From miles and miles of traffic-free autoroutes to curvaceous nation roads via sleepy French villages, driving in France is an expertise in its personal proper. And whether or not you like or hate driving, when you’re an expat residing in France, there’s a fairly excessive probability you’re going to should drive, even when it’s solely to the boulangerie for bread or Leroy Merlin for DIY provides. So, with all the thrill and complexities of transferring to France, it’s actually necessary to not overlook that you just’re going to wish French driving insurance coverage, and so right here is our “all it’s worthwhile to know” information to getting your automobile insured.
Every little thing it’s worthwhile to find out about French automobile insurance coverage
As you would possibly anticipate, when you reside (as a resident) in France and will likely be driving a automobile, you should have French automobile insurance coverage, and your UK insurance coverage could also be thought-about invalid by French authorities. Verify the phrases of your UK insurance coverage as a result of it typically solely lets you drive in France for a restricted period of time annually.
You have to French automobile insurance coverage even when your automobile is a UK or international automobile. Additionally, you will have to verify the standing of your driving license to see whether or not it’s eligible for French automobile insurance coverage functions.
At least requirement (and even when your automobile shouldn’t be being pushed), you should have third-party insurance coverage which covers harm or harm you trigger to others. Nevertheless, relying in your circumstances and what you’ll be utilizing your automobile for, you may additionally be obliged or want to think about extra complete cowl, similar to third get together, fireplace and theft or totally complete cowl.
My automobile isn’t French, is that okay?
In case you’ve moved to France and introduced your automobile with you, then in some unspecified time in the future you’ll have to register it in France and guarantee it has French plates. In case you’re nonetheless coming and going from France to your house nation, you need to use your non-French automobile in France for six months in each 12 months. In case you keep for greater than six months, you’ll have to register the automobile in France.
In case you develop into a French resident, you should register your automobile in France inside a month. It’s not essentially a fast course of, so ensure you enable sufficient time.
Can I take advantage of my driving license to get French automobile insurance coverage, or do I want a French one?
Right here is the place it could actually get slightly difficult. Before everything, as a rule of thumb, when you reside in France for greater than a yr, you’ll typically have to change your international driving license for a French one. In case you’re from sure international locations, you could have to retake your driving check.
Nevertheless, there are barely completely different guidelines in respect of different international locations and their respective driving licenses. For instance, some international locations have a Driving License Change Settlement in place, which lets you swap your driving license with a French one. International locations with an Change Settlement embody all EU and EEA member international locations, sure states in Canada and the USA, Australia, Brazil, varied African international locations, China, Russia, Saudi Arabia and extra.
In case you’re in any doubt, Fab French Insurance coverage have written an article that clarifies whether or not an Change Settlement covers your driving license. You’ll nonetheless have to produce a number of paperwork to change your license, and it could actually take a short while.
However what a few UK driving license?
Brexit made issues extra difficult for holders of a UK driving license. In case your license was first issued earlier than 1 January 2021, it may be used till it expires, however you’ll nonetheless have to change it for a French one when it expires.
In case your UK driving licence was first issued on or after 1 January 2021, it will likely be recognised for 1 yr from the date of difficulty of your residency allow, after which you’ll should change it for a French one. The excellent news is you received’t should retake your check (until your license has expired).
What components are taken into consideration when making use of for insurance coverage?
All the same old components will likely be taken into consideration, similar to your location, what you’re utilizing the automobile for (work or simply residence life), your mileage, the make and mannequin of your automobile, your automobile safety (is it parked in a storage, and so on.) and your insurance coverage historical past.
Can I take advantage of my non-French no-claims?
In case you’ve been driving elsewhere on this planet, you could properly have constructed up a non-claims historical past and an awesome monitor document, and you may normally depend on this when making use of for French insurance coverage. You’ll have to provide particular documentation, which may also have to be formally translated – until you’re employed with an “expat appropriate” dealer like FAB and are au fait with international No Claims paperwork.
I’ve purchased a French automobile, and the vendor can prepare my insurance coverage
In case you’ve been provided French insurance coverage by a automobile dealership or finance firm, it may be tempting to go together with that; nonetheless, as Fabien Pelissier, Head of Fab French Insurance coverage, defined, “You would find yourself paying extra to your automobile insurance coverage as dealerships and lenders might not have transformed your international insurance coverage historical past into the utmost equal you would have had in France.” However, when you’ve been supplied with some degree of low cost in France it’s last as it’s recorded in a central insurance coverage database which is on a read-only foundation so the primary insurance coverage / insurer you select is important because it units you up for years (or not).
Hit the Highway with Fab Automobile Insurance coverage
In case you’re feeling slightly daunted, don’t be. Fab French Insurance coverage are a totally bilingual, unbiased insurance coverage firm with specialist expertise of getting French automobile insurance coverage for expats. They perceive the principles and do all of the legwork, after which offer you a extremely aggressive quote that meets your insurance coverage wants. Headache and exhausting work taken care of, you’ll be able to hit the highway.
To seek out out extra or for a quote, go to: Fab French Insurance coverage
