What are the guarantees of a car insurance contract?

The guarantees offered by car insurance contracts vary according to the insurance companies and the needs of each driver. It is therefore important to understand them well in order to choose an auto insurance contract adapted to your needs.

Mandatory guarantee

Civil liability guarantee

The only mandatory guarantee, civil liability is included in all insurance contracts, whether you are third party or all risks. It concerns all motor vehicles. This guarantee covers damage caused to others and defense costs in the event of a responsible loss.

Please note, in the event of a responsible incident, to cover the damage that concerns you, you must take out optional guarantees. Otherwise, you will have to pay everything out of your pocket.

 

Optional guarantees

Theft guarantee

This guarantee covers the theft of the vehicle, or certain of its parts such as tires or rims. Damage caused by attempted theft, such as a broken window or damaged lock, is also covered. Depending on the formula, the theft guarantee may also cover towing costs or travel costs linked to the theft.

Please note, items present in the vehicle, such as suitcases, laptops or telephones are not covered by this guarantee. To obtain reimbursement from your insurance company you must take out private contents guarantee. This is also the case for vehicle accessories for the bicycle rack, the roof box or even the trailer hitch. which are subject to a specific guarantee.

The vandalism guarantee

Broken windows, flat tires and scratched bodywork are considered acts of vandalism. These are concretely acts intended to harm your property, without legitimate reason. Although it is systematically included in your all-risk insurance package, vandalism guarantee is not always covered by extended third-party insurance contracts. To be sure, refer to the general conditions of your contract.

The fire guarantee

The fire guarantee covers damage caused to the insured vehicle by a fire or explosion. It can also cover towing costs and travel costs related to the fire. This guarantee also allows the replacement of the car if it is completely destroyed.

It intervenes if the damage is of accidental origin, such as a short circuit or a climatic event, or of malicious origin, following an act of vandalism or an attack. Damage caused by the insured himself, whether voluntary or due to negligence on his part, is excluded.

The glass breakage guarantee

It covers damage caused to windows, windshields and mirrors of the insured vehicle. It covers the costs of replacement or repair.

This guarantee may be included in the all-accident damage guarantee or offered separately. It is still important to check the conditions and in particular the exclusions, because some insurance companies exclude types of damage such as those caused by freezing or by the transport of dangerous materials.

It is also recommended to check the deductibles applied in the event of broken glass, as they can vary significantly between insurance companies.

The storm guarantee

The storm guarantee applies when the vehicle suffers damage following violent weather events, without it being a natural disaster. These are generally the following cases:

A storm
Hail falls
An earthquake
A flood
A subsidence or landslide
An avalanche
A tsunami
A volcanic eruption

The really useful guarantees

The assistance guarantee

The assistance guarantee allows you to benefit from assistance in the event of a breakdown or accident. It can cover the repair or repatriation of the vehicle, as well as the accommodation and travel expenses of the people involved in the accident.

The private content guarantee

It insures personal effects present in the vehicle or in the roof box.

This guarantee applies in the following situations:

Burglary and burglary;
Burglary from car;
Theft with break-in of items secured to the vehicle (roof box, bike rack, etc.);
Carjacking;

Please note, this guarantee does not apply in the following situations:

Failure to lock the roof box, ski rack or roof bars;
Unsecured goods such as payment cards, cash, jewelry or precious objects;
To obtain compensation, you must make a declaration to your insurance, send the purchase invoices for your personal items as well as a copy of the complaint receipt in the event of theft.

Auto equipment warranty

It can be added to your contract whether you are fully insured, third party or extended third party. This guarantee covers events covered by your contract such as theft, traffic accidents or even fire. She covers :

Pneumatic equipment: such as tires, rims, etc.
The equipment you have added: the roof box, the bike rack, the trailer hitch, the GPS, etc.
The standard equipment present in the car when purchased. Some of this equipment, directly integrated into the passenger compartment, is also covered by comprehensive insurance. This is the case, for example, of the reversing camera.

Secondary driver guarantee

This guarantee will be practical if you regularly share your car with your spouse, or if you wish to register your young driver child on your contract so that he earns your bonus points the day he himself has a car and an insurance contract. insurance in his name.

Financial loss guarantee

This guarantee is particularly useful for people who have a leasing contract, whether it is a long-term rental (LDD) or a rental with purchase option (LOA). It covers the driver for material damage suffered by their vehicle following an auto accident.

Legal protection

The legal protection guarantee allows you to benefit from legal support in the event of a dispute linked to the use of the vehicle. It can cover defense costs and procedural costs in the event of litigation with a third party.

The all-accident damage guarantee (DTA)

The DTA guarantee covers damage caused to the driver’s vehicle, whatever the cause of the loss (accident, fire, theft, vandalism, etc.). It can be supplemented by an extended warranty covering towing costs, travel costs and vehicle rental costs.