What should you expect to pay for car insurance in France?
A new barometer has found the averages by location, age, car type and no-claims history
Car insurance rates have increased year-on-year in France, a new barometer shows
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Car insurance prices have risen considerably in France over the past year, a new report has found, with the average amount for a fully-comprehensive plan now at more than €1,000 per year.
The most recent barometer by leading online comparison site Lesfurets.com found that premiums rose in 2023 to an average of:
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€1,011 for a fully-comprehensive policy (up 5% compared to 2022)
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€639 for a third-party policy (up 4%).
In contrast, the average cost for a policy that covers third-party damage only but has extras such as theft or fire, decreased by 1% to an average of €908 per year.
Many factors affect a car’s insurance cost - including driver age, accident history, type of car, where it is parked, and its location.
Location effect: Brittany cheapest
The barometer also considered average prices per region.
Brittany was the cheapest, with €735 being the average cost of insuring a vehicle, all options included.
In contrast, Provence-Alpes-Côte d'Azur was the most expensive, at €1,030. Other costly regions included Île-de-France (€987), Auvergne-Rhône-Alpes (€911), Hauts-de-France (€872), and Corsica (€863).
"These differences in rates between the regions are mainly explained by the claims ratio in each,” said Lesfurets.com. “Car insurance rates are higher in regions with a higher rate of accidents, and/or thefts.”
Type of vehicle
The type of vehicle can also make a significant difference, including the make, model, year of registration, and engine type.
For example, the barometer found that insuring a hybrid car costs an average of €972, compared with €843 for a fully-electric car.
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No-claims bonus effect
A driver’s no-claims bonus can also have considerable influence on the price of insurance.
The comparison site stated that this is because the insurer “can refine the calculation by taking into account the [lower] risk that the driver represents”.
In practical terms, as an example, a driver who has had no at-fault or only semi at-fault accidents for more than 13 years will pay an average of €530 a year. This is in contrast to a driver with a bad record - who is otherwise the same, e.g. age - who would see their premium rise to €1,657 for the same year.
Age averages
Unsurprisingly, 18-25 year-olds pay the most for their car insurance, with an average rate of €1,343 per year, all options combined. This is because they are considered to be the most high-risk by age.
The amount gradually decreases in each age bracket, with a minor exception for older drivers aged 66 and over.
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Age 26-35: €867
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Age 36-45: €695
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Age 46-55: €632
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Age 56-65: €565
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Age 66 and over: €567
Want to change policy?
Since the introduction of the loi Hamon (Hamon law) in 2015, policyholders in France have been able to change their car insurance policy for any reason at any time, as long as they have held the policy for at least a year.
The new insurer is required to take care of the cancellation and switchover between providers.
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Cédric Ménager, managing director of Lesfurets, said: "With insurance rates on the rise, now is the time to take the time to analyse your policy and take stock of your needs to save money.
“For example, if a vehicle is getting on in years, you may be able to reduce the level of cover, or opt for third-party insurance only.”
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