Is a foreigner who comes to France by car covered by his insurance?

Verified 19 November 2025 - Public Service / Directorate of Legal and Administrative Information (Prime Minister)

Yes, but coverage depends on the country of registration of the vehicle. Indeed, the validity of car insurance in France is based on international agreements.

Three situations are possible:

  • The vehicle is registered in a European or similar country in the field of motor insurance
  • The vehicle is registered in a countries participating in the "green card" system, i.e. an agreement between many countries that mutually recognize the car insurance of their nationals
  • The vehicle is registered in a other country (excluding agreements).
Tableau - Insurance rules for a foreigner traveling in France

Countries

Is foreign insurance valid in France?

Is the green card required?

Specific conditions

States of theEuropean Union + assimilated countries (multilateral agreement)

Example: Andorra, Bosnia and Herzegovina, Great Britain, Iceland, Liechtenstein, Montenegro, Norway, Serbia, Switzerland

Yes

No, the license plate is enough proof

You have automatic civil liability coverage. You can benefit from optional guarantees depending on the contract.

Countries participating in the green card system

Example: Turkey, Morocco, Tunisia, Ukraine, Israel, Albania

Yes

Yes, mandatory on board the vehicle

You must present the green card as proof of insurance. It is recommended to check if you have any optional warranties.

Non-green card and non-EU countries/assimilated

Example: Afghanistan, Syria, Ethiopia, North Korea

No

No

You must take out a border insurance policy when entering France. It corresponds to the minimum civil liability. It is renewable once (30 to 90 days).

Special case of vehicle registered outside the EU but entering from an EU country

Example: vehicle registered in Lebanon but entering from Germany, Monaco, Vatican, San Marino

Variable

Inquire by country of origin and bilateral agreements (i.e. whether France has signed an agreement with the country where the vehicle was registered)

You must inquire specifically by country. If in doubt, it is recommended to take out border insurance.

You can drive in France with a vehicle registered abroad during 6 months maximum (whether consecutive or not) during a period of 12 rolling months. Beyond that, you must either register the vehicle in France, or no longer use it on the territory.

Example :

You arrive in France with your foreign car on 1er March 2024.

You can use it maximum 6 months between the 1er March 2024 and February 28, 2025.

These 6 months can be consecutive or separate (e.g. 3 months in spring and 3 months in autumn).

After this 12-month period, the calculation reset from: 1er March 2025 to February 28, 2026, you can use the vehicle again for up to 6 months.

In the field of motor insurance, the expression “ european countries ” means the member countries of the European Union. These countries have signed an agreement between themselves multilateral agreement to address auto insurance issues that affect at least 2 different countries. The multilateral agreement provides that each signatory country shall establish a national office to compensate claims involving vehicles registered in another signatory country.

We call it “ assimilated countries ” countries that are not members of the European Union, but that also have acceded to the multilateral agreement in the field of motor insurance:

  • Andorra
  • Bosnia and Herzegovina
  • Great Britain
  • Iceland
  • Liechtenstein
  • Montenegro
  • Norway
  • Serbia
  • Switzerland.

The "green card" system is an agreement signed by several countries in the field of motor insurance. The agreement allows car insurance contracts concluded in one of the signatory countries to be effective in other countries. The list of countries participating in the "green card" system is available on a interactive map.

We present you the rules to know depending on the country :

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European or assimilated country

Does insurance for a vehicle registered in a European country work in France?

If you come to France with your vehicle registered in one of the countries of the European Union or in a similar country, you will be covered by your foreign car insurance.

You will be covered at least with the mandatory warranty civil liability, i.e. for damage your vehicle may cause to others.

But if you have taken out optional warranties (e.g. property damage, theft, fire), some of these warranties may apply in France.

You must check in your contract the coverage that applies in France and, and cases of limitation of warranties or exclusion of warranty.

If you have taken out the flight guarantee or assistance guarantee, you must check whether, in the event of theft or accident of the vehicle, the insurance covers the following expenses:

  • Towing costs of the vehicle
  • Repatriation costs of passengers or even of the vehicle
  • Accommodation costs for the duration of repairs
  • Costs of remuneration of a driver to repatriate the vehicle and its occupants.
What documents should the driver of a vehicle have?

If you come to France with your vehicle registered in a country of the European Union or in one of the assimilated countries, you are exempt from presenting proof of insurance at the border.

Indeed, the license plates of your vehicle serve as proof of insurance.

The territories of the European Union countries and assimilated countries form a single territory in which insurance is compulsory, but the control of the green card at the borders is abolished.

FYI  

Insurance contracts taken out in the countries of the European Union do not appear in the FVA French.

The bilateral agreement prohibits police checks only to verify the insurance of vehicles registered in a signatory country.

But the policy can check your insurance during a check for another reason or following an accident.

In this case, you must have a document that proves that your car is insured at least for the mandatory civil liability guarantee.

To prove this, you can submit a document prepared in accordance with the regulations of your country and which proves that your vehicle is insured.

How long does insurance for a vehicle registered in a European country work in France?

You can use your foreign insurance in France during 6 months maximum.

If you stay in France for more than 6 months, you will be considered a resident of this country and you will be obliged to register your car in France. Once the vehicle is registered in France, it is considered to have its usual place of parking in that territory. In this case, you will be obliged to take out car insurance in France.

Countries participating in the "green card" system

What is the “green card” system?

The "green card" system is an agreement signed by several countries in the field of motor insurance.

The aim is to facilitate international traffic, while ensuring adequate compensation for victims of accidents caused in one signatory country by vehicles registered in another signatory country.

For example, the agreement allows car insurance contracts concluded in one of the signatory countries to be effective in other countries.

For this reason, each signatory country has the obligation to settle a representative office in each of the other signatory countries to deal with claims for compensation relating to international traffic.

The agreement also facilitates the crossing of borders by vehicles registered in one of the signatory countries to another signatory country.

This facilitated passage is done via the presentation of the ‘green card’, or international auto insurance card.

Does the insurance of a vehicle registered in a country that participates in the green card system work in France?

If your vehicle is registered in a country that participates in the green card system, your foreign insurance covers you in France.

You are covered by your foreign insurance at least with the mandatory guarantee civil liability, i.e. for damage your vehicle may cause to others.

But if you have taken out optional warranties (e.g. property damage, theft, fire), some of these warranties may apply in France.

You must check with your insurer before starting your trip the coverage that applies in France and, and cases of limitation of warranties or exclusion of warranty.

If you have taken out the flight guarantee or assistance guarantee, you must check whether, in the event of theft or accident of the vehicle, the insurance covers the following expenses:

  • Towing costs of the vehicle
  • Repatriation costs of passengers or even of the vehicle
  • Accommodation costs for the duration of repairs
  • Costs of remuneration of a driver to repatriate the vehicle and its occupants.
What documents should I have in France?

If you come to France with your vehicle registered in a country participating in the “green card” system, you must present at the border a “green card” or international car insurance card.

How long does insurance in a country that participates in the green card system cover you in France?

Your foreign insurance can cover you during the period when you are entitled to use your car with its foreign plate, that is 6 months.

If you stay in France for more than 6 months, you will be considered a resident.

In this case, you will also be obliged to register your car and take out car insurance in France.

Other country

If you come to France with your vehicle registered in a country that is not a signatory to the multilateral agreement and does not participate in the “green card” system, your insurance cannot cover you.

You must take out special insurance called “border insurance”.

There is an exception for vehicles registered in a country outside the European Union and entering France from a member country of the European Union, or from the following countries: Holy See, San Marino and Monaco.

Border insurance covers you at least with the mandatory guarantee civil liability, i.e. for damage your vehicle may cause to others.

You can take out other optional guarantees.

Border insurance can be taken out for a period of 30 or 90 days, renewable only once.

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