We just picked up a used car, the seller hands us the keys and a question arises: is the car insurance contract already transferred, or do we need to take out a new one before even starting the engine? The answer is clear: the old contract does not follow the vehicle, it follows the policyholder.
Without active coverage in your name, driving even just to get home exposes you to a fixed fine and, in case of an accident, to compensation from your own funds.
Insured Vehicles File: What Changes for Road Checks
Since April 2024, the paper green card is no longer a mandatory document in France. Proof of insurance is now provided through the Insured Vehicles File (FVA), which is directly consulted by law enforcement during a check.
In practice, there is no longer a need to affix a green sticker on the windshield or carry a paper copy in the glove compartment. However, checking that the contract is properly registered in the FVA becomes a reflex to adopt as soon as you subscribe. A delay of a few days between signing with the insurer and registration in the file can create a false positive during an automated radar check, leading to a letter to contest.
To verify the registration, you can query the FVA online service with the license plate number. If the vehicle does not appear 48 hours after subscription, you need to follow up with the insurer. Many drivers discover this operational detail afterward. This type of practical situation can also be found in FAQ 27 auto insurance on Armoric Auto, which compiles the questions that motorists ask.
Deductible and Coverage: Read the Fine Print Before a Claim
The deductible is the amount that remains your responsibility after a compensated claim. On a third-party extended contract, it can vary from one to three times depending on the insurers for the same level of coverage displayed.
What a Third-Party Extended Contract Actually Covers
The basic third-party coverage only covers damages caused to others (liability). The extended third-party generally adds theft, fire, and glass breakage. However, the limits differ, and some contracts exclude theft by trickery or vandalism without break-in.
- Check if the theft coverage includes car-jacking and theft by trickery, not just classic break-ins
- Check the limit of the glass breakage coverage: some contracts cap at an amount that does not cover a recent SUV windshield
- Read the depreciation clause applied to replacement parts, which can reduce compensation on a vehicle over five years old
A comprehensive contract does not mean “everything is covered.” Natural disasters, for example, fall under a specific compensation regime with a prefectural declaration. A comprehensive policy without driver coverage leaves the policyholder without bodily injury compensation if they are responsible for a single-vehicle accident.
When to Switch from Comprehensive to Third-Party
The question arises concretely when the market value of the vehicle becomes lower than the sum of the deductibles. On a car over seven years old, the premium difference between comprehensive and extended third-party can represent several hundred euros per year, for material compensation that will be reduced anyway by depreciation.
You keep comprehensive coverage as long as the replacement cost of the vehicle justifies the premium. Opinions vary on this point, but the switch generally occurs between the seventh and tenth year of the vehicle.
Bonus-Malus and Termination: Two Concrete Negotiation Levers
The reduction-increase coefficient (CRM) remains the most powerful pricing lever on a car contract. Each year without a responsible claim reduces the coefficient by 5%. Conversely, a single responsible accident increases it by 25%.
Reaching the maximum bonus of 0.50 takes 13 years without a claim, while a single accident can erase several years of reduction. This asymmetry encourages careful reporting of minor material claims: if the damage amount is close to the deductible, paying out of pocket preserves the bonus.
Mid-Year Termination and Hamon Law
After the first year of the contract, termination is possible at any time without fees or justification, with one month’s notice. The new insurer takes care of the administrative process.
- Prepare the information statement (claim history over five years), which the old insurer must provide within 15 days
- Compare offers by checking the coverage line by line, not just the annual premium amount
- Ensure that the new contract takes effect without a gap in coverage, to avoid an insurance lapse even for a day
Increase in Auto Premiums in 2026: Absorb the Shock Without Overpaying
Auto insurance premiums continue to rise in 2026, with an average increase between 4% and 5.5% according to several specialized firms. The average premium in France reaches about 680 euros per year, an increase of 3 to 5% compared to 2025. This trend also affects drivers with a maximum bonus.
Several factors contribute to this inflation: the cost of spare parts, the increasing complexity of repairs on recent vehicles (sensors, cameras, onboard electronics), and the rise in climate-related claims.
Bundling auto and home insurance with the same insurer can sometimes yield a discount of around 10 to 15% on the total. Increasing the voluntary deductible also lowers the premium, provided you have the necessary savings to absorb a claim without difficulty.
Comparing contracts every year at renewal remains the most effective action. The same driver profile can see their premium vary by more than 30% from one insurer to another for equivalent coverage. The information statement and the CRM are the two documents to have on hand before any change process.
Lastly, a often overlooked point: updating the actual mileage with the insurer. A contract calibrated for 20,000 km annually while driving only 8,000 generates unnecessary extra costs, and some insurers now offer pay-per-mile plans that can significantly reduce the bill for low-mileage drivers.