Motor third-party liability — France

What is MTPL (Assurance Responsabilité Civile Automobile) in France and who is required to have it?

Motor Third-Party Liability (MTPL) insurance, known in France as Assurance Responsabilité Civile Automobile (or simply «la garantie au tiers»), is mandatory under Article L211-1 of the Code des assurances. Every owner of a land motor vehicle must hold a valid MTPL policy before the vehicle is used on public roads, with proof shown by the registration sticker (vignette d'assurance) on the windscreen and a Mémo Véhicule Assuré (international insurance certificate). The policy covers damages you cause to third parties — not your own vehicle or your own injuries as the at-fault driver.

What are the mandatory minimum coverage limits for MTPL in France?

Under Article R211-7 of the Code des assurances, French MTPL bodily injury cover must be UNLIMITED (sans limitation de somme) — France is unique in the EU in requiring unlimited personal injury cover. For property damage the statutory minimum is €1,300,000 per accident (raised from €1,220,000 from 23 December 2023 in line with EU Directive 2021/2118). In practice, every major French insurer voluntarily offers €100,000,000 per accident for property damage as the market standard, far above the legal floor.

What does French MTPL insurance actually cover?

French MTPL covers damages caused to third parties by the insured vehicle. This includes: bodily injury, disability or death of pedestrians, occupants of other vehicles, cyclists or other road users, with no upper monetary cap; property damage to other vehicles, buildings or any third-party property; consequential immaterial damage (préjudice immatériel consécutif) flowing from a covered event; and legal defence and recourse (défense pénale et recours suite à accident — DPRSA) up to the limit shown in the Conditions Particulières. It does not cover damage to your own vehicle, your own injuries as the at-fault driver, or losses excluded by the policy (drunk driving, unlicensed driver, racing, intentional acts).

Are the at-fault driver's own damages covered?

No. Under French law and standard policy conditions, damages suffered by the at-fault driver are excluded from MTPL coverage. If you cause an accident, you are not entitled to compensation for your own injuries or vehicle damage under the obligatory RC. To protect yourself you need separate cover: a Garantie Dommages Tous Accidents (tous-risques) or Garantie Dommages Collision for own vehicle damage, plus a Garantie du Conducteur (driver protection) for personal injury, which is standard in mid-tier and premium auto policies in France.

Are passengers in the at-fault vehicle covered?

Yes. Under the loi Badinter (Loi n° 85-677 du 5 juillet 1985) passengers in any motor vehicle involved in a road accident, including the at-fault vehicle, are entitled to indemnification of bodily injury irrespective of fault — this is one of the strongest passenger protections in Europe. Passenger bodily injury is covered without monetary limit under the MTPL guarantee. Material damage suffered by passengers (e.g. clothing, luggage) is, however, explicitly excluded from the RC guarantee and requires separate cover.

Is legal defence included in French MTPL policies?

Yes. The Défense Pénale et Recours suite à Accident (DPRSA) is included as a standard guarantee in every French MTPL policy at the insurer's expense — the insurer defends criminal proceedings against the insured following a road traffic accident and exercises amicable or judicial recourse against identified liable third parties to recover damage. The DPRSA limit is stated in the Conditions Particulières and typically ranges from €3,000 to €33,000 depending on the insurer. A separate, broader Protection Juridique policy (legal protection insurance) can also be added to extend cover to non-traffic legal matters.

What is the Carte Verte and is it included with French MTPL?

The Carte Verte (certificat international d'assurance, also known internationally as the Green Card) is delivered at subscription as proof of insurance in France and abroad and is renewed at each annual renewal. The detachable lower portion (certificat d'assurance) must be affixed to the vehicle's windscreen. Within the European Economic Area and additional treaty states, the registration plate alone is sufficient proof of cover and a paper Green Card is not strictly required, but it remains issued by default. For travel to other Green Card system countries — including Turkey, Serbia, Bosnia and Herzegovina, North Macedonia, Albania, Morocco and Tunisia — the paper Green Card is recommended and is issued by the insurer free of charge.

Which countries does French MTPL insurance cover?

French MTPL cover extends to: France métropolitaine and the DROM-COM (overseas departments and collectivities); all EU Member States (liability governed by local law); EEA countries — Norway, Iceland, Liechtenstein; Andorra, Monaco, Switzerland, the Vatican and San Marino; and additional states whose national insurers' bureau is party to the multilateral Green Card agreement, including the United Kingdom, Serbia, Albania, Bosnia and Herzegovina, North Macedonia, Montenegro, Turkey, Ukraine, Moldova, Morocco, Tunisia, Israel and Iran. Cover is granted for trips of less than one year. Beyond the EEA, the insurer's liability may be limited to the legally required minimum cover applicable in the country of visit.

What must I do immediately after a road accident?

After an accident you must: stop immediately and secure the scene (warning triangle, hazard lights, high-visibility vest); render first aid and call emergency services (15 SAMU, 18 Pompiers, or 112 European emergency number) where there are injuries; call the police (17) or gendarmerie where required by law (personal injuries, refusal to exchange details, suspected drunk driving); not leave the scene before identifying yourself and exchanging insurance details; complete a Constat amiable d'accident automobile (European Accident Statement) signed by both parties — this is the standard French claim trigger; photograph the scene and damage where possible; and declare the claim to your insurer within 5 working days (Article L113-2 of the Code des assurances), in writing or via your insurer's online portal. For theft, the declaration window is shortened to 2 working days.

Can I buy French MTPL online and pay in installments?

Yes. All major French MTPL insurers — including AXA, MAIF, Macif, MMA, Allianz France, Generali France, Groupama, Crédit Agricole Assurances (Pacifica) and Covéa (MAAF, GMF, MMA) — offer online subscription through their own portals and through licensed brokers and comparators (LeLynx, LesFurets, Assurland). The Mémo Véhicule Assuré and Carte Verte are issued immediately on payment of the first premium. Installments are standard practice: annual, half-yearly, quarterly or monthly direct debits are offered, typically with no surcharge for monthly payment. French insurance follows a Bonus-Malus system (coefficient de réduction-majoration) governed by Article A121-1 of the Code des assurances, where the premium coefficient adjusts annually based on claims experience (−5% per claim-free year, +25% per at-fault claim, capped between 0.50 and 3.50).