Best for car insurance?

[Amandapanda]

Hi all,

I'm moving to France from the UK in a couple of weeks and looking to get a car as soon as possible to get me around. I've already managed to get one quote from a multi-lingual company, but it's a bit more than I was expecting. Has anyone managed to get a good deal and would recommend a particular insurer? Or can anyone tell me any good French comparison sites to use?

Also, please can you tell me what documentation a French car needs to be legal to drive? I understand they have the equivalent of an MOT there, but no road tax (although the tolls more than make up for it!)

Finally, am I right in saying that in France it's the car that's insured, so if I had insurance I'd be able to let anyone with a valid license drive it and still be covered? They asked for all my details and that of my partner, so I'm a bit confused as this conflicts with what I've read.

I'd be looking at a small car (a Clio, Polo, Ka etc.) and I'm a female in her thirties with no claims ever. Surely someone will ensure me cheaply!!

Thanks in advance Amanda

[Bevdeforges]

One place to check for car insurance is your French bank. You need a bank account to rent a place to live - and most banks are only too happy to insure you for any number of types of insurance. It certainly pays to ask at your bank.
Cheers,
Bev

[Amandapanda]

Thanks for the advice, but as it happens I already did ask and they aren't yet doing car insurance

Is insurance more expensive in France than the UK in general? The quote I've got isn't too bad, but it's about 100E more than my UK one for a similar car. I found it from a bilingual broker who specialises in international insurance.

EDIT: Bev, I've just seen you're from the US, not the UK anyway. I'd expect about £250 fully comp in the UK (around 300E?), I'm being quoted 400E for it in France with the full no claims discount. Is this a good deal?

[dag_baruch]

Car insurance is dearer than the UK, as maximum no claims is only 50%. Try Amaguiz (part of Groupama, I think) their quotes are far cheaper than elsewhere.

It is the car that is insured, but eligible drivers may be limited by age and/or experience.

If you are going to buy a French car (French registered), then you should get the papers for the Control technique (MOT), and a copy of the Cession du Vehicule (changeover document), bill of sale, then you must register the car in your name.

[Bevdeforges]

Sorry for the late response - I somehow missed your second post...

My understanding is that car insurance is kind of expensive here in France, especially if you can't claim a reduction under the bonus-malus system here. (When I first got to France, we were able to put my car on my French husband's insurance, so I didn't have to start from 100% like other expats seem to.)

Definitely get a couple of quotes for insurance - and take in your first quotes when you go to get the second and subsequent ones. Consider both the online sites and one or two agencies and/or your bank. You can also sometimes get a break in the price if you don't drive that much. If you can be relatively sure of not driving more than 8,000 or 10,000 km in a year, that could be good for a bit of a break.

For comparison purposes, I pay about something over 500€ a year for an 18 year old car, with full 50% bonus and an 8,000 km a year limit. If I insure through my bank, they can reduce that by 50 or 60€ a year, but not much more.
Cheers,
Bev

[dag_baruch]

Insurance depends also on what you are insuring. Our vehicles are old; a white van 1998, diesel, insured third party only (not worth insuring full comp) at a rate of €160 per year. The car is 1985 Porsche 944, again insured third party only, at a rate of €155 per year. The van is dearer because it is classed as a commercial vehicle, even though it is only 60BHP compared to the Porsche with 163BHP. Both of us enjoy the benefit of a combined 50% discount, and so does our BMW K100LT bike, insurance again third party at an annual rate of €130.

[F James]

Originally Posted by dag_baruch

Insurance depends also on what you are insuring. Our vehicles are old; a white van 1998, diesel, insured third party only (not worth insuring full comp) at a rate of €160 per year. The car is 1985 Porsche 944, again insured third party only, at a rate of €155 per year. The van is dearer because it is classed as a commercial vehicle, even though it is only 60BHP compared to the Porsche with 163BHP. Both of us enjoy the benefit of a combined 50% discount, and so does our BMW K100LT bike, insurance again third party at an annual rate of €130.

dag_baruch,

Are you able to suggest any insurance companies in France to call about third party only auto insurance? The prices you have are what I was hoping to find.

Thanks. F James

[dag_baruch]

Originally Posted by F James

dag_baruch,

Are you able to suggest any insurance companies in France to call about third party only auto insurance? The prices you have are what I was hoping to find.

Thanks. F James

The company I quoted was Amaguiz, a subsiduary of Groupama. Their szstem is totally on-line, so everything done over the internet

[F James]

Originally Posted by dag_baruch

The company I quoted was Amaguiz, a subsiduary of Groupama. Their szstem is totally on-line, so everything done over the internet

Thanks much, heading to it now.

F James