Are you covered by motor insurance while traveling abroad?

Verified 01 April 2024 - Directorate for Legal and Administrative Information (Prime Minister)

Yes, your car insurance can cover you when traveling abroad. But before leaving, you should check your contract or ask your insurer to find out in which countries you are covered. The situation is different for a trip to Europe and a trip outside Europe. We present you with the information you need to know.

Territorial validity of insurance

Car liability insurance in France covers all countries of the European Union.

Such insurance shall also cover other countries for which the national offices of all countries of the European Union are individually responsible for settling claims arising in their territory.

For a list of non-EU countries that are covered by your vehicle insurance, you must ask your insurer to issue you an international car insurance card.

This document lists the countries in which your car insurance covers you.

If the name of a country is deleted from this list, it means that your assurance that your insurance does not work in that country.

If you still want to travel to a country where your insurance doesn't work, you need to take out local insurance.

Risks covered abroad

The risks covered abroad depend on the guarantees you have taken out.

If your vehicle is only guaranteed for the civil liability, you will only be covered for damages that your vehicle may cause to third parties.

If you have additional guarantees (for example in the formula "all risks"), their application may be limited depending on the country visited.

It is therefore necessary to check with your insurer the guarantees that apply and those that are limited in your country of destination.

In particular, you must check whether, in the event of theft or accident of the vehicle, the insurance covers the following costs:

  • Vehicle towing costs
  • Costs of repatriation of passengers, or even of the vehicle
  • Accommodation costs during repairs
  • Payment of a driver to repatriate the vehicle and its occupants

Documents proving that the vehicle is insured

The situation varies depending on whether the vehicle is registered or not.

The vehicles registered and subject to the insurance obligation are as follows:

  • Car (private car, commercial vehicle, unlicensed car), tractor and agricultural machine
  • Truck
  • Powered 2 or 3-wheel machine (motorcycles, scooters) and quad bikes, whether or not non-approved (e.g. mini-motorcycles)
  • Towed or uncoupled trailer

Vehicles not registered but subject to the insurance obligation are:

  • Light Cyclomobile : draisienne, electrically assisted bicycle with a power exceeding 250w or a speed exceeding 25 km/h etc.
  • EDPM: titleContent : electric scooter, monoroue, gyropod, hoverboard, etc.
  • Self-propelled mower, provided with a seat enabling the driver to maneuver them

Répondez aux questions successives et les réponses s’afficheront automatiquement

The vehicle is registered

If you are traveling in an EU Member State with a registered vehicle, you can prove that document that the insurer gave you at the time of the subscription, or the international insurance card.

Insurance document

The insurer is obliged to give you at the time of subscription a document which contains the following essential elements of the contract:

  • Name and address of insurance company
  • Name, forenames and address of the subscriber of the contract
  • Insurance policy number
  • Date of issue of the document
  • Effective date of the guarantee
  • Vehicle registration number
  • Make and model of vehicle
  • If the contract guarantee applies to both a motor vehicle and its trailers or semi-trailers, indication of the type of trailers or semi-trailers which may be used with the vehicle
  • If necessary, mention of the fact that the vehicle is used in the context of a particular public passenger transport activity for consideration
International insurance card

The international insurance card shall be the insurance document adopted by the countries participating in the green card scheme.

The green card system is an agreement signed by several countries that recognize all the car insurance certificates issued by one of them.

This is an unregistered vehicle

If you are traveling in an EU Member State with an unregistered vehicle that is subject to insurance, you can present as evidence the insurance certificate or the international insurance card.

Certificate of insurance

The certificate of insurance is a proof that the insurer must issue to you within 15 days of the subscription or renewal of the contract, and which mentions the following elements:

  • Name and address of insurance company
  • Name, forenames and address of the subscriber of the contract
  • Insurance policy number
  • Insurance period corresponding to the premium or portion of premium paid
  • Characteristics of the vehicle, including chassis or serial number

FYI  

if the insurer cannot issue the certificate immediately upon enrollment, it must issue you a provisional certificate.

International insurance card

The international insurance card shall be the insurance document adopted by the countries participating in the green card scheme.

The Green Card system is an agreement signed by several countries that recognize the car insurance credentials issued by one of them.

Documents to be provided in case of accident

In the event of an accident, you must produce proof of insurance.

To facilitate the declaration of an accident, you can use the European Accident Report, which is valid in the countries of the European Union.

You can get one or more copies from your insurer before the trip.

Warning  

The e-statement, which allows you to fill in a digital report with your smartphone, does not work in the event of an accident abroad.

The amicable finding must be completed in the event of an accident in the most complete manner.

Each driver involved in the accident must have a completed copy.

This finding is standardized at European level and can be easily supplemented regardless of the language in which it is written.

Please note

You can fill in the statement with information about the insured and the car, as soon as the insurer gives it to you, or at least before your trip.

Documents to prove that the vehicle is insured

The situation varies depending on whether or not the country of destination participates in the Green Card or International Motor Insurance Card system.

The Green Card system is an agreement signed by several countries on motor insurance to facilitate international traffic.

Répondez aux questions successives et les réponses s’afficheront automatiquement

The country of destination participates in the Green Card system

You can present the International Motor Insurance Card as proof of insurance.

The country of destination does not participate in the Green Card system

You must present a document proving that you have taken out insurance that allows you to travel around the country. For example, a border car insurance contract or an insurance contract with a local company.

Documents to be provided in case of accident

In the event of an accident, you must produce proof of insurance.

To facilitate the declaration of the accident, you can use the European Accident Report, but the document will not have the same value as in France or in the European Union, where it is recognized by insurance companies.

You can get one or more copies from your insurer before the trip.

Warning  

The e-statement, which allows you to fill in a digital report with your smartphone, does not work in the event of an accident abroad.

Who can help me?

Find who can answer your questions in your region