Wednesday 09 October 2019 6:45 pm | Updated: Thursday 10 October 2019 10:32 am

Majority of British drivers unaware of documents needed for no-deal Brexit

PASSAU, GERMANY – JANUARY 28: Cars arriving from Austria to Germany are queued in front of a police check point on the A3 highway near the border to Austria on a section used by arriving migrants and refugees on January 28, 2016 near Passau, Germany. The flow of migrants arriving in Passau has dropped to between 500 and 1,000 per day, down significantly from last November, when in the same region up to 6,000 migrants were arriving daily. German police only allows migrants to enter who say they will apply for asylum in Germany. Those who say they want to continue to other countries, such as Denmark or Sweden, are denied entry and brought back to Austria. (Photo by Johannes Simon/Getty Images)

Millions of British motorists are not aware they may be required to carry an insurance green card to drive in Europe after Brexit.

UK citizens driving in the EU will need the card in the case of a no-deal Brexit to prove they have third-party insurance.

However, Research commissioned by the British Insurance Brokers’ Association (BIBA) and the Association of British Insurers (ABI) showed 55 per cent people were unaware of this.

Strangely, the poll also showed that 20 per cent of people failed to recognise they needed a valid licence to drive in the EU.

Graeme Trudgill, Executive Director at BIBA said: “Since the 2016 referendum BIBA has raised with Government the difficulties of reverting to a green card system and the additional bureaucracy that drivers will have to face.

“This research confirms what we suspect – those driving to Europe could be caught unawares.”

Hugh Savill, Director of Regulation at the ABI, said that 400,000 green cards had been issued, but that was far from adequate.

He said it was particularly important for those travelling between Northern Ireland and Ireland to have sourced a green card.

Under current rules, UK licence holders are free to drive in other EU countries and proof of insurance.

The new scheme would force people to show proof of insurance through the green card or risk facing penalties and fines.

A DfT spokesperson said:

“ The Government has implemented a major campaign to ensure drivers have the correct documentation and are able to operate, trade and move as freely as possible between the UK and Europe.

“We are working closely with the insurance industry, including the Motor Insurers’ Bureau, the British Insurance Brokers’ Association and the Association of British Insurers, to ensure that motorists have the correct documentation when driving in Europe after exit day”.