This page was last updated on 17th February 2020. To the best of our knowledge, the information below is full and correct as of that date.
At 11pm on 31st January 2020, the UK formally left the European Union and entered into a transition period, which will last until at least 31st December 2020.
If you, or vehicles owned by you, plan to visit an EU country, you’re probably wondering how you’ll be affected. During the transition period, most things will remain the same, including travelling to and from the EU. So until the transition period ends, you won’t need to do anything differently. But if you have any questions, here’s what you need to know about your commercial motor insurance policy and travelling to Europe.
The UK government has also issued advice about the transition period.
Driving in the EU during the transition period
Will I still be able to use my Swiftcover van insurance to drive in EU member states during the transition period?
Yes. We’ll continue to provide the legal minimum motor insurance cover for travel to EU countries, as well as to some non-EU countries. So if you’re a UK motorist, you won’t need to buy an extra third-party motor insurance policy to travel to these countries with a UK-registered vehicle. In other words, you’ll have the same third-party cover that you do now.
If you need more than just the minimum third-party cover while driving abroad, we can also provide this. Depending on your policy, there may be an extra charge.
Do I need to tell Swiftcover if I plan to drive in an EU member state during the transition period?
Yes. Although your van policy will automatically give you the minimum legal cover needed to be able to drive in the EU, if you contact us before travelling we can extend this to provide your normal level of policy cover for up to 93 days in total during any single period of insurance.
Will I need to display a GB sticker on my van?
Yes. When travelling in any EU country, as GB sticker must be displayed on cars that are registered in all parts of the UK (including Northern Ireland). Find out more about flags, symbols and identifiers on the Government website.
Documents you’ll need
Are there any documents that I’ll need to take with me if I’m planning to drive in an EU member state during the transition period?
Yes – if you’re planning to drive to an EU member state during the transition period, you’ll only need to carry your certificate of motor insurance with you. A green card won’t be required. If you are planning to travel somewhere outside of the EU, or your trip is likely to extend beyond the end of the transition period, please call us on 0330 159 1515 before you travel.
Do I need to let Swiftcover know which countries I’ll be visiting? Do the rules vary depending on the country I plan to travel to?
If you are looking to have more than the minimum legal cover to drive in the country you are visiting, you’ll need to let us know details about your trip before you leave.
If you plan on travelling to any country which is not in the EU, then you will need to let us know about this before you leave so that we can let you know if we are able to provide any cover for your trip. We can discuss this with you in more detail when you contact us to tell us about your journey.
Do I need to carry any other additional documents if I’m driving with a trailer?
The situation for trailers is the same as for your van; therefore you won’t need a green card for any trailer while travelling in the EU during the transition period. However, depending on the size and type of trailer, you might need to register it with the DVLA first, so they can issue a separate registration number for it before you travel outside of the UK. Find out more on the DVLA website.
Accidents while driving abroad
What happens if I’m involved in an accident abroad and I might be wholly or partly responsible? Should I contact Swiftcover?
Remember to ask for the insurance details of any other drivers involved and gather as much evidence as you can, including taking photos if possible.
Will this guidance change?
Lots of decisions around Brexit will continue to be finalised during the transition period, and as a result, our guidance could change. We’ll continue to update this page as the situation develops – so check back for the most up-to-date advice. However, please bear in mind that it may take time for us to reassess how political decisions will affect our customers.