Rules for entry into Belarus for Russians

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Traveling by car to Belarus is not only convenient and profitable. It is more comfortable and much faster than traveling by train or bus. However, along with the convenience of travel, troubles such as road accidents can occur on the road in a foreign country. To avoid problems, it is necessary to follow certain rules adopted in the international vehicle insurance system. Having a green card is a prerequisite when traveling by car to Belarus. In this article we will tell you why to take out insurance for a trip to Belarus, where you can do it and what the consequences of not having it are.

Do you need a green card in Belarus?

Citizens of the Russian Federation can visit a neighboring country without going through customs control, and even without having a foreign passport. However, a Green Card on the border with Belarus is mandatory for all vehicle owners. In addition, when entering the territory of Belarus by car, the driver is checked for documents for the car and a driver’s license. If a person drives a car that does not belong to him, then he must present a power of attorney to drive the vehicle.

A green card helps resolve financial issues that may arise if the car is involved in an accident. Failure to obtain a document may result in a hefty fine and other penalties for negligent drivers.

It is worth remembering that the legislation of the country in which the vehicle is located and the accident took place takes precedence, in this case it is Belarus. Payment of compensation and compensation for damage will be based on the existing insurance policy. Therefore, when going on a trip, it is important to get a Green Card to Belarus in advance.

Some car owners mistakenly believe that having an MTPL policy can replace a Green Card. However, it is not. OSAGO insures civil liability in Russia, while Green Card insures outside its borders.

If a driver who does not have a card gets into an accident or is simply stopped by the Belarusian traffic police, then at a minimum he will be issued a fine. As a maximum, such a car owner will have to compensate for the damage if it is proven that he is to blame for the accident.

CASCO is also not an analogue of the Green Card, although it is classified as auto insurance.

Paying a fine for not having a Green Card does not exempt you from purchasing it. Therefore, before your trip, you should find out in advance where you can apply for a Green Card.

Insurance for Belarus.

Penalties

In Belarus, a foreign driver who fails to obtain the required international insurance on time faces serious penalties. The fine for the absence of a Green Card in terms of Russian currency ranges from 14,000 to 16,000 rubles. For comparison: in the Russian Federation, the sanction for driving without compulsory motor liability insurance or a green card will be 800 rubles. Belarusian traffic inspectors can check the availability of the necessary documents anywhere, and not just at stationary points, of which they have very few. In addition to a fine, the car owner may be expelled from the country and also blacklisted. Considering that Belarus has recently been actively cooperating on many issues with the EU, a careless driver has a real opportunity to end up in the violation databases of European countries.

The most serious problems arise for those responsible for road accidents who have not issued a certificate. The parties to the agreement independently determine the compensation limit. Russian policies provide maximum payments of 7,148 € per victim and 5,718 € per vehicle. Without insurance, the person at fault for the accident will have to pay compensation for damage to health and property independently based on legal claims.

We also read: Temporary registration for Belarusians Russian citizenship for Belarusians in 2021

Where to buy a green card in Belarus

The purchase of this insurance must be taken responsibly. After all, not every insurance company has the right to sell car insurance policies in Belarus.

The insurer must have the following documents:

• accreditation from the Russian Union of Motor Insurers,
• agreement with the main insurer.

The list of the most famous and active companies selling Green Card includes:

• Rosgosstrakh LLC;
• LLC "Insurance"
• LLC IC "Renaissance Insurance";
• JSC IC "Twenty-first century";
• SPJSC "RESO-Garantiya";
• OJSC "Alfa Insurance";
• SAO ERGO;
• JSC "Insurance Company VSK";
• JSC "ZHASO"

Insurance policy from Rosgosstrakh

The insurer Rosgosstrakh is the largest in the Russian insurance market. Operating since 1992, the company is one of the systemically important ones. It has gained a reputation among clients for reliability and stability. The Rosgosstrakh company has won the trust of many clients. Her work and many years of experience allow clients to be confident in the final result and not worry about insurance payments.

You can purchase insurance at any office of the company; you just need to come with the necessary package of documents. In this case, the cost of the policy can be calculated in advance using an online calculator.

After issuing a Green Card in Belarus, the company assumes the responsibility to make an insurance payment to victims of an accident if damage was caused to the health or property of other participants, the culprit of which was the policy owner.

Rosgosstrakh offers policies designed for travel:

• to all countries;
• to neighboring countries - only to Ukraine, Moldova and Belarus.

Both types of insurance are legal and allow you to easily resolve many financial issues in the event of an insured event. However, the cost of these policies is quite different.

Many factors influence the overall price of an insurance policy, and the type of insurance is only one of them.

Road from Russia to Belarus

The M1 Moscow-Minsk highway is one of the best in the Russian Federation. The distance between the two capitals is 700 km. A trip to Minsk by your own car takes 7 hours with necessary stops. If you had to leave suddenly, you can purchase an insurance policy along the way. Closer to the border there are points for obtaining a Green Card from Rosgosstrakh, Soglasiya, and other companies. They are located near gas stations and border crossings. If the trip is planned in advance, it is better to travel with insurance already in place, so as not to depend on the opening hours of the points and other surprises. Immediately after crossing the border, the Russian compulsory motor liability insurance policy ceases, and all responsibility for a possible accident falls on the car owner.

List of documents for execution of the contract

Car owners or persons who have an agreement to drive a car, as well as organizations, at the time of registration of insurance, must have:

• passport or any other identification document - for individuals, registration certificate - for legal entities;
• registration certificate for the vehicle, its registration certificate, as well as any other document similar to those listed;
• application for concluding an insurance contract. It can be filled out in advance or immediately on the spot. It is very important that it contains all the data: the applicant’s contacts, information about the vehicle, the route, additional information, as well as the policyholder’s consent to data processing.

Not only originals will be valid, but also notarized copies. It is especially important that the policy owner completes the paperwork correctly, both at the time of receipt and during the registration process. After all, even the slightest flaw will cause him problems.

Remember! You should not hope that the policy will be purchased at the border. In a hurry, you can become a client of scammers. Therefore, you need to carefully select an insurance company or agency before applying. It is important to know that the signature on the application must be placed only after the document has been received in hand.

Is a Green Card required for Belarus?

Traveling by car and other vehicles in Belarus is possible only if you have a Green Card. “Green Card” is the name of the form of international insurance policy for motor third party liability. The price varies widely, as it is influenced by many criteria. In Russian insurance companies you can find all the information on this service.

Not only Belarus, but also Ukraine and Moldova may be open for entry. Having a full card that covers travel in all countries, or a card issued for a visit to only one country, will allow you not to worry about resolving the nuances in the event of an accident. It is optimal if, for a visit to the Belarusian Republic alone, the driver issues a card specifically for this country.

The owner of the Green Card will resolve the loss issues as soon as possible and will be able to continue his trip. After all, sometimes delays along the way are very important and even critical. A Green Card will help you avoid them.

What determines the cost of the policy?

The cost of a policy for traveling to Belarus by car for citizens of the Russian Federation is set by the Russian Green Card Bureau.

The cost of a Green Card depends on:

• the duration of the contract, it can range from 15 days to 12 calendar months;
• vehicle type (listed below);
• the planned territory where it will operate. The green card is valid for all countries or only for trips to neighboring countries.

As mentioned above, the type of vehicle affects the cost of the policy.

All of them are divided into the following categories and types:

• equipment for construction and agriculture;
• passenger car;
• motorcycle;
• passenger buses;
• truck trailers;
• tractors, trucks;
• trailers for passenger cars.

The cost of insurance to all countries is much higher than for trips to neighboring countries. But if a specific country is selected, the cost of insurance is tripled. The client pays for the policy once.

It is better to buy a policy in Russia, as it will cost much less. If the policy is purchased for a year, it will need to be paid according to the tariffs for the current date. Future changes in price do not affect an already purchased policy.

Some companies may suspend the sale of green cards before raising rates. Therefore, it is better to buy insurance in advance.

You can apply for a Green Card policy online using this service. Simply fill out the calculator below.

What is a “green card” and what risks does it cover?

The Russian Federation and the Republic of Belarus have been participating in the international Green Card program for a long time. The main function of the document is the prompt and trouble-free settlement of insurance issues arising as a result of drivers from other countries getting into accidents. Such insurance protects car owners from Russia when traveling around Belarus (RB).

Important! Belarusian police officers have the right to stop the driver of a citizen of the Russian Federation (Russian) and demand that he provide a green card. In its absence, a fine will be imposed and the car will be sent to an impound lot until the circumstances are clarified.

When traveling around Belarus, a green card covers risks associated with damage to property, life, and health of people caused by the culprit of the car accident (the owner of the car insurance).

A green card for a car in Belarus looks like a standard insurance policy, drawn up on a green A4 sheet (the shade may vary among different insurers, but can only be greenish).

The document includes items:

• duration of insurance;
• state code (where the insurer operates);
• state license plate number of the car for which insurance is issued;
• vehicle type;
• make and model of the insured car;
• territory of coverage of car insurance;
• Full name, address of the policyholder;
• name, address of the organization (if the policyholder is a legal entity);
• name, address of the insurer;
• signature of an insurance company employee;
• special marks.

Related article: Using travel insurance to Turkey

What are the consequences of not having a policy?

In Belarus, penalties are mainly applied to careless and irresponsible drivers. The maximum fine is about 1 thousand euros or 85 thousand Russian rubles. But for citizens of the Russian Federation, a fine of 180 euros or 200 dollars is most often applied.

Other penalties for not having a Green Card are more severe:

• Seizure of the car until the complete package of documents is completed. All prices in this case will be the same as in the country where the vehicle is located.
• Adding a driver to the Black List. He will be prohibited from entering the three countries or the Schengen area.
• Arresting the owner or driver is a measure used in extreme cases and is rarely used.

They can also be punished for mistakes in the policy, because in this case it is invalid. All costs will be borne by the penalty officer. Therefore, it is better to buy a policy from trusted companies whose reputation among clients is reliable and proven.

Features of the Green Card insurance package

You should immediately remember that foreign insurance differs from the usual Casco policy. The “Green Card” auto liability insurance service when traveling on the roads of the Republic of Belarus has the following features:

• In the first place is the time limit: the legislation speaks of an interval of more than 15 days and no more than 12 months;
• If the concluded Green Card agreement is paid for overnight, its validity will begin only after a month;
• It is possible to purchase an international policy only with a valid MTPL agreement, and the latter must have a validity period strictly longer than the “Green” document;
• The lack of international class insurance becomes a reason for the traffic police to fine the violator with a substantial fine.

You should also remember that the validity of the document is limited by the time spent in Belarus. It is advisable to leave a reserve of time so as not to accidentally violate the terms of the contract in case of force majeure. Otherwise, during the proceedings after an accident, troubles may begin.

You should take into account the validity period of the issued card. You need to start preparing documents a month in advance before your trip.

Sometimes, within one insurance company, for trips to “green” countries, they issue such cards exclusively to their own clients who already have an existing car license. It is better to provide for these nuances when taking out an annual insurance policy. Such conditions help reduce costs when paying compensation. After all, the insured persons are already in the database and checking them is much easier.

A few more important nuances:

• Fraudsters often issue policies near the border, so this option is extremely undesirable for drawing up a Green Agreement;
• You cannot use forms that were filled out manually. This is a serious violation and the policy will be invalid;
• For brokers, the cost of the package will be several thousand more expensive than usual.

What to do if the policy is lost?

When insurance is lost, you must notify the insurer. He will issue a copy of the policy.

To get a copy, you must:

• contact the company;
• dictate the insurance contract number;
• file an application for reinstatement.

In case of damage, a replacement document is provided.

If there is no representative office of the company in Belarus, you should write a statement to the police to obtain a certificate. After this, you need to send the documents by mail, including by email.

From May 1, they began to charge a fee for leaving Belarus by car. What happens near the border

• 14560
• 02 May 2021, 09:11
• borderBruzginalogreport

On Saturday, May 1, the decision of the Grodno Regional Council of Deputies to introduce a local tax in the region when leaving the country came into force. Those who cross the border by car must pay it. TUT.BY went to the Bruzgi checkpoint on the Belarusian-Polish border and looked at what was happening there. Spoiler: nothing and a fox.

The decision to introduce a local fee for vehicles crossing the border at checkpoints in the Grodno region was made on March 30 of this year. It came into force on May 1 and the measure will be in effect until January 1, 2023. The collected funds, the deputies promised, would be used to fight the coronavirus.

The fee applies to all cars that belong to organizations or individuals, including those registered as individual entrepreneurs, and whose maximum weight does not exceed 5 tons. In this case, it makes no difference how many passengers are in the vehicle: one car - one basic one (29 rubles).

Drivers traveling to funerals of family members and close relatives will be exempt from the fee. Also, WWII veterans, disabled people of groups I and II, as well as persons accompanying them, participants in the liquidation of the consequences of the Chernobyl nuclear power plant disaster, people traveling to sanatorium-resort institutions for treatment, and some others will be able to cross the border free of charge. They must have supporting documents.

On the afternoon of May 1, near the Bruzgi checkpoint, it was deserted, quiet and deserted. Only from time to time, trucks appear on the road leading to the checkpoint from Grodno, and drivers occasionally walk back and forth in the parking lot for heavy trucks. The only thing that brings excitement to the parking lot is the appearance of a fox near the trash cans.

Truckers film the predator on their phones. And the animal, not expecting such close attention, runs back into the forest.

That, in general, is all that is happening at the border.

Sometimes cars come to the parking lot near the cafe to take out “domestic” insurance and pick up those returning from abroad.

Workers are bored in the building where insurance companies are located. They say that “everything here at the border is gradually falling into disrepair” and complain that no one removes the bicycles that were left in the parking lot nearby.

“Everything changes, but the bicycles remain,” the workers sigh.

They don’t know how border crossing works in practice under the new rules. They say that people sometimes call them about issuing these receipts, but insurers cannot help.

Near the checkpoint in the building of the logistics center there is an exchange office of Belarusbank. They say that you can pay the new fee from them, you just need to know the necessary details. The ticket office here is open until 19.30.

- What to do at night, for example? “Everything is still unclear,” insurance company employees shrug their shoulders.

In fact, you can pay the new fee either at the checkpoints when crossing the border, or in advance - so if you go in the evening, keep this in mind.

The document confirming payment of the fee must indicate the name of the payer (or the name of the organization), the amount, date of payment, and vehicle registration number. If the payment is made, for example, through Internet banking, then you must present the check card in paper or electronic form to the border guard.

If an individual entrepreneur or organization has paid a fee from their account, then they will need to present an additional copy of the payment instruction with the bank’s mark at the border.

Border guards who inspect cars at the checkpoint say that their duties do not include checking receipts for traveling abroad. This is done inside the checkpoint.

In general, cars rarely appear on the road leading to the border now. Do you remember how they used to take a place in the “rut” at night? Now it’s good if two cars pass per hour, and even then on weekdays.

TUT.BY journalists stayed near the checkpoint for almost two hours - during this time a half-empty regular minibus passed by.

// TUT.BY

Drawing up an application

To complete the package of documents for obtaining a Green Card, you will need to fill out a request application. This is a special form of document, the form of which is available in the Insurance Company. Alternatively, you can use this form remotely through an online application, which we will discuss in more detail below.

To fill it out yourself, just download and print the application form. This option is more suitable for those who have previously purchased a Green Card.

There are five required parts on the application form:

1. Information about the identity of the policyholder (personal and contact).
2. Information regarding vehicles insured according to international standards.
3. List of countries on whose roads cars will be driving.
4. Additional information regarding the functional application of the policy.
5. Confirmation of the policyholder's consent to the processing of information provided in the package of documents.

The questionnaire must be certified by the policyholder if he has the status of an individual. For a legal entity, all activities related to the insurance system are carried out by an authorized person. An already issued insurance policy is indicated in the last line as a unique number. When the policyholder receives the necessary documents, he puts his signature next to the number.

The cost of the policy must comply with the norms established by law. Border brokers add their own markup.