Insurance

Is it difficult to switch home insurance companies in France?

Long-term contracts are more easily cancelled, particularly for renters

The ‘windscreen mafia’: Drivers in France warned of major repair scam

Scams include offering ‘free gifts’ that never arrive, and charging extortionate prices

Can UK car insurance be extended to provide cover in France?

Standard policies last for 90 to 180 days

practical

400 French communes declared natural disaster zones after October floods

Property owners have 30 days to make insurance claim

Why home insurance costs are expected to rise in France next year

Properties in the south face higher costs as natural disasters and droughts hit hard

Drought, floods: French communes find insurance contracts cancelled

Climate change claims are rising, but local authorities say that without insurance, ‘society is undermined’

Official maps to show where homes are most at risk of climate damage in France

Damage from flooding and the effects of drought on homes is becoming increasingly common

Flooding: why it is important to check your French property damage policy

Severe storms recently hit the country

2024 rules for repatriating a body to or from France

The cost of transporting the deceased can vary considerably, and you may need to appoint a funeral director both in France and the repatriation country

Is there an ombudsman for insurance claims in France?

Issues with insurers over claims can take a long time to be settled

‘Assurance vie’ firm in debt, 30,000 contracts in France at risk

The company was granted one month to submit a ‘realistic short-term financing plan’ in a bid to save policyholders’ frozen assets

300 French communes declared disaster zones for floods and drought

The declaration means catastrophe naturelle insurance funds can be unlocked

Mayor sues state over cracks in houses in south-west France

Cracks appeared in 302 houses in small town in Dordogne after droughts but no catastrophe naturelle decree was announced for the commune

Water damage to homes: Which areas of France suffer most?

We also look at the recommended steps to take to protect your property

Can I be certain I am insured against flooding at French second home?

A number of heavy floods have recently hit the country

UK family faces £20,000 plus bill after son taken ill on Paris trip

Travel insurer is refusing to pay out for the costs of bringing the teenager home

End of green car insurance sticker in France: Eight questions answered

From April 1, drivers will no longer have to display vignette on their windscreens

Is the French ‘vehicle accident form’ available in English?

Most French drivers keep a copy of the form on hand

French state watchdog recommends grants to stop house drought cracks

More should be done to prevent damage from climate change, it says

Do Britons lose access to NHS healthcare when moving to France?

When leaving the UK it is necessary to inform the NHS of non-residency

How can I reduce the cost of home insurance in France?

Extra cover and location are two primary factors of higher annual charges

Life insurance pay-out scam resurfaces in France - how to spot it

The con involves realistic notaire letters but there are tell-tale signs

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

Is it compulsory to install a smoke detector in every French property?

We outline the rules for installing smoke detectors and alarms in properties in France

Price drops, taxes, insurance issues: French property round up

Our pick of property articles you may have missed

Insurers refuse to cover properties in ‘flood risk’ Brittany town

All of the municipal buildings in the commune are now uninsured

How do I get a ‘lightning certificate’ for French home?

If your home is damaged by lightning during a storm, insurers may require this as proof

France’s ‘catastrophe naturelle’ insurance system: how to claim

This specific compensation covers serious weather events such as earthquakes, floods and landslides and can only come after a government decree

Ten tips on insurance claims for storm damage in France

How to navigate the French insurance system if your property or belongings have been affected by high winds or rain

Top-up health insurance firms confirm big price rises in France

Contracts for individuals could rise by as much as 7%, and almost 10% for groups, a new report has found

Does insurance cover food in fridge ruined after power cut in France?

Some insurance policies will cover this, and in certain cases your electricity supplier may also be required to pay you compensation

What rises are expected to house and car insurance in France in 2024?

A two-year agreement to limit rises is set to end next year, but a minister has warned companies against ‘untenable’ rate increases

Car windscreen insurance stickers to disappear in France from April

The switch to digital is aimed at simplifying checks and reducing fraud. It will also save on paper and CO2, said the government

Water leaks, blocked pipes: what does home insurance cover in France?

All contracts include certain guarantees, but you may not be covered as well as you think

Is getting protection juridique worth it in France?

Some people already receive the cover as part of package deals without even knowing it

Banks, insurance, key dates: five French practical articles

A look at key practical articles from the last seven days

Advice if home in France is damaged in storm - and what about cars?

We look at what damage you can claim for and how long you have to make a claim

Storms in France: Insurers advise action to limit damage to home

They also recommend checking contracts to see you have the appropriate cover

What is a constat amiable and do I legally need one in my French car?

It is highly recommended to carry this document in case of an accident

Can I obtain UK car breakdown cover while living in France?

Some insurance companies offer overseas breakdown cover as standard

Clay shrinkage report, château sale: French property updates

We recap four stories from the world of property in France last week

French MP urges shrinkage report before property purchases

His report also calls for better compensation measures and easier declarations of natural disasters

Can we claim on house insurance if boars damage our French garden?

It is important to specify what cover is required when buying insurance

5% rise in home insurance but wide variations across France

Highest average cost is in the south-west due to weather phenomena

South of France areas hit by storms declared natural disaster zones

Dozens of areas were listed in relation to possible damage caused in September

More French communes declared as 2022 drought natural disaster zones

People affected now have one month to declare any property damage to their insurer

MAP: what to expect to pay in top-up health insurance across France

There is large variation between departments but average cost is significantly more than €250 per month for a couple

How do I make insurance claim after weather damage to French home?

As with drought damage, insurance payments may not arrive until the commune has been declared a drought disaster zone

Why are home and car insurance premiums set to rise in France?

Damage during recent riots should not impact the cost of insurance, experts say, but premiums are expected to increase for other reasons

Why did UK and EU retirees in France get back CSS health top-up?

The refusal policy was reversed this year, giving back free or subsidised healthcare to S1 pensioners

7 points to consider when choosing top-up health insurance in France

How to choose the best policy to cover any healthcare costs not covered by the state

Woman ‘too old’ for French life insurance despite paying for 37 years

The centenarian had her policy cancelled and was then judged ‘too old’ for another one

How much does cataract surgery cost in France?

The cost of cataract surgery in France will depend on the procedure and the hospital or clinic you select

Drought damage claims could get easier due to reforms and Météo-France

The weather reporter is changing how it supplies data for ‘natural catastrophe’ declarations

French motorway breakdown fees have gone up, here is what you pay now

The biggest increases are for weekend and nighttime callouts

June earthquake in France: Who is in official natural disaster zone?

The communes within the area can now apply for compensation from their insurance companies

How much has home insurance gone up in your part of France?

Plus we share tips on how to keep your premiums down

How much does it cost to insure a dog in France?

We look at how much you can expect to pay to insure your dog against vets’ bills in France

Fresh details emerge about cost and impact of French earthquake

More than 5,000 buildings were damaged in the quake in June and the cost of repairs could be as high as €350million, it has emerged

France home insurance: Do policies pay out for rat damage?

Insured or not, it is recommended to take quick action to call out pest control in the case of infestations

Number of uninsured drivers involved in accidents soars in France

We explain what victims need to do to make a claim in such a case

Insurance, property form: 6 changes for residents in France this June

We look at what is new for people living in France

Support for French drought damage bill ‘a good start’

An association representing homeowners whose properties were damaged by drought has welcomed a bill which would reform the insurance system

Insurance does not cover pipe repairs in France

We look at what French insurance companies will and will not cover when it comes to burst water pipes in your home

Briton in France told he CAN keep life insurance post-Brexit

The retired soldier had been told he would have to cancel the UK life insurance policy he had been paying into since the 1980s

Couple’s French residency cards ‘downgraded’ after income drop

They were given less secure one-year ‘cartes de séjour’ despite many years living in France

Why cancelling insurance in France should soon be quicker and easier

From June consumers should be able to end contracts in just ‘three clicks’ online

How to get a second opinion on a French house insurance pay-out offer

Hiring an expert en bâtiment might be cheaper than getting damage assessed by an architect, but their job is not regulated by government

MAP: Warning of insurance issues as flood-risk zones in France expand

At-risk properties may be cheap to buy but difficult to insure - we look at advice from insurance brokers

The French cities where home insurance is most expensive

A new study has shown that premiums tend to cost more in southern cities, and suggests that prices will go up in 2023

Shrink-swell heat damage probably a factor in fatal building collapse

Investigations are under way into incidents that caused a death in Lille; meanwhile homeowners are still waiting to claim on insurance after heatwaves last year

New French law protects phone purchases from unwanted insurance

Customers can often come away with an insurance policy they did not ask for, and currently only have 14 days in which to cancel

Cyber attack insurance is approved to protect French firms

France has also created special policing units to crack down on the hackers who take over a firm’s computer system and threaten to destroy or release data unless paid

Pas-de-Calais tornado: Why is it not an official ‘natural disaster’?

A catastrophe naturelle has not been declared despite winds of 220-270km/h, raising questions over insurance payouts for the damage caused. Several homes were destroyed

French town bit by severe hailstorms in June still in damaged disarray

Up to 97% of buildings were damaged in the short-but-severe hailstorm in Dordogne. The mayor feels like the residents have been ‘forgotten and abandoned’