French car insurance firm to refund drivers €30 each

Bosses at MAIF decided to make the goodwill gesture having seen a dramatic fall in the number of accidents as a result of people being confined to home and not using the car.

The €100m is based on savings the company expects to make from an eight-week confinement period.

Each of its three million policyholders, who hold an active policy with MAIF and is up to date with payments, will receive an average refund of €30.

Recipients, who will be notified by email, can keep the money or donate it to the Paris-Hospitals of France Hospital Foundation, the Pasteur Institute or the Secours Populaire, which are all on the frontline of fighting the coronavirus.

Dominique Mahé, President of MAIF and Pascal Demurger, Director General, said: “The large MAIF community is affected and stands united. We can contribute to associations who are most exposed [to the virus] and have a powerful impact.”

Whether other insurers will follow suit and reimburse policyholders as result of confinement is unclear.

An Aviva spokesperson told The Connexion: “In view of the current context, Aviva does not wish to communicate on the subject at this stage.”