Car Insurance in France (Assurance Auto) (2026)
Jules de Bruin
Editor
Updated: June 2026 | Found helpful by 6 others
- Expats
- Residents
Updated June 2026. Assurance auto is mandatory in France for every registered vehicle. The legal minimum is responsabilité civile (au tiers), which covers damage you cause to others. Higher tiers are tiers étendu and tous risques. Your premium is scaled by the bonus-malus coefficient and the franchise you choose. You can switch insurer freely after 12 months under loi Hamon, and the constat amiable starts any claim after an accident.
Key takeaways
- Au tiers (responsabilité civile) is the mandatory legal minimum; tous risques is the most complete tier.
- The bonus-malus coefficient falls 5% per claim-free year and rises 25% per at-fault claim.
- The franchise is the amount you pay out of pocket on a claim before the insurer pays.
- Loi Hamon lets you cancel any time after 12 months; loi Chatel governs renewal notices.
- Insurers are supervised by the ACPR; disputes can go to the Médiateur de l'Assurance.
Is car insurance mandatory in France?
Yes. Assurance auto is legally mandatory for any registered vehicle in France, even one that is parked and never driven. The legal minimum is responsabilité civile, commonly called au tiers, which covers bodily injury and property damage you cause to third parties. Driving without it is a criminal offence that can bring heavy fines and vehicle seizure. Insurers offering this cover are supervised by the ACPR.
Once insured, you receive a mémo véhicule assuré (the digital successor to the old paper carte verte) as proof of cover. France runs a Fichier des Véhicules Assurés (FVA), so police can check insurance status by plate during roadside controls.
What does au tiers vs tous risques cover?
There are three broad tiers. Au tiers (responsabilité civile) is the mandatory minimum and only pays for damage you cause to others, never your own car. Tiers étendu (intermédiaire) adds common extras such as theft (vol), fire (incendie), and glass breakage (bris de glace). Tous risques is the most complete, also covering damage to your own vehicle even when you are at fault or no third party is identified.
Every tier carries a franchise, the amount you pay out of pocket before the insurer pays the rest. A higher franchise lowers your premium but raises your cost per claim. Optional garanties like assistance 0 km and protection juridique can be added to any tier.
Match the tier to the car's value
How does bonus-malus work?
The bonus-malus, officially the coefficient de réduction-majoration (CRM), is a multiplier applied to your base premium. Every driver starts at 1.00. Each claim-free year multiplies the coefficient by 0.95 (a bonus), down to a floor of 0.50 after 13 years. Each at-fault claim multiplies it by 1.25 (a malus).
The coefficient follows the driver, not the car, so it carries over when you switch insurer. Your relevé d'information documents your current CRM and claim history, and a new insurer will ask for it. A non-responsible accident does not increase your malus.
Which assurance auto providers should you compare?
The French market includes mutuelles like MAIF, Macif, MAAF, Matmut, and GMF, large insurers like AXA, Allianz, Groupama, and MMA, and online-first players like Direct Assurance. Comparators such as LeLynx and Assurland let you line up quotes side by side, though they show only their partner panels, so it is worth checking a few insurers directly too.
MAIF Assurance Auto
MAIF is a mutuelle that consistently scores well for claims handling and customer satisfaction. It offers clear au tiers, tiers étendu, and tous risques formules with strong assistance options.
Why we recommend it: A mutuelle consistently rated high for claims handling, offering clear au tiers, tiers étendu, and tous risques formules with strong service.
Best for: Drivers who prioritise claims service and a mutuelle model
Pros
- +Strong reputation for claims handling
- +Clear tiered formules from au tiers to tous risques
- +Assistance and protection juridique options
Cons
- −Not always the cheapest on price alone
- −Mutuelle membership model differs from classic insurers
- Au tiers, tiers étendu, and tous risques cover
- Bonus-malus applied per French regulation
- Supervised by the ACPR
AXA Assurance Auto
AXA is one of France's largest insurers, with a dense network of agents and broad tous risques options. Add-ons such as assistance 0 km and protection juridique can be layered onto any tier.
Why we recommend it: A large insurer with a dense agent network, broad tous risques options, and add-ons like assistance 0 km and protection juridique.
Best for: Drivers who want in-person agents and wide add-on choice
Pros
- +Large network of local agents
- +Wide range of optional garanties
- +Tous risques with assistance 0 km available
Cons
- −Premiums can run higher than online-only insurers
- −Add-ons can make quotes harder to compare
- Au tiers to tous risques cover
- Protection juridique and assistance options
- Supervised by the ACPR
Direct Assurance
Direct Assurance is an online-first insurer (part of the AXA group) known for competitive pricing and pay-how-you-drive options. It suits drivers comfortable managing their contract and claims digitally.
Why we recommend it: An online-first insurer with competitive pricing and pay-how-you-drive options, suited to drivers comfortable managing cover digitally.
Best for: Price-focused drivers happy to manage cover online
Pros
- +Competitive online pricing
- +Pay-how-you-drive (YouDrive) option
- +Fully digital quotes and management
Cons
- −No physical branch network
- −Self-service model suits confident users
- Au tiers, tiers étendu, and tous risques
- Bonus-malus applied per French regulation
- Supervised by the ACPR
Providers listed for comparison as of June 2026. We do not quote premiums; cost depends on your car, profile, and bonus-malus. Confirm current cover and pricing on each insurer's official site.
How do you switch with loi Hamon?
Under loi Hamon, once your contract has run for its first 12 months you can cancel at any time with no penalty and no need to wait for the renewal date. In practice your new insurer handles the résiliation for you, so cover continues without a gap. Separately, loi Chatel requires insurers to send a renewal notice (avis d'échéance) ahead of tacit renewal, giving you a window to decline.
- Step 1: Compare quotes for the same cover tier (au tiers, tiers étendu, or tous risques).
- Step 2: Provide your relevé d'information so the new insurer reads your bonus-malus.
- Step 3: Subscribe to the new contract and let the insurer file the loi Hamon cancellation.
- Step 4: Confirm your start date so there is no gap in cover.
- Step 5: Save your new mémo véhicule assuré as proof of insurance.
What do you do after an accident?
Fill in a constat amiable with the other driver at the scene. This joint report records the circumstances, a sketch, and both signatures, and it is what assigns liability. Send your copy to your insurer within five working days to open the claim (sinistre). Your franchise applies, and an at-fault claim triggers a malus on your bonus-malus coefficient.
If you disagree with how a claim is handled, you can escalate to the Médiateur de l'Assurance after exhausting the insurer's internal complaints process. General rules on mandatory cover are explained on service-public.fr.
Sources: service-public.fr (assurance auto obligatoire), ACPR, and the Médiateur de l'Assurance, June 2026. Verify current rules and cover with your chosen insurer.
Frequently Asked Questions
Is car insurance mandatory in France?
Yes. Assurance auto is legally mandatory in France for any registered vehicle, even one that is parked and not driven. The legal minimum is responsabilité civile (au tiers), which covers damage you cause to other people. Driving uninsured is a criminal offence with fines and possible vehicle seizure.
What is the difference between au tiers and tous risques?
Au tiers is the legal minimum and only covers third-party damage you cause. Tiers étendu adds theft, fire, and glass breakage. Tous risques is the most complete tier, also covering damage to your own car even when you are at fault or no third party is identified.
How does bonus-malus work in France?
Bonus-malus, officially the coefficient de réduction-majoration, starts at 1.00. Each claim-free year multiplies it by 0.95 (a bonus, down to 0.50), while an at-fault claim multiplies it by 1.25 (a malus). The coefficient follows the driver between insurers and directly scales your premium.
How do you switch car insurance with loi Hamon?
Under loi Hamon, after your first 12 months you can cancel your assurance auto at any time with no penalty. Your new insurer usually handles the résiliation for you, and cover continues without interruption. Loi Chatel separately requires insurers to send a renewal notice before tacit renewal.
What is a constat amiable after an accident?
The constat amiable (constat amiable d'accident automobile) is the standard joint accident report drivers fill in together at the scene. It records the circumstances and a sketch, and both drivers sign it. Sending it to your insurer within five working days starts your claim and helps assign liability.