A frontier insurance is a temporary third-party liability car insurance. When you drive your car to a country for which you do not have sufficient third-party liability insurance coverage, you are obligated to purchase frontier insurance at the border. In some cases, frontier insurance can also be purchased ahead of your trip.
Mandatory frontier insurance guarantees that foreign vehicles entering a country are adequately insured as per the requirements in that country. For example, foreign vehicles entering Switzerland must be insured against damage or injury to third parties up to the Swiss minimum of 5 million francs per accident.
In Switzerland, frontier insurance is coordinated by the National Bureau of Insurance (NBI). The NBI guarantees the settlement of liability claims against foreign vehicles which use Swiss roads.
When you travel from Switzerland to a country which is not covered by your insurance provider, you must purchase the relevant frontier insurance before you drive your car in that country.
Thirty-five European countries participate in an agreement between national insurance bureaus. You can drive a vehicle licensed in Switzerland to any of these countries without having to obtain frontier insurance or present proof of coverage from your car insurance provider.
Forty-eight countries participate in the Green Card System. These countries accept Swiss third-party liability car insurance, meaning you do not need frontier insurance if your Swiss car insurance covers that country. You can easily find out which countries are covered by your car insurance by reviewing your International Motor Insurance Card. Countries which are not crossed out are covered.
