An accident in a parking lot, hail that dents the hood, a nighttime theft: each situation involves different coverage in a car insurance policy. Understanding what each plan actually covers helps avoid unpleasant surprises at the time of a claim. Here are concrete guidelines for choosing coverage that suits your vehicle, budget, and daily use.
Natural disaster surcharge and premium increase: what changes without your consent
Have you noticed an increase on your premium notice even though you haven’t reported any claims? The surcharge related to natural disasters increased in 2025. This increase is regulatory, imposed by the state, and it applies to all car insurance contracts.
In practical terms, this increase is not decided by your insurer. It appears on a separate line of your premium. When you receive a new payment schedule, check if the increase comes from this surcharge or from a commercial reassessment of your contract. In the latter case, you can negotiate or cancel.
To compare the available plans, you can check the insurance options offered by L’Union Auto to measure the gap between your current premium and what the market offers.
Liability insurance: what it covers and what it does not cover
Liability insurance, often referred to as third-party insurance, is the only legally mandatory coverage. It covers bodily injury and property damage that your vehicle causes to a third party (pedestrian, other driver, passenger).
What it never covers: your own injuries and damage to your own car. The Insured Vehicles File (FVA) allows law enforcement to verify that your vehicle is insured. But the FVA does not provide information on the actual level of your coverage. Only your contract details what is included.
Why does this point deserve your attention? Because driving “insured” in terms of the FVA does not mean being protected in case of injury at the wheel. If you are responsible for an accident with only third-party insurance, your medical expenses and the repair of your vehicle remain your responsibility.
Driver’s guarantee and damage guarantee: two protections often confused
Many drivers think that an intermediate plan covers them “in case of trouble.” In reality, two distinct guarantees play very different roles.
Driver’s guarantee
It compensates for your bodily injuries if you are responsible for the accident. Without it, a prolonged work stoppage or hospitalization after an accident for which you are at fault does not result in any compensation from your car insurer.
The driver’s guarantee is the most overlooked and the most useful. Check the compensation limit specified in your contract. Some contracts limit coverage to an amount that would not cover long-term rehabilitation.
All accidents damage guarantee
This guarantee reimburses the repairs of your vehicle, whether you are at fault or not. It covers body deformation, broken windows, and blown tires. It is the most comprehensive coverage for material damage.
However, the insurer may refuse compensation in several specific cases:
- Driving without a valid license, including in the case of suspension or revocation of the license.
- Intentional fault, such as a deliberate collision with another vehicle or a pedestrian.
- Driving under the influence of alcohol or drugs, a situation that also leads to criminal prosecution.
- Using the vehicle on a circuit or track not authorized by the contract.
These exclusions must be clearly stated in your contract. If they are not mentioned, the insurer cannot invoke them.
Car insurance taken out online: no automatic right of withdrawal
Taking out a car insurance contract in just a few clicks has become common. But automobile liability insurance is excluded from the fourteen-day withdrawal period applicable to other contracts concluded at a distance. In other words, once your electronic signature is affixed, you are committed.
Before finalizing, take the time to check three elements in the specific conditions:
- The exact amount of the deductible per type of claim (theft, glass breakage, at-fault accident).
- The exclusions of coverage, particularly non-covered uses (professional trips, lending the vehicle).
- The functioning of the assistance, especially the mileage deductible: “0 km” assistance intervenes even at home, while a 50 km deductible leaves you without help for a breakdown near your home.
Check deductibles and exclusions before signing, not after the claim.
Car claim declaration: the deadline to respect
After an accident, declare the claim to your insurer as soon as possible. Exceeding the deadline specified in your contract can lead to a loss of coverage: the insurer then refuses compensation, even if the claim is covered.
Send your declaration by registered letter or via the online customer area to keep a dated proof. The amicable report, filled out on-site with the other driver, remains the reference document for establishing responsibilities. An incomplete or crossed-out report slows down the processing of the file without necessarily penalizing you, but it complicates the expert’s task.
A car insurance contract is not just about choosing between third-party and comprehensive coverage. The driver’s guarantee, the details of the deductibles, the actual functioning of the assistance, and adherence to declaration deadlines weigh as heavily as the plan itself. Reviewing your specific conditions once a year, on the anniversary date of the contract, remains the most effective gesture to prevent a trivial claim from becoming an expensive dispute.
