A crash in another country involves safety, local law and an insurance process at once. The most useful preparation is a document pack and sequence you can follow without relying on memory under stress.
The law of the country where the accident occurs applies. This is a practical guide, not legal or insurance advice.
Three-stage plan
- Before travel: Check cover, contacts and forms · At the scene: Seek help and collect facts · Afterwards: Notify the insurer and follow its procedure
Before the trip
1. Separate compulsory from optional insurance
Third-party insurance issued in one EU country is valid in the other EU countries for injury or property damage caused to others. It does not automatically cover your own car or the driver’s injuries.
Optional cover has no single EU-wide rulebook. Check territory, duration, exclusions, excess, roadside assistance and claim steps directly with your insurer.
2. Keep a pack in the car
Carry policy and registration details, claim and roadside-assistance contacts, and a European Accident Statement if your insurer supplies one. Save a phone copy and an overseas number that works without an app.
3. Check local procedure
Establish when police must be called and what applies to injuries, disagreement, a foreign vehicle or an immobilised car. Use 112 for immediate danger or injuries.
At the scene
4. Do not leave prematurely
Stop and assess safety. Contact police and/or emergency services when required by circumstances and local rules.
5. Collect the facts
Record date and place; injuries, damage and witnesses; the other driver’s name and contacts; insurer and policy; registration number, country, make and model; police details and circumstances. Take photographs when safe and permitted.
6. Complete the statement carefully
The common form helps collect consistent data but does not decide liability. Sign only what you understand and what reflects the facts. Do not admit liability. Record disagreement and allow evidence to be assessed through the applicable process.
After the accident
7. Notify the insurer
Follow the policy deadline and channel. Supply the statement, photographs, witness details, police record and requested material. Keep copies and the claim reference.
8. Use the appropriate claim route
If you were not at fault, a claim may be made in the country of the accident or after returning home through the at-fault driver’s insurer’s representative where applicable. Your insurer and national Green Card bureau can guide the procedure.
Glove-box checklist
- [ ] Policy and overseas claim contacts.
- [ ] Registration details.
- [ ] European Accident Statement.
- [ ] Roadside-assistance number.
- [ ] Offline note with local steps.
- [ ] A way to photograph and record witnesses.
- [ ] Copies stored separately.
The key principle
Protect people and comply with local rules first; then collect facts without improvising admissions or signatures.
