Validity of RCA Insurance Abroad

More and more Romanians are choosing to travel abroad by their own car, whether for a holiday, a city break, or a work-related trip outside Romania.

Before setting off, every driver should check the validity of the RCA insurance abroad to make sure the policy they have purchased is covered in the destination country and in any countries they will transit through.

It is important to note first of all that when someone takes out car insurance, the Green Card is issued automatically as well. This means the insurer will cover damages caused by you abroad, within the territorial limits of the policy.

Read on to find out what the territorial coverage of RCA insurance looks like for each insurer, what you should check before driving abroad, and what to do if you are involved in an accident outside the country.

The Green Card and RCA insurance

The RCA Green Card is an international insurance certificate that proves the owner, user, or driver of the vehicle for which it was issued is insured abroad for civil liability arising from damage caused by that vehicle, in accordance with the laws of each country where the policy is valid.

A Green Card insurance document may be valid only in the territories of the states whose National Bureaus are members of the Green Card System. All of these countries, together with their official abbreviations, can be found on the back side of every RCA policy, on page 2.

Also on page 2 of every RCA policy you will find the addresses and contact details, including telephone numbers, of the Insurance Bureau in each member country of the Green Card system. These are also available on the website www.cobx.org.

A Green Card RCA policy is valid in the countries whose symbols are not crossed out or marked with an X on your RCA insurance form. Below, we present the territorial validity of each insurer that sells RCA policies in Romania.

Where RCA insurance is not valid

According to European rules on free movement, any RCA policy issued in Romania by an insurer authorised by the Financial Supervisory Authority is valid and effective in every European Union member state and in the European Economic Area.

For countries outside the European Union, RCA coverage is provided through the Green Card system. This is an international insurance document certifying that the vehicle is covered by civil liability insurance.

All RCA policies issued in Romania include a Green Card, which covers a large number of non-EU countries. The full list of countries included in the Green Card system can also be checked on the website of the Romanian Motor Insurers’ Bureau (BAAR).

List of countries in the Green Card system: Austria, Albania, Andorra, Azerbaijan, Belgium, Bulgaria, Bosnia and Herzegovina, Belarus, Switzerland, Cyprus, Czech Republic, Germany, Denmark, Spain, Estonia, France, Finland, Great Britain, Greece, Hungary, Croatia, Italy, Israel, Iran, Ireland, Iceland, Luxembourg, Lithuania, Latvia, Malta, Morocco, Moldova, North Macedonia, Montenegro, Norway, the Netherlands, Portugal, Poland, Romania, Russia, Sweden, Serbia, Slovakia, Slovenia, Tunisia, Turkey, Ukraine.

To check whether the country you are travelling to, or simply transiting through, is covered by your RCA policy, look at the Green Card document—the top section of the RCA policy you receive—and see whether that country is marked with an X.

The countries covered by the Green Card vary from one insurer to another, which is why it is important to check your own policy and identify the countries where coverage does not apply.

Validity of Groupama RCA insurance abroad

Groupama’s RCA insurance is valid in most Green Card member countries, except for Belarus, Iran, and Russia. If you plan to travel to any of these countries, contact Groupama to request an endorsement to your RCA policy.

In practical terms, if you have a Groupama RCA policy, check the countries marked with an X at the top of the policy; these are the places where the policy has no territorial coverage. Below is an excerpt from a Groupama RCA policy:

Groupama’s RCA policy therefore covers almost all countries you are likely to visit and is an excellent choice for your car if you travel abroad, especially since Groupama often offers one of the cheapest RCA options.

Because Groupama frequently offers the lowest price for a one-month policy, some drivers worry that one-month insurance might not be accepted in certain countries. That is false. The duration of the policy does not matter as long as the Green Card is valid, it is accepted.

Validity of Allianz RCA insurance abroad

Just like Groupama, Allianz RCA insurance covers almost all Green Card member countries, except Belarus, Iran, and Russia. If you intend to travel to those countries, contact Allianz to request an endorsement to your RCA policy.

It is therefore clear: if you have an Allianz RCA policy, check the top section of the policy and you will find the countries not covered marked with an X. Below is an excerpt from an Allianz RCA policy:

When it comes to Allianz, many drivers consider it one of the most reliable insurers for car insurance, which makes it a strong option if you are travelling abroad.

Given Allianz’s reputation and the positive reviews received from customers, it is worth considering RCA with direct settlement if you choose this insurer.

Validity of Omniasig RCA insurance abroad

Omniasig does not place a strong emphasis on RCA policies, and its territorial coverage is somewhat more limited than that of other insurers. The countries not covered by Omniasig RCA insurance are: Belarus, Iran, Morocco, Republic of Moldova, North Macedonia, Russia, Tunisia, Turkey, and Ukraine.

Accordingly, on the RCA policy issued by Omniasig, you will find the excluded countries marked with an X in the top-left corner, as shown in the excerpt below from an Omniasig RCA policy:

If you plan to travel to one or more of the excluded countries, Omniasig can issue an endorsement to your RCA policy so you can drive there without problems.

Validity of Generali RCA insurance abroad

Although it does not have a large RCA customer base, Generali is regarded as a quality insurer, and the countries not covered by Generali RCA insurance are Azerbaijan, Belarus, Israel, Iran, and Russia. If needed, Generali can also issue an endorsement to your RCA policy.

Before setting off, check your Generali RCA policy to see whether the countries you are travelling through are marked with an X, because the car insurance does not apply there. Below is an excerpt from a Generali policy:

More and more drivers see Generali as a very serious insurer, so it can be a good option for RCA coverage, especially because its territorial coverage is broad.

Validity of Asirom RCA insurance abroad

Asirom does not yet hold a major share of the RCA market, but few people know that an Asirom RCA policy covers almost all Green Card member countries, with the exception of Belarus and Russia, countries you are unlikely to travel to.

You can verify this information on your own Asirom RCA policy in the top-left section, where the countries not covered by your policy are marked with an X, as shown in the excerpt below:

If you often travel abroad by car, Asirom RCA may be a suitable choice. The company is known as reliable and its territorial coverage is almost complete.

Validity of Hellas Direct RCA insurance abroad

Hellas Direct is a company that has only recently started selling RCA policies in Romania, but it should be noted that Hellas Direct RCA insurance has no territorial coverage in the following countries: Belarus, Israel, Iran, Russia, Tunisia, and Ukraine.

It is easy to check the territorial coverage of your Hellas Direct RCA policy directly on the document itself, where the uncovered countries are marked with an X, as shown in the excerpt from a Hellas Direct policy below:

It is worth noting that Hellas Direct RCA insurance is valid in North Macedonia, a country often transited by Romanians on their way to Greece, so you may want to consider buying a cheap RCA policy from Hellas Direct even if you are going on holiday in Greece.

Validity of Grawe RCA insurance abroad

When it comes to Grawe, many people associate it with life insurance or insurance for trailers and tractors. It is important to know that Grawe RCA insurance is not valid in the following countries: Azerbaijan, Belarus, Iran, Morocco, Russia, and Tunisia.

If you have Grawe RCA insurance and are about to leave the country by car, check section 8 of the policy to see which countries are excluded. Below you can see this section in an excerpt from a Grawe RCA policy:

Most common travel destinations are covered by Grawe RCA. If you are planning to travel to any of the excluded countries, you can request and receive an endorsement to your RCA policy from Grawe.

Validity of Axeria RCA insurance abroad

Axeria Asigurari is also a relatively new company on the Romanian market, but it has already gained a significant share. Drivers with Axeria RCA insurance should know that their policy does not cover the following countries: Belarus, Iran, Morocco, North Macedonia, Russia, and Tunisia.

It is easy to check which countries are excluded by an Axeria RCA policy in section 8 of the policy, where the uncovered states are marked with an X, as you can see in the excerpt from an Axeria policy below:

It is well known that in many cases Axeria RCA is among the cheapest on the market, but customers must pay attention to the countries it does not cover, especially since it does not cover North Macedonia, a country frequently transited by Romanians on the way to Greece and one for which they will need an endorsement issued by Axeria.

Validity of Eazy Asigurari RCA insurance abroad

Eazy Insure started issuing RCA policies in Romania on 11 July 2024 and has already gained a good market share. Drivers with Eazy Insure RCA insurance should know that their policy does not cover the following countries: Azerbaijan, Belarus, Iran, Russia, and Ukraine.

It is easy to check which countries are excluded by an Eazy Asigurari RCA policy in section 8 of the policy, where the uncovered states are marked with an X, as you can see in the excerpt from an Eazy Insure policy below:

As you can clearly see, Eazy Insure covers all the destinations you might travel to, whether for tourism, business, or work. If you do plan to travel to any of the excluded states, you must contact Eazy Asigurari to request an endorsement to the RCA policy.

Validity of DallBogg RCA insurance abroad

DallBogg is the newest insurance company selling RCA policies in Romania, having started on 20 November 2024. Drivers with DallBogg RCA insurance should know that their policy does not cover the following countries: Belarus, Israel, Iran, Morocco, Russia, Tunisia, and Ukraine.

It is easy to check which countries are excluded by a DallBogg RCA policy in section 8 of the policy, where the uncovered states are marked with an X, as you can see in the excerpt from a DallBogg policy below:

The countries most frequently visited by Romanians are covered by DallBogg RCA, with only a few exceptions. If you plan to travel by car to any of the excluded countries, you will need to request an endorsement to your RCA policy from DallBogg.

What to do if you travel abroad by car

If you are about to travel outside Romania by car, there are a few recommendations that can help you have a trouble-free journey, whether it is a holiday, a vacation, a city break, a business trip, or any other personal reason.

1. Check your car’s RCA insurance

This is probably the first and most important step if you are planning to drive out of Romania, and it means checking the validity of your RCA policy.

In practice, you need to make sure the RCA policy is valid for the entire period you will be abroad and that it covers the country or countries through which you will travel.

If your RCA policy does not cover the destination country or transit country, you can either contact the insurer to issue an endorsement to the policy or take out a different RCA policy from an insurer whose coverage includes that country.

If you choose the second option, or if your RCA policy expires before your trip ends, we recommend taking out a new policy using the best online insurance comparison tool, which can be accessed with one click HERE or through the banner below.

Buying RCA insurance online on asignet.ro is extremely simple and fast. Once you have confirmed that your policy is valid and covers the countries you will transit through, you should also check whether the car has a valid periodic technical inspection (ITP).

2. Check the other travel documents

The RCA Green Card is not the only document you need when travelling abroad by car. You should also make sure you have the vehicle’s registration certificate, your driving licence, and the vehicle registration card (CIV) with you.

You should also check that these documents are still valid, especially the driving licence, whose expiry date has caught many drivers by surprise because they simply forgot to check it.

As travel documents, you should also verify the validity of your passport or identity card, as well as whether the motorway vignette or road tolls have been paid for the countries you will be crossing.

3. Take out roadside assistance insurance

Many Romanian tourists travelling abroad by car have faced technical problems or minor and not-so-minor accidents that made it impossible to continue the trip.

Whether it is a flat tyre, lost keys, minor mechanical faults, or even an accident that leaves the car immobilised, all of these can turn a trip into a nightmare.

Not everyone knows that such problems can be avoided if, before travelling abroad, you buy international roadside assistance insurance, which can help resolve these incidents quickly and without hassle.

It is important to know that such insurance is inexpensive and can be purchased exclusively online by accessing the insurance issuance platform with one click HERE or the button below.

Only people who have experienced road incidents or car breakdowns while travelling abroad truly understand the value of roadside assistance, which is why we recommend not leaving the country without such a policy in place.

4. Take out travel medical insurance

This recommendation is not limited to car trips abroad; it applies to any trip outside the country, regardless of the means of transport: private car, coach, plane, or ship.

Travel medical insurance covers all medical expenses—medical assistance, surgery, treatment, consultations, hospitalisation, and more—that you may need to pay if unexpected health problems or accidents occur during your trip.

Travel medical insurance abroad is not expensive, and it can be issued 100% online using the insurance platform, which you can access with one click HERE or via the button below.

Travel medical insurance is not only useful, but in our view it is a must-have. It is essential, costs very little, and can become crucial for your safety when travelling outside the country.

What to do in the event of a road accident abroad

If you are involved in a road accident abroad, the procedure is similar to the one in Romania: you must notify the local authorities and contact the insurance company so that a claim file can be opened.

It is important to obtain or provide, depending on who is at fault, all the necessary information from the other people involved in the accident and complete an amicable accident statement, either on paper or online.

Road accident abroad where the other vehicle is at fault

If you are involved in a road accident abroad and you are not at fault, while the other vehicle is responsible, you should follow these steps:

• Carefully complete all sections of the amicable accident report and make sure the other driver does the same, or wait for the competent authorities to draw up the official documents if local law requires it. For additional information, you can contact the national bureau of the country where the accident occurred (the contact details of the national bureaus can be found on the back of the Green Card document);
• In the documents prepared (amicable report or official report), the vehicle registration number, make, model, and colour must be explicitly stated, along with the number/series of the Green Card insurance document, if one exists, its validity period, and the insurance company. If the “at-fault” vehicle is a tractor unit with trailer/semi-trailer, make sure the tractor unit’s identification details and insurance document are included first;
• Request a copy of, and/or take a photo of, the insurance document of the “at-fault” vehicle;
• It is recommended that you take photos of the accident scene, your vehicle and the “at-fault” vehicle, road signs, the street, the intersection, and the position of the vehicles involved in the accident, as well as the documents of the other people/vehicles involved, such as identity documents for the driver and/or vehicle (personal ID card, passport, driving licence of the drivers, registration certificates, RCA/Green Card insurance documents, etc.). Make sure that at least one photo shows the registration number of the “at-fault” vehicle (and обязательно the tractor unit, if applicable);
• If the “at-fault” vehicle is registered in the state where the accident occurred, you may address the RCA insurer of that vehicle to settle the claim, or BAAR after returning to Romania (if your vehicle is drivable) if the state where the accident occurred is part of the European Economic Area;
• If the “at-fault” vehicle is registered in a different country from the one where the accident occurred, you may address the National Bureau in the country where the accident happened to settle the claim, or BAAR after returning to Romania (if your vehicle is drivable) if the accident occurred in an EEA state and the “at-fault” vehicle is registered in one of these states;
• If your car is no longer drivable, use your CASCO insurance (if you have one) or your roadside assistance insurance.

Keep these recommendations in mind, and if you find yourself the victim of a road accident that was not your fault, act according to the steps above.

Road accident abroad where you are at fault

Unfortunately, this can also happen when travelling abroad by car: you may be found responsible for causing a road accident. In that case, follow the steps below.

• Carefully complete all sections of the amicable accident statement or wait for the competent authorities to draw up the official documents if local law requires it;
• Give the other driver a copy of your Green Card insurance document, your vehicle registration certificate, your driving licence, your identity document, and so on;
• Notify your insurer as soon as possible about the accident and follow its instructions;
• If your car is no longer drivable, use your CASCO insurance (if you have one) or your roadside assistance insurance.

Keep the recommendations above in mind if you ever find yourself at fault in a road accident while travelling outside Romania.

Final thoughts on RCA insurance validity abroad

The validity of RCA insurance abroad is essential for a trouble-free trip and for avoiding the unpleasant financial consequences of a fine or, worse, an accident.

By carefully checking your RCA policy as recommended in this article and, if necessary, obtaining endorsements to the policy, Romanian drivers can enjoy safer and better protected trips outside the country.

In addition, checking the rest of your vehicle documents and taking out supplementary policies such as roadside assistance insurance and travel medical insurance are other essential steps for a stress-free trip abroad.

Knowing what to do in the event of a road accident abroad, whether you are at fault or not, is information that can be very useful when you are travelling by car outside Romania.

One very important point: if you have recently bought a car and taken out an insurance policy for registration purposes, you should know that it does not include a Green Card, and all countries will be marked with X, so you will not be able to leave the country with it.

You must send the registration certificate, or the substitute proof of registration certificate, to the insurer so that the policy can be updated and the Green Card coverage added for the countries you intend to visit.

Important! For all the insurance products mentioned in this article that you may need when travelling abroad by car, we provide an online insurance platform (click HERE or the banner) with a price comparison tool for each type of insurance.

Online insurance calculators are intuitive and very easy to use. You can quickly obtain price offers for the policies you need, pay online by bank card, and receive the policies instantly in PDF format.

What is more, we offer a 24/7 WhatsApp button that you can use to obtain any information you need or to get help with quotes and policy issuance if you are having trouble.