Before seeing in which case a claim cannot be covered by auto insurance, let’s take a look at the different types of contract.
The main contracts ofCar Insurance offered in France are as follows:
- third party insurance, this is the minimum insurance
- third party plus insurance, straddling third party insurance and comprehensive insurance
- comprehensive insurance, the one that best covers
- kilometer insurance, suitable for those who do not drive a lot.
Before taking out auto insurance, all motorists must take stock of their profile, the type of vehicle they own, but also the risks they take. For example, we know that it is preferable to insure old used cars to third parties, when new models have every interest in being covered by comprehensive insurance. Ditto if you drive a lot or if you live in a big city.
Which claims are covered?
The losses covered depend on the auto insurance you have purchased. Thus, third party insurance is limited to basic coverage and only covers material damage and bodily injury that you are likely to cause to others with your vehicle.
Third party insurance plus takes over the liability coverage of third party insurance, but you have to add coverage for auto theft, fire, glass breakage, storms and natural disasters.
Comprehensive insurance offers the highest level of protection. It includes third-party plus insurance guarantees, to which are added bodily injury and material damage related to the accident (and regardless of the degree of responsibility for it and the identification of any responsible third parties), but also medical and hospital costs, loss of income in the event of sick leave and possibly funeral costs.
In fact, you should know that most claims are covered by auto insurance, but it all depends on the one that interests you and especially the guarantees it includes. When taking out an insurance contract, do not forget to discuss optional and additional guarantees with your insurer. It’s about :
- collision damage coverage
- fire and theft guarantee
- glass breakage guarantee
- of the storm guarantee
- natural or technological disaster cover
- of the attack and act of terrorism guarantee
- of the mechanical failure guarantee
- of the “vehicle contents” guarantee
- vehicle loan or steering wheel loan guarantee.
Of course, the more guarantees you take out, the higher the amount of your contribution.
So when is a claim not covered?
Do you have a claim and your insurer tells you that you will not be covered? It is possible, and that is why it is important to discuss the exclusions of guarantees when signing the auto insurance contract.
In addition, be aware that a claim may not be covered in the following cases:
- a technical inspection defect is clearly defined as an exclusion of warranty
- you have stopped paying car insurance contributions (insurance can be frozen after the 41st day and the contract suspended after the 51st day)
- you have lent your vehicle and it does not appear in the clauses of the contract.
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