Whether you have a new car or a used car, the possibility of experiencing or causing an accident can never be excluded. In this case, you will need to pay or be compensated. For this reason, insurance is available to assist every driver in the event of a disaster or incident related to their car. Moreover, its compelling nature means that you will subscribe to insurance. Therefore, it is necessary to make the right choice. To do this, we must at least know the different policies and the various important guarantees.
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Why do you need to insure a car?
The budget that the French allocate to their car can be quite significant. From the purchase of the car, to maintenance costs, to fuel purchases, it can quickly amount to several thousand euros. And under this budget, one element cannot be overlooked: car insurance, regardless of its price.
Indeed, the law states that, in Article L211-1 of the Insurance Code, all land vehicles (cars, motorcycles, quads…) are covered by a minimum liability insurance. But why? This mandatory guarantee protects everyone, whether it is the owner and driver of the car, or even people who may be injured or damaged due to the vehicle. In fact, it covers all damages (physical or material) caused to others.
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Therefore, this liability guarantee protects you: you do not need to compensate victims in the event of an accident. Which is very convenient! While some collisions may result in several dozen or hundreds of euros in repairs, others can have a much greater financial impact. For example, an accident could cause bodily injuries without a car insurance company protecting you, forcing you to pay all costs to cover the victim’s medical expenses, which can amount to several thousand euros.
How to choose the right car insurance policy for your car?
Given this mandatory insurance, it is important to know how to make the right choice to protect yourself without going bankrupt. For this, it is good to know that you can generally choose from three levels of coverage:
- A third-party policy that meets the minimum required by law. The cheapest level, it is also the least covered, as it only includes liability insurance and, depending on the insurers, legal protection or even driver protection.
- Intermediate policy (often referred to as third-party plus or extended third-party) previously defined by the addition of certain security measures, such as theft protection and fire coverage. Depending on the insurer, you may also find coverage for glass breakage.
- Comprehensive policy which represents the highest level of coverage, but also the most expensive. It covers most damages that your car may cause in the event of an accident, whether you are at fault or not.
To make the right choice, it is also interesting to note that the price of your car insurance depends on many criteria, such as your driver profile (your experience, your bonus, your malus, your history over the last three years…) and the characteristics of your car (performance, engine type, age…). Therefore, it is appropriate to choose your insurance carefully. In general, a comprehensive policy is recommended for new or high-quality car dealerships. Conversely, for low-value cars over eight or ten years old, liability insurance may suffice, although there are certain options.
Also consider the details and check the terms of the contracts that interest you. This may include compensation limits, deductibles before compensation, but also exclusions of coverage. You have all the information you need to find the car insurance that suits you.
And to find cheap car insurance or at least the best price, you can play the competition. To do this, you can approach several insurers or use an online comparator. They have many offers that will present you with both the prices and the exact guarantees of each contract.
What guarantee do you choose to insure car parts?
It is important to note that there is no insurance specifically for the parts of your car. Insurers cover your car as it is, completely and not by block or component. Nevertheless, every problem has its solution. In the case of theft of car parts, we mainly talk about compensation for theft. This option is only found in comprehensive and customized policies. However, you can always compare different insurance companies to find cheap car insurance. Otherwise, the compensation contract must include theft coverage and other optional guarantees. Nevertheless, there are a few points to keep in mind.
The Theft Guarantee applies if you determine (after a certain period of time) that your car and your stolen parts have been replaced. The optional guarantee (special guarantees, for example, offered by certain companies) provides compensation for the loss of certain parts under certain conditions. This, of course, must be discussed between you and your insurance company.
In the case of damaged parts or in the event of a breakdown, the mechanical failure guarantee is the solution. This guarantee is offered by a number of insurers and allows you to reimburse or pay for the replacement of your parts. It also includes labor costs in certain cases. However, this coverage is valid under several conditions that you should discuss with the insurer. Otherwise, repairs and limits can be up to 1500 euros, depending on the insurance.
How can I change car insurance
After reading this article, have you found that your car insurance may not be very suitable? Or do you just want to change because you found a cheaper contract? Know that changing your car insurance is not very difficult!
First of all, it is good to know that changing insurance (and thus terminating a car contract), depending on the situation, can occur at different times of the year:
- You can request the termination of your current contract up to one month before its expiration date (for example, before November 30 for a contract that expires on December 31);
- termination can occur in the event of a change in situation (marriage, moving…), as the risks associated with it will
; can end under the Hamon Law at any time after one year from the conclusion of the contract. When considering this solution, your new insurer will take care of all the steps to ensure coverage for your car.
In the other two cases (termination at expiration or after a change in situation), it is up to you to inform your insurer in accordance with the procedures defined in the terms of the contract. You can retrieve the required information to subscribe to a new contract. It indeed contains all the data related to your driving history (bonus malus, claims…).
However, be sure not to opt for the Hamon Law, ensure that your car is still insured and that there is no gap between the effective date of your current contract and the effective date of the new contract.
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