In a word: yes!
In France, your vehicle must be covered by liability insurance (third-party), no matter how you use it. So even if it's just sleeping in one of our parking garages, your car still needs to be insured. Since April 1, 2024, the insurance sticker no longer has to be displayed on the windshield.
So which insurance should you choose?
Your vehicle will be parked in a garage that protects it from the outside environment, but unfortunately, there's no such thing as zero risk. That's why comprehensive insurance is always recommended.
Third-party insurance generally only covers the damage (bodily injury and property damage) you cause to someone else. If your vehicle is damaged in the accident, or if you're the victim of theft, vandalism or any other nasty surprise, you won't be covered and will have to pay for the repairs yourself.
If we may offer some advice, we strongly encourage you to take out one of the following two options:
- the most extensive coverage: comprehensive insurance ("assurance tous risques").
- third-party plus insurance ("assurance au tiers plus").
Comprehensive insurance, as its name suggests, covers all accidental damage not covered by liability insurance, even if you're at fault in an accident. If your vehicle is damaged, it pays for the necessary repairs and a rental car if needed. If your vehicle is a total loss, comprehensive insurance reimburses you for its replacement value. Of course, it also includes coverage for theft, glass breakage, vandalism, fire, storms and severe weather, explosions, natural disasters, and more.
Third-party plus insurance is the customizable version of third-party insurance: you only add the options you think you need. You can add coverage for collision, theft or attempted theft, vandalism, fire, explosion or glass breakage. Keep in mind that these coverages come with deductibles: if there's damage, the insurer doesn't pay part of the repair costs. You choose the deductible amount, but the lower it is, the higher the price of your insurance.
On top of these coverages, you can add options that cover you rather than your vehicle: legal protection, assistance services, and personal injury coverage.
If in doubt, we recommend choosing comprehensive insurance: it's more expensive, but it won't leave you with any surprises if something goes wrong.