Balkans car insurance
The one region where the covered / not covered line runs through the middle. Here is the country-by-country table, before you set off.
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Country by country
| Country | Status | Driving there | Its registration document |
|---|---|---|---|
| Slovenia | European Union | Covered | Accepted |
| Croatia | European Union | Covered | Accepted |
| Bulgaria | European Union | Covered | Accepted |
| Romania | European Union | Covered | Refused |
| Greece | European Union | Covered | Accepted |
| Bosnia and Herzegovina | Outside the EU, on the green card | Covered | No — border insurance |
| Montenegro | Outside the EU, on the green card | Covered | No — border insurance |
| Serbia | Outside the EU, on the green card | Covered except Kosovo | No — border insurance |
| Kosovo | Excluded | Not covered | No — border insurance |
| Albania | Outside the scope | Not covered | No — border insurance |
| North Macedonia | Outside the scope | Not covered | No — border insurance |
Kosovo: the routing trap
This is the line that catches people out. Serbia is covered, Kosovo is excluded — and the exclusion is printed on the green card issued at inception. In practice: Paris to Belgrade is covered throughout, but if your route continues to Pristina the cover stops at the border post. Local insurance is then bought on entry, as in any territory outside the green card system.
The same applies to Albania and North Macedonia. If your final destination is Tirana or Skopje, say so before taking out cover: we will point you elsewhere rather than sell you something that stops halfway.
Routes from France
| Route | Countries crossed | On the green card ? |
|---|---|---|
| Via Austria | Germany or Switzerland, Austria, Slovenia, Croatia | Yes, throughout |
| Via Italy and the ferry | Italy to Ancona, Bari or Trieste, then Croatia or Montenegro | Yes — the crossing itself is the carrier s |
| Via Hungary | Germany, Austria, Hungary, Serbia | Yes, Serbia included |
| On to Kosovo, Albania or North Macedonia | — | No on the final leg |
Allow two days' driving to Zagreb, three to Belgrade or Podgorica. As with any long delivery run, take a longer policy than the theoretical journey: 7 days rather than 3. The price difference is small, and a wait at the Serbian border is enough to overrun a tight one.
Coming the other way, into France
Licences from the region — and Moldova
- Slovenian, Croatian, Bulgarian, Romanian, Greek licences: EU licences, accepted with no condition and no prior exchange, from two years' experience.
- Serbian, Bosnian, Montenegrin, Albanian, Macedonian, Kosovar, Moldovan licences: non-EU, accepted with a valid residence permit or a passport carrying entry stamps.
- An International Driving Permit is not required for insurance — it is a translation, not a licence.
Moldova is not on the green card, so you cannot drive there on this policy. But a Moldovan living in France, at the wheel of a French-registered car, is perfectly insurable: it is the country of the registration document that counts, not the driver's nationality.
Not sure ? Message us on WhatsApp, +33 6 49 26 74 62 — we check before you pay.
See also: transit insurance · registering a car in France · See also: living in France with a foreign licence · See also: Imported vehicle · Released from the pound · Registration (carte grise)
Frequently asked questions
Which Balkan countries are covered ?
Slovenia, Croatia, Bulgaria, Romania and Greece as EU members; Bosnia and Herzegovina, Montenegro and Serbia through the green card. Albania, North Macedonia and Kosovo are not covered.
Is Kosovo covered ?
No. Serbia is covered but Kosovo is expressly excluded, and the exclusion is printed on the green card issued at inception. Local insurance is bought at the border post.
Can I drive to Belgrade on a short-term policy ?
Yes, subject to your green card. Serbia is on it, as are the countries crossed on the way: Germany, Austria and Hungary, or Italy, Slovenia and Croatia depending on the route.
What about Tirana or Skopje ?
This policy covers neither Albania nor North Macedonia. The road to the border is covered, driving there is not. Tell us your destination before taking out cover.
My car is registered in Serbia. Can you insure it ?
Not on ordinary short-term insurance: Serbia is outside the European Union. Border insurance applies instead, for 30 or 90 days, cars and vans only.
I hold a Serbian, Bosnian or Moldovan licence. Is it accepted ?
Yes, with a valid residence permit or a passport carrying entry stamps. Slovenian, Croatian, Bulgarian, Romanian and Greek licences are EU licences and are accepted with no further condition.
Is Moldova covered ?
No, you cannot drive there on this policy. A Moldovan driver living in France with a French-registered car is insurable normally: what counts is the country of the registration document, not nationality.
Is the ferry from Italy to Croatia or Montenegro covered ?
The crossing is the shipping line's responsibility, not the motor policy's. The drive to the Italian port and the drive after landing are covered, since Italy, Croatia and Montenegro are all on the green card.