How to Read Your Green Card: Vehicle Details, Validity Dates and Country Codes

The green card is an international document that replaces the compulsory traffic insurance of the country you visit, as long as that country is a member of the Green Card system. It follows a standard layout so that officials in different countries can read it easily. Seen for the first time, though, its boxes, abbreviations and codes can be confusing. This guide goes through the document section by section, so you can check it yourself the moment you receive it.

Colour and format

Despite the name, the document is not always green today; in many cases a version printed on white paper can be used. What matters is the content and that the insurer has issued it properly. Still, confirm current requirements for printed documents with official sources and your agency.

Validity dates

Near the top you will see the period of validity: the date from which and the date until which the card is valid. When checking, look at the following:

• The start date must not be later than the day you leave Türkiye.
• The end date must cover the day you cross back into Türkiye.
• Read the day and month in the right order; the date format may look different from what you are used to.

If a date is wrong, have it corrected before you leave. The same area also shows the card number and a code for the issuing country; on cards issued in Türkiye this code refers to Türkiye. The card number is the most important detail you will give the other party and the authorities after an accident abroad, so make sure it is clearly printed.

Vehicle and policyholder details

The card identifies the vehicle, and these details must match your vehicle registration document (ruhsat) exactly:

1. Plate number: check every letter and digit against the ruhsat. A single wrong character can raise questions at the border.
2. Vehicle category: a category code shows the type of vehicle. Cars, motorcycles and towing vehicles, for example, are shown with different codes. Make sure yours is correct.
3. Make: the make of the vehicle is shown.
4. Policyholder’s name and address: if the car belongs to a company, the company name appears here, which is normal.
5. Insurer details: the name and contact details of the issuing insurer, which you will need after an accident.

If you bought the car recently or the ruhsat was reissued, check that the card was issued with the current registration details.

Country codes and excluded countries

The most important part is the list of countries. Member countries of the Green Card system appear as boxes marked with international vehicle registration codes; for example, Germany is shown as D, Greece as GR and Bulgaria as BG.

Countries where the card is not valid are usually shown with the box crossed out or clearly marked as cancelled. So a country appearing on the list is not enough on its own; its box must not be cancelled. When checking:

• Find the code of your destination and make sure it is not crossed out.
• Check every transit country on your route, one by one.
• If you do not recognise a code, ask your agency rather than guessing. Codes often come from the country’s name in its own language, so they are not always obvious.

Membership of the system and a country’s status on the card can change over time. Confirm current requirements with official sources and your agency.

A five-minute check and how to store the card

1. Compare the start and end dates with your travel plan.
2. Compare the plate with the ruhsat, character by character.
3. Check that the vehicle category matches your vehicle.
4. Check the policyholder’s name and address.
5. Check the box of every country on your route.
6. Save the card number and the insurer’s contact details on your phone.

Keep the card in the car, next to the ruhsat, where you can reach it easily. A copy on your phone is handy, but a printed document may be requested at checks. A photo of the card is also useful if you need to share its details after an accident.

Scenario: a family road trip from Maslak

A family living in Maslak plans to drive through several Balkan countries. When they receive the card, they check the dates first, then the plate, and finally the box of every country on the route. Unsure about one country, they call their agency and settle the question before leaving. Five minutes of checking saves what could have been hours of uncertainty at the border.

To get a green card or have us check your current one, visit our Maslak green card insurance page. For transit routes, read green card valid countries and the transit trap.

Not sure about something on your card? Send us a photo and we will check it together, in English. Call +90 530 375 89 61 or message us on WhatsApp.