Docs required driving in Italy with Swiss drivers license

Transportation, Travel and Trips
1
Hi all,

OK, I am kicking myself for not checking earlier, but I need to drive to Italy tomorrow (Sunday), but did not receive my Car Insurance doc from Generali. Yes I paid the premium on 01 Dec 2022 - i checked. i was too bust focussing on technical matters, like the winter tyres..

Logging online, I can only see the 2022 insurance doc, not the 2023 one. The portal says my insurance is active though. Nice green tick, whatever that signifies.

I also don't have a renewed International Insurance card - but I also read, on the Generali site, that this is not compulsory in Italy? So, I can (and have) requested this to be posted to my home address.

I tried to call them, but no weekend admin support, called the 24hr claims line, but they cannot help except to confirm what the website says (I appear active) and there is no on-call on weekends.

I looked online for help, but most English articles are for US and UK drivers, which have different requirements like IDP, etc.

Can anyone confirm, what UK citizen, but with Swiss driver's license, needs to drive in Italy? I have had the car for a while, so yes, I have the Farzeugausweis in the car, at least that doesn't have an expiry date on it!

regards,

Slay

2

From https://www.allianz.ch/de/privatkund…ne-karte.html:

So this still leaves some ambiguity for you unfortunately.

If you travel anyway and you will be in Italy for several days - consider asking to send you a pdf via email instead (at least with my insurance it was an option), so you will print it when it arrives during you trip and will put your mind at ease

3

Your citcenship is absolutely irrelevant. Your driving licenses is also irrelevant (as long as it is valid in Italy)

If it is a Swiss car, with Swiss license plate, than all you need is the license plate and the car registration paper (gray card). The insurance details can be found on the car registration paper. The green card, which this days can even be printed on white paper, is optional in the EU/EFTA countries.

See information from the Swiss National Bureau of Insurance (they handle international claims): https://www.nbi-ngf.ch/en/nvb/dokume…eltungsbereich

Green cards from Swiss insurances are usually valid for 5 years. You properly find it as part of your 2022 documents.

Be aware that if you are a resident in an EU country, you cannot simply drive a Swiss registered car in the EU. This would be a customs violation, car can be impounded, and you might pay a fine up to a multiple of the cars value.

4
You mean by this, if the OP does not have his/hers B/C permit no ?

Also for the OP, when you did the insurance in December, didn't they send everything by email ? I used Axa and after 3 days I had everything by mail, so if someone really needs to see my insurance I can just download it from my email

5
Thanks for all the responses, folks.

Regarding International Insurance card, i found this on Generali site:

"ORDER INTERNATIONAL INSURANCE CARD

Are you going abroad?

The International Insurance Card confirms that you have a sufficiently high level of third party liability insurance cover for your vehicle. Carrying it with you is still compulsory only in the following countries: Albania, Belarus, Israel, Moldova, Montenegro, Morocco, North Macedonia, Tunisia, Turkey and Ukraine."

So, I have requested this to my home address; if needed, I can produce it at some point; happy days.

Yes, my "green card" from last year is an unassuming sheeting of white A4.

However, it does have an expiry (bis 31.12.2022).

I spoke to another friend having car insurance with Generali, and he also had confirmed premium payments before the deadline, and no 2023 doc in his portal. So what is the point of expiry dates on these docs if even the insurers do not bother to update customer docs? And no on-call support for their solution is frankly just poor.

From what I can see, its fine to drive without it, until you DO have an accident, and suddenly the rozzers are asking you for your papers...

I guess I will take my expired stuff and a printout current status from their portal, just in case

6
I carry my permit of course.

No, I just get a fat bill, and then nothing from Generali, not even an acknowledgement. I recall now, that I had to chase for documents last year too. what got me is, what kind of 24/7 accident service does not have the facility to confirm for sure if you even have an active policy with them? I had as much IT access as that poor chap did.

7
Maybe... switch --> I chose Axa based on some forum threads

8
You do not need a green card in Schengen countries.

"Carrying it with you is still compulsory only in the following countries: Albania, Belarus, Israel, Moldova, Montenegro, Morocco, North Macedonia, Tunisia, Turkey and Ukraine."

Tom

9
The facility is in your possession. The car registration paper, the gray card, plus the license plates. This is the very proof you have an active and valid insurance.

Nothing to do with Schengen. It is EU and EFTA countries plus UK, Serbia, Bosnia, and Monte Negro.