Card to the driver/owner that permits the vehicle to circulate within the Green Card System countries. See https://www.cobx.org/ for more information on the Green Card System.
Under normal circumstances, whilst Ukrainian insurers and the Ukrainian Bureau can issue an IMIC/Green Card electronically in PDF format, a physical IMIC/Green Card must be printed, and carried in the vehicle if travelling to other countries. In light of these terrible events and following consultation with the Council of Bureaux (COB), MIBI recommends that, on an exceptional basis, IMIC/Green Cards for Ukrainian registered vehicles be accepted in either printed or electronically in PDF format.
For your information, additional checks on the authenticity of Ukrainian IMIC/Green Card can also be made via the Ukrainian Bureau by clicking (here).
- The driver/owner of the vehicle purchased a Frontier insurance policy at the point of entry to the EU (for example, when the vehicle entered Poland). This Frontier policy will provide the required level of insurance to drive the vehicle within the Green Card System for the period that the Frontier policy is valid for, i.e. from 15-30 days, up to a maximum of one year. MIBI also recommends that on an exceptional basis, Frontier Insurance policies be accepted electronically in PDF format.
It should be noted that if a vehicle continues to circulate in Ireland, it will require MTPL insurance provided by an Irish insurer when the Ukrainian insurance policy, or the Frontier insurance policy expires. The terms applied to these Irish policies is a matter for the individual (Irish based) insurers to decide upon if a driver purchases a policy in Ireland. In addition, vehicles and drivers will be subject to Irish regulations with regard to re-registering foreign vehicles and Irish regulations with regard to recognition of international driving licenses. We understand these topics are currently under consideration with the relevant state departments.
Information Leaflet for Ukrainian drivers
Please find document linked (here)containing an information leaflet that the COB has prepared for drivers of Ukrainian registered vehicles when entering a foreign country. It contains basic information on the rules of compulsory MTPL insurance, and the particularities of Frontier insurance. The information is available in both English and Ukrainian.