Since the removal of the green sticker from the windshield, the status of the car insurance green card has changed. The paper document is no longer required during a traffic stop in France, as law enforcement officers can check the Insured Vehicle Register (FVA) directly.
However, the policy number shown on the card is still regularly requested: when reporting a claim, renting a vehicle or crossing a European border. Knowing where to find it—and, more importantly, how to retrieve it if the document is missing—can help you avoid practical difficulties.
Green card number and policy number: two references you shouldn’t confuse
The old paper green card displayed two sets of numbers that were often confused. The first, printed in box 4, was the policy number assigned by the insurer. This is the number shown on letters, renewal notices and in your online account.
The second, less familiar set of numbers, appeared in the upper section of the document. It identified the green card itself as an international insurance certificate. This reference was mainly used for cross-border checks.
In practice, when a mechanic, rental company or insurance agent asks for the “green card number,” they almost always mean the policy number (box 4). Knowing how to find the green card number on the document helps you avoid providing the wrong reference and delaying a claim.
Finding your policy number without a paper green card: practical alternatives
Although the green card is no longer displayed on the windshield, the information it contained hasn’t disappeared. It’s available in several places, and you don’t always need to rummage through a drawer to find it.
Your insurer’s online account and mobile app
Almost all insurance companies offer an online account or mobile app. Your policy number is usually displayed on the dashboard home page, often alongside the details of the insured vehicle. This is the quickest option when you’re away from home.
Renewal notices and letters from your insurer
Every year, your insurer sends a renewal notice by post or email. The policy number appears at the top of the document, along with the renewal date and premium amount. Keeping the latest notice in your inbox makes it easy to find with a quick search.
The original policy signed when you took out the insurance
Your original policy, whether signed at an agency or online, shows the policy number on the first page, in the “policy details” section. Keeping a scan or digital copy of this document is a useful backup.
- Your online account gives you immediate access to your policy number, even when you’re abroad, as long as you have an internet connection.
- Your annual renewal notice (paper or email) shows the number at the top, making it a reliable backup document.
- A digital copy of your original policy remains accessible even if you’ve misplaced all subsequent correspondence.
An accident or trip abroad: finding your number in an emergency
A minor collision in a crowded parking lot or a traffic stop in Spain doesn’t leave you time to search through your records. You need your policy number right away, not the next day.
After an accident in France
The accident report form asks for both parties’ insurance policy numbers. If you don’t have the paper document, your insurer’s mobile app is the quickest option. If you can’t get online, call customer service to obtain the number by phone, provided you can verify your identity (name, vehicle registration number and date of birth).
Law enforcement officers, meanwhile, check whether a vehicle is insured through the Insured Vehicle Register (FVA). This register is available online on the French Ministry of the Interior’s website and can also be accessed by individuals. Entering the vehicle registration number confirms that the vehicle is insured, but doesn’t provide the policy number itself. The FVA therefore can’t replace a call to your insurer when filling out an accident report.
When travelling to another European country
In the European Union and countries that are part of the Green Card system, proof of insurance remains useful and may even be required during a traffic stop. Some countries (Albania and Bosnia and Herzegovina, for example) haven’t signed the same free-movement agreements as EU members, and you may be asked to show paper or digital proof of insurance coverage at the border.
Before you leave, download a copy of your insurance certificate from your insurer’s online account to cover most situations. This document includes your policy number, the insurance company’s name and the countries covered by your policy—details that local authorities can check directly.
Digital green cards: how the digital format affects your policy number
Ending the requirement to display a paper sticker didn’t eliminate proof of insurance. It simply made digital documents acceptable in France. Many insurers now email insurance certificates as PDFs or make them available in their mobile apps as virtual cards.
The policy number is still displayed in the same place as on the old paper document: in the section corresponding to box 4. The layout varies from one insurer to another, but the information is always included in the section identifying the policyholder and vehicle.
- A PDF downloaded from your online account can be saved to your phone, making it available offline.
- Some insurers’ apps include a QR code linked to your policy, which can be used during a traffic stop in a foreign country that accepts digital proof of insurance.
- The FVA only verifies insurance in France. When travelling outside the country, the insurance certificate (paper or digital) remains the only proof that local authorities can read.
The simplest approach is to take a photo of or download your insurance certificate as soon as you receive it, then save it in an easily accessible folder on your phone. If you urgently need your policy number, you’ll be able to find it in seconds without relying on an internet connection or a desk drawer back home.
