Way to Russia Talk Lounge

chrisrein · Frequent Guest Joined: 19 Nov 2006 Posts: 35

It appears that since January 2009 it is no longer necessary to buy a special car insurance for Russia!!

For more information, you have to call your own insurance company, as not every insurance already covers Russia, and it is necessary that Russia is on your Green Card!

Does anyone have more news on this? I got the info from the Dutch transportation Agency EVO (See below)

Regards,

Christian

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Groene kaart nu ook geldig in Rusland

De groene kaart was nooit geldig in Rusland. Aan de Russische grens moest de vervoerder een groene kaart kopen, waarmee een aansprakelijkheidsverzekering voor dat land werd afgesloten. De kaarten kon u soms in Nederland kopen.

Aan deze situatie is begin van dit jaar een eind gekomen. Uw groene kaart wordt ook in Rusland geaccepteerd. Voorwaarde is dat uw polis ook in dat land geldig is en dat Rusland is toegevoegd aan de landen die op uw groene kaart zijn vermeld.

Lang niet iedere verzekeringsmaatschappij is bereid om de dekking uit te breiden. U moet contact opnemen met uw verzekeringsmaatschappij als u voor Rusland een groene kaart nodig heeft.

EVO-nieuws 29.01.09

DITTRICH · Posted: Sat Feb 14, 2009 10:45 pm Post subject: Green Card

Dear Christian,
Staggeringly Good News - I'm going to check this out with my insurance company next week and report back. Now if the Russians could just simplify the "vremmeni vosd" documents...and the visa registration...
Regards
Les

Yorkshire Traveller · Just Starting Joined: 15 Oct 2006 Posts: 6

Unfortunately just because Russia now accepts the 'Green Card' it doesn't automatically mean that your insurer will endorse your 'Green Card' for Russia.

My hopes were raised when I heard this - as it would mean that we could complete a trip by motorhome via Tallinn - St. Petersburg - Helsinki that we planned a few years back.

I contacted our motorhome insurers who advised that although Russia was indeed now part of the 'Green Card' system they would not endorse a UK issued 'Green Card' for Russia as they did not (yet) have the infrastructure in Russia to support customers should an accident happen.

Nigel.

DITTRICH · Posted: Mon Feb 23, 2009 6:49 pm Post subject:

Based on my research, the MIB is listed as the agent for a whole host of russian insurance companies who issue green cards to russians going to europe on holiday in russian registered and insured cars. I phoned "directline" today and their "computer" doesn't yet support russia but after some time on hold I was informed that they will "probably" add russia in a few weeks. Clearly, if the russians can go to the UK on green cards, then the "infrastructure" must exist? No? Anyway I will wait around 2 months and call again.
Les

CamelDan · Posted: Thu May 14, 2009 3:27 pm Post subject: Any Updates

Hi there,
I was wondering if there were any updated to this. We are due to drive to Russia from the UK next week and we thought we had everything planned and in place and would be able to buy our insurance before or at the border. We will be travelling from Helsinki to St Petersburg.
My UK insurance company so far have been unable to confirm if Russia is listed as a country that has made arrangements to meet the
requirements of Article 7 (2) of the EU Directive on insurance of civil liabilities arising from the use of motor vehicles (no. 72/166/CEE).

So.... does this mean that we NEED to have a UK endorsed green card or can insurance still be bought before the border?

Many thanks

Dan

DITTRICH · Posted: Thu May 14, 2009 8:41 pm Post subject:

Dear Mr CamelDan,
Unless the green card has the code "RUS" on it then its not valid for Russia.
I use directline and when I called a month ago they hadn't updated their systems. The green card company called the "Council of Bureaux" has actually admitted Russia to the scheme and Russians can buy green cards and travel to europe. European insurance companies have been slower to do the reverse. On the Council of Bureaux Website there is an updated format for the green card showing "RUS" on it.
If your green card has these magic letters you will be fine else you will have to buy insurance at the Finland Border.
Insurance can be bought at the border though naturally better to cross during working hours to be sure.
See my posts about travelling to Russia from Finland...there is alot of valid information there from me and others.
If you buy insurance at the border, better on the Finland side for EUR cash. You will need to google precisely where - at the border station or at the last "rest area" before. You will need to buy some roubles for the paperwork fees for the car and also to fill up with cheap russian fuel after you cross over. Credit cards can be used in some Russian service stations but cash is king.
Any questions just ask again.
I used Nuijamaa in 2005 on my way from London to Moscow 2,925 miles.
Regards
Les

CamelDan · Posted: Thu May 14, 2009 11:35 pm Post subject:

Hi Les,
Thanks for the quick response. It's all a bit of a panic here at Camel Towers! Rolling Eyes

We've been planning and prepping for this trip for about 9 months and its only now that we have found out the border crossing insurance offices have been closed. Unfortunately my UK insurance company, the NFU are unsure as to whether or not their green cards cover Russia.
Would you happen to know if you can still buy insurance at the petrol stations before the border? We plan to cross over at Vaalimaa on the E18 and know that you you used to be able to buy insurance at the filling station there.
Thanks again Smile

Dan

DITTRICH · Posted: Fri May 15, 2009 2:39 pm Post subject:

I just had a very long conversation with Directline.
They don't currently offer green cards valid for Russia.
I now have to write to them with a "request" to have it added into their system. Basically their computer can't quote for it so they can't sell it to me. I said I'd have to find an insurer that could! ie move my insurance. Actually the lady I spoke to was very helpful and called the underwriters and there was a big discussion.
But I digress.
Russia is in the scheme but until the UK insurance companies get their act together, we're stuffed.
I don't know if the petrol stations still sell insurance.

http://www.autokorjaus.fi/asp/system/empty.asp?P=1297&VID=default&SID=588355595164603&S=1&C=19192

Get in touch with the above people in Finland. Ask them if they can arrange something. Finland, being next to Russia and loads of Finns drive into Russia. They must have solved the problem. But lots of calls and money required to find out. I think you may need to buy limited insurance and green card from Finnish Insuranace COmpany unless you can find a UK company to cover you. The Council of Bureaux website lists all Russian Insurers inside the scheme. Maybe they know someone who can arrange things in the UK. Unfortunately this is alot of work for you but you have no alternative.

Les

PS AKAIK russian requirements cover motor vehicles only and thus camels don't require insurance or temporary import certs!

DITTRICH · Posted: Fri May 15, 2009 2:57 pm Post subject:

http://www.horizonsunlimited.com/hubb/trip-paperwork/green-card-insurance-now-valid-40443#post241881

I left this query on the HUBB 2wheel site. Watch the thread for responses.
Keep us all informed of your progress.
Les

DITTRICH · Posted: Mon May 18, 2009 12:43 pm Post subject:

So far the following UK insurance companies cannot do a green card which covers Russia:-

1 Directline
2 Swiftcover (AXA)
3 The AA

If as CamelDan says the Russian Insurance Companies have really closed border insurance offices then UK car drivers are stuffed as no UK insurer will sell them a green card for Russia. Of course the Germans, Poles, Finns and so on are probably okay - I guess!

Les

CamelDan · Posted: Wed May 20, 2009 3:02 pm Post subject: Update to the Catch22 situation

Ok boys and girls, please note that what I am posting is not from experience... YET... and I have no evidence to back things up! It is only word-of-mouth.

Some Finnish friends of ours who went through the border 10 days ago say that the border offices are closed. However they probably weren't looking that hard as they don't need to buy their insurance at the border because their Green Card covers them in Russia... lucky so'n'so's. So it is quite possible that they just didn't see the office.

However, we have been in contact with a Russian chap, Yuri who is organising the event we are attending and he says that insurance IS still available at the border.
Another friend has also been in touch with the Green card association in Russia, they assure us that insurance is still available at the border "just over the customs post"... which presents an interesting problem, how to buy the insurance if they won't let you in because you don't have insurance! Brick wall

Anyway, the latest is that the Torph’ianovka/Vaalimaa border crossing is open for business and a chap by the name of Ergo is happy to exchange relevant documents for cash, so at the moment all seems bright and sparkly!

I'll confirm the above when we have crossed over... if we cross over!

I can confirm that NFU insurance won't do a Green Card with "RUS" on it Sad

Hope this helps.

Dan

DITTRICH · Posted: Wed May 20, 2009 6:59 pm Post subject:

CamelDan,
Excellent Post and News
Les

DITTRICH · Posted: Thu May 21, 2009 12:46 pm Post subject:

I have now received further information from posts on another forum that the border insurance offices are still open for business. This information is also 2nd hand, but is consistent with CamelDan's information albeit for different border crossings...

https://www.realrussia.co.uk/forum/forums/thread-view.asp?tid=2333&posts=9&mid=22034#M22034

So breathe a gentle sigh of relief and carry on planning your trips.

Les

Tris · Just Starting Joined: 21 Jul 2009 Posts: 5 Location: Kent

I know your last message was awhile ago! However I'd just thought I'd ask.

I'm going to Kaliningrad in 2 weeks via Poland and just wanted to check if anyone knew if the border crossings still sold the Green Card Insurance for the car. Is it purchased before the border or at the border? I have heard Polish Fuel Stations sell them as well. Can anyone confirm?

Many thanks

Tristan

DITTRICH · Posted: Wed Jul 22, 2009 1:18 pm Post subject: Kaliningrad

Dear Tris,
I have not seen any information (yet) on this on this website or on the web in general.
I will be crossing Poland on my way to Russia round about 29/07/09 - 01/08/09 and will have the same uncertainty as you. Unfortunately, the whole green card change - something supposed to make things easier - has actually made them more uncertain.
All I can suggest is to keep trawling the internet. An idea would be to find a Polish travel agency selling trips to Kaliningrad and ask them about this. In 2005 I used a Finnish travel agency in exactly the same way to locate a shop where I could buy my car insurance at the russian border near St Petersberg.
Les