Drought, floods: French communes find insurance contracts cancelled Climate change claims are rising, but local authorities say that without insurance, ‘society is undermined’
New way to check if your French top-up health insurance cost is fair French consumer group launches comparator based on profile saying it should be easier for people to compare plans and save money
Insurers refuse to cover properties in ‘flood risk’ Brittany town All of the municipal buildings in the commune are now uninsured
practical Is getting protection juridique worth it in France? Some people already receive the cover as part of package deals without even knowing it
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
Switch insurers at least every four years says French consumer group We look at how loyalty does not pay, pros and cons of comparison sites and ‘insurtechs’ shaking up the market
Another couple in France lose £14,000 life cover as Aviva ends policy One reader affected said a dedicated MP for the British abroad in France could have helped
June flooding and mudslides recognised as natural disasters in France An estimated 267,000 properties - many of which are in Dordogne - were damaged by storms beginning on June 18
Why is insurance fraud growing so fast in France? Almost 20% of people admit to committing some kind of insurance fraud, a new study finds, with people aged 18-34 more likely to do so than older groups
Dordogne storm victims call for official natural disaster recognition Several communes in the department saw cars and homes destroyed last week
Windscreen insurance stickers could become thing of the past in France The stickers must be changed yearly and come with paper counterpart certificates. Campaigners say getting rid of them would reduce fraud and waste
Insurance in France: Contracts will soon be cancellable at any time The change, which includes pet and personal accident insurance, has been hailed as a step forward for consumers
Would our French house insurance cover our new electric bikes? Where the bike is stored and how it is secured will affect your insurance cover in the event of theft
How to insure and prove value of expensive items at your French home Pieces of jewellery, art or antique furniture may fall outside of standard home insurance contracts. We explain what to do Storm damage in France: How to manage an insurance claim for your home Home insurance deemed invalid despite France’s travel ban Second home: Can I get insurance for stay on long-term visa in France?
Can I get compensation for a car accident in France? Your questions, answered: what compensation is there if an uninsured driver bumps me? Is my French car insurance invalidated if I don’t have snow tyres? Reader experiences: Dealing with a burglary in France Half price home insurance scheme expands to Paris Natural disaster declared after droughts around Toulouse and Côte-d’Or French law: Court case highlights rules for insurance and shutters
60,000 French insurance contracts cancelled as firm closes The liquidation of Elite Insurance has left 60,000 private and professional clients in France without construction insurance as of September 15, 2020.
French car insurers refuse lockdown refunds A campaign to press insurance firms to pay back part of motor premiums due to cars not being used during the lockdown has provoked an angry response from the industry.
French restaurateur wins Covid payment from insurer A restaurateur in France has won a court case against insurance giant Axa, after the latter said it would not pay compensation for loss of earnings after the government imposed confinement.
Covid-19 car insurance refund in France: What to write A script of exactly what to write to request a reduction in your car insurance payments due to the Covid-19 crisis has been published by a French consumer association. We explain and provide an English translation.
Red alert for more rain and floods in southeast France Two departments in southeast France are on red alert for rain and flooding today (December 1) and three are on orange alert, as a state of natural catastrophe is declared after last week’s deadly floods.
Uninsured vehicles now tracked by cameras in France Road vehicles without insurance in France will now be tracked by speed cameras, with drivers risking fines of up to €7,500 as a result.
Does household insurance pay to remove wasps’ nest? Does household insurance cover having a wasps’ nest removed from my roof? What if the wasps come back? G.B.
Is insurance valid during licence swap? I applied to change my UK driving licence to a French one [which now has to be done in writing to a centre at the Nantes prefecture] and have been waiting months for an attestation acknowledging my application. I am now driving on an expired licence and with no attestation . Is my car insurance still valid? H.F.
Can my unused insurance be refunded? My car insurance starts on November 1 each year. I sold my car on August 7 and have not bought another car. I cancelled my car insurance and asked the insurers for a refund of the September and October months of the policy but the insurance company says that none is payable. Is this correct? R.B.
President Macron pledges aid for flooded French region President Emmanuel Macron has visited areas of the Aude department that were worst hit in the deadly floods this month, and confirmed the release of €18 million in aid to help rebuild the region.
Floods ‘reveal Météo France weakness’ as alert remains A ministerial spokesperson has said flooding in the south of France points to “weakness” in the Météo France warning system, as the red alert for Aude remains and a “catastrophe naturelle” is declared.
French police set to catch insurance dodgers Police will be able to track drivers who are on the road without insurance from the beginning of next year thanks to a new database of insured vehicles being created as a safety measure.
‘Natural disaster’ flood insurance bill reaches €200m The insurance bill for the flooding of January this year could be as high as €200 million, with insurance companies now able to pay out for “natural disaster” claims, according to la Fédération Française de l’Assurance (FFA).
Women drivers are safer and pay less for insurance Taking fewer risks, driving smoother and having fewer accidents means women have a higher no claims bonus