The law requires you to take out car insurance as soon as you take possession of your vehicle. What are the documents you need to bring? What elements must be taken into account? Here are the steps to follow when taking out your car insurance contract.
Why buy car insurance?
First of all, taking out an insurance policy for your motor vehicle – whether it has two, three or four wheels – is a legal obligation. Since the law of February 27, 1958, you are not allowed to drive without car insurance. Those who drive without coverage expose themselves to heavy penalties (up to 3 750 dollarss fine, withdrawal of the driving license or even the vehicle…).
Secondly, the main purpose of taking out car insurance is to protect other road users. This is what the compulsory third party liability insurance (also known as third party insurance) provides for, which covers bodily injury and material damage that you may cause to others.
For a better coverage, it is necessary to take out a comprehensive insurance or to add optional guarantees to your third party insurance so that your medical expenses and the material damage suffered by your vehicle are also covered.
How do I buy car insurance?
When you buy car insurance, you need to provide a certain amount of information about yourself and your vehicle in order to adjust the level of coverage and the insurance premium.
Driver information
When taking out your insurance policy, you will need to tell your insurer whether the vehicle will be driven by one person or whether other people will be driving your car. You must therefore give several pieces of information (identity, date of driving license, age…) about :
- the main driver who will use the vehicle more than half of the time (as a subscriber, you are generally considered as the main driver, but you can also take out insurance on behalf of another driver) ;
- the secondary driver, if someone close to you uses your car regularly (e.g. your spouse);
- the occasional driver, if you decide to lend your vehicle to a third party on an occasional basis. This is the “loaner driver” coverage.
Information on the vehicle
Several elements are taken into account:
- the age and condition of your car: new, used, vintage… ;
- the type of vehicle and its power.
Information on the use of the car
You will have to explain in which context you use your vehicle, in particular:
- geographical area and location of the vehicle: covered garage, garden, street… ;
- the use: private travel, commuting…
What documents are required to purchase car insurance?
When you take out a car insurance policy, three compulsory documents must be provided to your insurer: the driver’s license, the registration certificate and the statement of information. They concern your profile and that of your vehicle and are necessary for the validation of your contract.
The driver’s license
To insure your car, you must have a B license. This is the essential document that proves that you are fit to drive a car. It must of course be valid at the time of the subscription. If you wish to insure another vehicle, for example a motorcycle, you must prove that you are fit to drive the vehicle.
The date you obtained your driver’s license is essential in the calculation of your car insurance premium, which will be evaluated according to your level of experience. Your rate will not be the same if you are a young driver or an experienced motorist.
The registration certificate
This is your registration card containing all the information about your car:
- the model ;
- the power ;
- the date of the first registration of the vehicle;
- the version.
These data are essential to determine the level of risk and the corresponding rates.
The statement of information
This document corresponds to your insurance history. It informs your insurer about all the accidents in which you have been involved during the last five years. It also lists your level of responsibility for each one. The statement of information also contains your bonus or malus coefficient.
It goes without saying that if you are a young driver and you are insuring your car for the first time, you will not be asked for this document.
- the secondary driver, if someone close to you uses your car regularly (e.g. your spouse);
- the occasional driver, if you decide to lend your vehicle to a third party on an occasional basis. This is the “loaner driver” coverage.
Information on the vehicle
Several elements are taken into account:
- the age and condition of your car: new, used, vintage… ;
- the type of vehicle and its power.
- Information on the use of the car
- You will have to explain in which context you use your vehicle, in particular:
- geographical area and location of the vehicle: covered garage, garden, street… ;
- the use: private travel, commuting…
What documents are required to purchase car insurance?
When you take out a car insurance policy, three compulsory documents must be provided to your insurer: the driver’s license, the registration certificate and the statement of information. They concern your profile and that of your vehicle and are necessary for the validation of your contract.
The driver’s license
To insure your car, you must have a B license. This is the essential document that proves that you are fit to drive a car. It must of course be valid at the time of the subscription. If you wish to insure another vehicle, for example a motorcycle, you must prove that you are fit to drive the vehicle.
The date you obtained your driver’s license is essential in the calculation of your car insurance premium, which will be evaluated according to your level of experience. Your rate will not be the same if you are a young driver or an experienced motorist.
The registration certificate
This is your registration card containing all the information about your car:
- the model ;
- the power ;
- the date of the first registration of the vehicle;
- the version.
These data are essential to determine the level of risk and the corresponding rates.
The statement of information
This document corresponds to your insurance history. It informs your insurer about all the accidents in which you have been involved during the last five years. It also lists your level of responsibility for each one. The statement of information also contains your bonus or malus coefficient.
What is the insurance certificate?
It is the document that your insurer must provide you with when you take out your contract. The green card allows you to prove that you are in compliance with the law and that your vehicle is covered by a car insurance.
It is composed of two parts:
- the certificate to be affixed on your windshield.
- the certificate itself which contains your insurance information to be presented during a control by the police.
Car insurance: online subscription
If you wish, you can subscribe to your car insurance online or even by phone. You benefit from exactly the same services as in an agency, from your home.
Easy, fast and accessible to all, online subscription is immediate: you can request a quote and then choose the formula best suited to your profile. To speed up the process, you can send all supporting documents by e-mail.