Can I drive my UK-registered car in Spain on my normal insurance?

Your UK policy usually includes the legal minimum cover for EU travel, which is often third-party only and limited to a set number of days per trip. For longer stays or living in Spain, you need a dedicated European motor policy that gives you full cover.

Do I need a Green Card to drive in Spain?

No. Since May 2022 UK drivers no longer need a Green Card to drive in Spain or any other EU country. Your insurance certificate is sufficient. If you are driving on into a country that still requires one, we can issue a Green Card for you.

Can I insure a UK car in Spain if I live there full-time?

Yes. We arrange motor insurance for UK nationals living in Spain who have kept a UK-registered vehicle. Standard UK insurance is not designed for residents of another country, so an expat policy is the correct cover.

What equipment do I legally need to carry when driving in Spain?

Spain requires a warning triangle, a reflective jacket kept inside the car, and a spare set of bulbs. If you wear glasses to drive you must carry a spare pair. Police can issue on-the-spot fines for missing items.

European Motor Insurance for UK Vehicles in Germany

Most UK policies only include the legal minimum for EU travel, which is usually Third Party cover and often capped at 90 days in a year. If you are living in Germany, working there for a season, or keeping a UK-registered car there long-term, that leaves you underinsured the moment you settle in.

Stuart Collins & Co has arranged specialist European motor insurance since 1969. We cover UK-registered vehicles used in Germany for extended periods, with your comprehensive cover staying comprehensive on the other side of the Channel.

Who this is for

UK nationals living in or relocating to Germany with a UK-registered vehicle
Ex-pats and dual residents who keep a car on UK plates
People working a contract or season in Germany who drive out in their own car
Anyone whose standard UK policy runs out of EU cover after 90 days

If you keep your car on UK registration and spend real time in Germany, a standard policy will not stretch to it. Ours will.

Driving in Germany: what to know

Germany is straightforward to drive in, but a few requirements catch UK drivers out:

Winter tyres. Germany operates a situational winter-tyre rule. In wintry conditions (ice, snow or slush) your car must be fitted with proper winter tyres carrying the Alpine “3PMSF” snowflake symbol. Driving on summer tyres in those conditions is an offence and can invalidate a claim.
Low emission zones (Umweltzonen). Most major cities, including Berlin, Munich, Frankfurt, Cologne and Stuttgart, are low emission zones. You need a green environmental sticker (Umweltplakette) displayed on the windscreen to enter. UK cars can buy one; without it you risk a fine.
UK identifier. Your car must display a “UK” sticker or number-plate identifier when driven abroad.
Right-hand-drive headlamps. Fit beam deflectors so your headlights do not dazzle oncoming traffic.
Carry the kit. A warning triangle, high-visibility vest and first-aid kit are required by law.
No car tolls. Unlike Austria and Switzerland, Germany does not charge cars to use its autobahns, so you do not need a vignette. On derestricted autobahn stretches there is no fixed speed limit, though a 130 km/h advisory applies and limits are common.

Do you need a Green Card for Germany?

Since 2021 a Green Card is no longer legally required to drive a UK-registered vehicle in Germany or the wider EU. You do not need one to be legal.

We include an Annual Green Card with every policy anyway. It is recognised proof that your cover meets the requirements, it is accepted across the countries we cover, and it saves you carrying paperwork or explaining your policy at the roadside. It costs you nothing extra.

Why use an FCA-regulated broker

Comparison sites are built for standard UK cover and cannot arrange long-term European motor insurance. We can, because it is all we do.

Stuart Collins & Co is authorised and regulated by the Financial Conduct Authority (firm reference 1013445). Every quote is reviewed by a person, not a machine, so the cover you get actually fits how and where you drive. We have done this since 1969.