By Fern Mitchell. Last Updated 22nd May 2025. Welcome to our guide on foreign vehicle car accident claims. No matter whether you have been overseas for work or pleasure, there is no denying that being involved in a road traffic accident would have been the last thing on your agenda.
If you have been involved in a road traffic accident overseas, you may assume that you won’t be able to secure compensation or that the process will be lengthy and complex. In fact, this could not be further from the truth, especially thanks to the Green Card system.
This system ensures that you can secure compensation in a manner that is almost identical to seeking compensation if you were involved in a car accident here in the UK.
With that in mind, read on to find out everything you need to know or call us on 0800 073 8804 to start your claim.
Select A Section
- What Is A Foreign Vehicle Accident Claim?
- What To Do If You Are Involved In A Car Accident With A Foreign Vehicle
- What Is The Time Limit In A Foreign Vehicle Road Accident Compensation Claim?
- Road Traffic Accidents At Work Involving A Foreign Vehicle
- What Is The Green Card System And How Does It Work?
- What Can Car Accident Claim Payouts Include?
- Examples Of Foreign Vehicle Accident Claims
- Car Accident Compensation Payout Examples
- No Win No Fee Agreements And Foreign Vehicle Accident Claims
- Call Legal Expert For Free Advice And To Start A Claim
What Is A Foreign Vehicle Accident Claim?
A foreign vehicle accident claim is a personal injury claim that is launched when the victim has suffered at the hands of another driver who may come from overseas.
This is common when drivers from abroad bring their cars over with them to the UK. Their insurance agreement is with an international third party which makes the claims process within the UK a little different.
If you have been involved in any type of car accident overseas and it was not your fault, you will be able to launch a claim for compensation.
What To Do If You Are Involved In A Car Accident With A Foreign Vehicle
If you have been involved in a car accident overseas, it is important to take the necessary steps to gather as much evidence as possible. This includes:
- Seeing a medical professional – Of course, your health always comes first, which is why it is vital to see a doctor. You may feel fine after the accident, but whiplash often takes days to appear, and it gets worse over time. Seeing a doctor can also boost your case, as the medical report provided is a crucial piece of evidence.
- Take photos at the scene – Take photographs of any damage to the scene and/or your car. If your injuries are visible, it would be a good idea to take photos of those too.
- Make a note of everything that happened – As soon as you get the opportunity, make a note of everything that occurred. This will ensure that you do not overlook any important details.
- Get contact information – You need to get the contact and insurance details of the person that caused the accident. This includes their name, telephone number, and address. If the person has fled the scene, it can be a little bit more difficult, but we can still launch a claim. You should also get the contact information of anyone that witnessed the accident. Witness statements can really boost the strength of your case.
- Keep proof of expenses – When making an insurance claim against a foreign driver, you will be able to claim for any expenses you have encountered as a direct consequence of your injuries. Common examples include loss of income, childcare costs, the cost of counselling, prescription expenses, travel costs, and much more. However, in order to claim these special damages, you are going to need proof, so keep a hold of your receipts and don’t throw away any important documents.
Our next section will look at the foreign vehicle car accident claims process. If this is of interest to you, please read on.
What Is The Time Limit In A Foreign Vehicle Road Accident Compensation Claim?
The time limit in a foreign vehicle road accident compensation claim is the same as it is for most personal injury claims. This means you will have 3 years from the date of the incident to start a claim, as set out in the Limitation Act 1980.
Exceptions to this can arise in some circumstances so you should contact our advisors to make sure you are within the correct time limit. These exceptions are:
- Injured children cannot claim for themselves and therefore have to wait until they reach 18. The 3 years are then counted from their 18th birthday.
- Any injured persons who do not possess sufficient mental capacity to claim are not subject to any time limit unless they recover their capacity. In these cases, the 3 year limitation period applies from the date of recovery.
To enable such individuals to seek foreign driver compensation, an adult who meets the suitability criteria can be appointed as the injured person’s litigation friend. This gives the adult decision making authority over the claim, with the requirement that they act in the injured person’s best interests. If compensation is awarded, the payout is held by the Court Funds Office (CFO).
You can inquire further about the time limits for accidents in the UK involving a foreign-registered vehicle by speaking to our team today. They can advise you as to whether any exceptions apply to your circumstances and offer a free eligibility assessment. Get in touch at any time via the contact details given below.
Road Traffic Accidents At Work Involving A Foreign Vehicle
If you were working overseas and you were injured in a road traffic accident, you may have grounds for compensation. The key to a successful claim is proving liability. You need to show that someone else was to blame for the accident you were involved in. No matter whether this was your employer or someone else on the road who caused the accident, we can help you to get the money you are entitled to.
If you’d like to know more about the Green Card system’s role in foreign vehicle car accident claims, then please read on. Or for information on starting your claim, get in touch with us today.
What Is The Green Card System And How Does It Work?
The Green Card MIB system makes it easy for you to claim if you have been involved in a car accident with a foreign vehicle. You will claim much in the same way as you would if you had a car crash in the UK. The only difference is that you will be making a claim to the Motor Insurance Bureau (MIB).
The Green Card is an international certificate of insurance. It means that motorists that are overseas will have the minimum compulsory insurance cover that is needed by the law of the country they are in.
The United Nations (UN) Green Card system is recognised in 47 countries at the time of writing. This includes all EU countries, the additional countries that make up the European Economic Area (EEA), as well as Russia and Switzerland. The system was developed to enable vehicles to move freely between countries, as well as making sure that victims of accidents involving foreign registered vehicles are not at a disadvantage.
Motor insurance is not impacted by the Green Card itself. Instead, when it comes to participating countries’ motor insurance policies, it acts as proof that all of the minimum legal requirements for third party liability are covered. This is why it is vital for settling accident claims.
For more information on what can be included in foreign vehicle car accident claims, continue to the next section. Or, if you’d like more free legal advice about your claim, get in touch with us today.
What Can Car Accident Claim Payouts Include?
When making a claim for a road traffic accident that happened overseas, you will be able to claim for the following:
- General damages – This is the payout you will receive to compensate you for the pain and suffering you have encountered.
- Medical expenses
- Travel expenses
- Care claim – If someone has helped you around the house while you recover, they will be able to launch a care claim.
- Loss of earnings – You can also claim for loss of future anticipated earnings.
Examples Of Foreign Vehicle Accident Claims
There are many different types of road accidents that can happen overseas. Common examples include:
- Car crashes caused by speeding
- The other driver pulling out too fast at a roundabout
- A car hit by a foreign driver because they were on their phone
- Accident with a foreign lorry driver who lost control of his/her vehicle
- Crashes due to the driver being under the influence of alcohol
- Car park accidents
Car Accident Compensation Payout Examples
If you have been injured in a road traffic accident while overseas, one thing you will want to know is how much compensation you could receive. Unfortunately, we cannot provide you with an accurate answer to this question.
This is because every personal injury claim is different; there are many factors and variables that come together to determine how much compensation you will receive. The last thing we want to do is promise you ‘x’ amount when there is no way of guaranteeing this. No solicitor should ever give you false hope by stating a payout amount, which they simply won’t be able to back up.
One thing we can do, though, is take you through the typical payout amounts for injuries that are most commonly sustained during road traffic accidents. This can give you a good understanding of the level of payout you could be entitled to. The table below contains some of the compensation brackets from the Judicial College Guidelines (JCG), a publication solicitors use to help them calculate potential payout figures.
Compensation Table
Please note that the first entry is not from the JCG and that this information is intended as guidance only.
| Type of Injury | Severity | Guideline Compensation Figure |
|---|---|---|
| Multiple Very Serious Injuries with Special Damages | Very Serious | Up to £500,000+ |
| Brain Damage | Moderate (ii) | £110,720 to £183,190 |
| Moderate (iii) | £52,550 to £110,720 | |
| Chest Injuries | Damage to Chest and Lungs (c) | £38,210 to £66,920 |
| Relatively Simple Injuries (d) | £15,370 to £21,920 | |
| Less Serious Leg Injuries | Less Serious (c)(i) | £21,920 to £33,880 |
| Less Serious (c)(ii) | £11,120 to £17,180 | |
| Ankle Injuries | Modest (d) | Up to £16,770 |
| Whiplash | 1 + Whiplash Injuries with 1 + Psychological Injuries | £4,345 |
| 1 + Whiplash Injuries | £4,215 |
Will The Whiplash Reforms Affect My Road Traffic Accident Claim?
The Whiplash Reform Programme came into force on 31st May 2021 and changed the way in which some whiplash claims are made in England and Wales.
Since the Whiplash Injury Regulations 2021 were introduced, drivers and passengers aged 18 or over with injuries valued at £5,000 or less must now make their claims in a different way. However, if the accident was the fault of a driver whose vehicle is registered outside of the UK, the Whiplash Reforms will not apply.
Working with a solicitor on your foreign vehicle road accident compensation claim can be helpful, as they can properly evaluate your claim to make sure you are making it through the right channels.
To learn more about our solicitors and their experience with foreign vehicle accident claims, contact our team of advisors today. Alternatively, read on to learn more about road traffic accident claims.
No Win No Fee Agreements And Foreign Vehicle Accident Claims
One of the best things about working with our solicitors is that we only launch No Win No Fee road accident foreign vehicle claims. What does this mean? Well, No Win No Fee is a term used to describe our payment structure. It basically means that you do not need to pay any legal fees if we do not win your case. If your claim is successful, then we’ll take a legally capped success fee to cover our costs.
This offers you a significant degree of monetary protection, as it means you will never find yourself in a position whereby you have a legal bill, yet you do not have any compensation to cover the cost.
This merely scratches the surface of the benefits associated with this approach. As our solicitors are accountable for the service they provide, you can be sure that we will always put in 100 per cent when attempting to secure compensation for you. If you opt for the services of a solicitor that chargers per hour, win or lose, they will receive the same pay at the end of the day. This could mean that they do not give your case the attention it deserves. It can also mean that they may take on your case even if it does not have a strong chance of compensation. We won’t waste your time like this.
If you’d like to know more about No Win No Fee foreign vehicle car accident claims, don’t hesitate to call us today.
Call Legal Expert For Free Advice And To Start A Claim
If you have had a car accident foreign vehicle involved and you want to make a claim, all you need to do is give us a call. You can reach our team on 0800 073 8804. You will speak to one of our experienced and friendly professionals, who will happily answer any questions you have, no matter how big or small. If you are ready to make a claim, you will be matched to the best in-house solicitor on our team based on the ins and outs of your case. This ensures that we can provide you with the very best service.
Helpful links
You read some of our guides on road traffic accident claims here:
- You can find out more about making a Motor Insurers Bureau compensation claim here.
- See our whiplash compensation calculator guide for guidance on claiming for minor car crash injuries.
- Open our road traffic accident FAQ for answers to common questions.
We have also included these external resources to provide some more useful information:
- The government has published this resource on driving abroad.
- You can use this guidance on accessing healthcare abroad from the NHS.
- Learn more about making a claim through the MIB on their website.
Thank you for reading our guide on foreign vehicle car accident claims.
