800,000 drivers drive without insurance in France, according to an estimate by the National Interministerial Observatory on Road Safety (ONISR).
Since 1986 it has adorned the windshields of thousands of vehicles. The green car insurance sticker certifies that your vehicle is insured. On the card are the validity dates of the insurance, as well as the vehicle registration and the name of your insurer.
An obligation that has a cost. According to a study by the online comparator “Les ferrets”, civil liability insurance, i.e. the minimum required, amounts to an average of 478.38 euros per year. A figure that varies depending on the insurer, the experience of the driver or the vehicle driven and the city of residence.
800,000 uninsured drivers
A cost that drives some motorists to drive without insurance, or with expired insurance. According to an estimate by the National Interministerial Observatory on Road Safety (ONISR), 800,000 drivers in France drive without valid insurance.
According to a barometer of the victim guarantee fund, which cross-referenced the data collected by insurers during accidents with that of the police during roadside checks, 60% of motorists who drive without insurance are under 35 and 80% they are men.
The cost of insurance, the main obstacle
Among the reasons, the economic cost of insuring one’s own vehicle clearly stands out with 31.3% of the uninsured being unemployed and around 24% workers. In 2020, a spokesman for the victims’ guarantee fund feared an increase in the number of uninsured drivers, due to the economic crisis. A situation that could worsen further with the effects of inflation.
The situation is so worrying that in September 2020 the victims’ guarantee fund will launch an awareness campaign on the risks of driving without insurance.
A fine of up to 3,750 euros
If you drive without insurance, you commit an offense which can be accompanied by a fine of 3,750 euros. This sanction imposed by the judge can be accompanied by further sanctions such as the suspension or cancellation of the licence, with the prohibition to take it back and the seizure of the vehicle.
At the same time, driving without insurance exposes you to a flat-rate fine, issued by the police during a simple check, in the amount of 500 euros, which can be reduced to 400 euros for payment within 15 days or increased to 1,000 euros. after 45 days, recalls the Ministry of Economy.
Significant financial consequences in the event of an accident
But most importantly, in the event of a serious accident for which you are responsible, the financial consequences can be significant if you do not have insurance. If the victim is compensated by the guarantee fund of the compulsory damage insurance, the person responsible for the accident, if uninsured, will not be compensated for his or her injuries or material damage, and will have to reimburse the guarantee for the sums paid to the victims.
Sums that can be very high and lead to the repayment of an amount every month, for life. In the example taken by the guarantee fund for its awareness campaign, the motorist has to pay 300 euros a month for 50 years to the victim of the accident he caused.
Since 4 June 2019, a file has been set up to cross-reference insurer data with license plates during checks, in order to identify uninsured drivers more quickly. Since October 2019, 83 thousand awareness letters have been sent to these motorists, but for the moment without a fine.
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