Do sit-on lawnmowers require insurance in France?
Larger gardens may require tractor-mowers to keep on top of grass
Some lawnmowers are classed as motorised land vehicles under French insurance law
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Reader Question: A neighbour told me that I needed insurance for my lawnmower. Is he right?
Your neighbour is partly correct, but it depends on the type of lawnmower you have.
Article L211-1 of France’s Insurance code states that any vehicle (and the person driving it) must be covered by civil liability insurance, specifically for damage to third parties (or their possessions).
“For the purposes of this article, ‘vehicle’ means any motorised land vehicle, ie. any self-propelled vehicle intended to travel on the ground and which can be driven by mechanical power without being connected to a railway,” the article adds.
French case law has confirmed that this covers ride-on lawnmowers with a seat, known as tondeuse autoportée and heavier models called tracteur tondeuse (tractor mower).
It does not, however, include a lawnmower that is physically pushed around.
This law is also the reason why mobility scooters in France require drivers to have insurance.
Read more: What are the rules for driving a mobility scooter in France?
Those who fail to obtain the correct insurance can potentially be fined for this (up to €3,750), as well as being liable to pay full compensation in the event of an incident.
Where can I get this insurance?
The minimum insurance requirement is a policy covering ‘véhicules terrestres’ with garantie responsabilité civile (third-party, ie. covering any harm the machinery could do to others).
In some cases, it comes included in home insurance packages in France, but more often than not is an optional extra you must request.
Check your contract and speak with your insurer to see what best suits your situation.
Alternatively, could take out specific insurance separate from your home policy, to cover you when driving these vehicles.
In addition, this extra insurance can cover additional circumstances on top of third-party damage, including:
Injuries to yourself and others
Theft
General and accidental damage, including if the vehicle overturns or engine is damaged
Damage caused by a natural disaster (catastrophe naturelle) such as a storm or flood
Read also: France’s ‘catastrophe naturelle’ insurance system: how to claim
