CARMA (Compagnie d'Assurance), trading as Carrefour Assurance
Carrefour Assurance
Carrefour Assurance is a motor third-party liability insurance for the France market with online purchase and limited assistance availability.
Direct payment
The policyholder is free to choose the repairer of their choice for any covered vehicle damage; the insurer does not impose a mandatory approved repair network.
Geographic scope
Metropolitan France and Overseas Departments (DOM)
Covers Metropolitan France and DOM, EU countries and countries listed on the insurance Green Card, Andorra, Monaco, Liechtenstein, the Holy See and San Marino. Assistance, legal recourse (Recours de l'Assuré), automotive legal protection and vehicle damage guarantees are only granted for stays not exceeding three months abroad. Natural catastrophe and technological catastrophe guarantees apply in Metropolitan France, DOM, Saint-Pierre-et-Miquelon and Wallis and Futuna. In the event of a claim caused by a terrorist attack, guarantees apply on French territory only.
Unique selling points
- Roadside assistance intervenes even within the usual 25 km trigger radius when the breakdown occurs on the parking lot of a Carrefour store.
- Driver protection is included as standard in every Tiers formula, with no option required, and pays out even when the insured driver is at fault.
- The Intégrale formula raises driver-protection compensation up to €1,000,000 and removes the minimum-distance trigger for breakdown assistance (0 km vs 25 km).
- Policyholders who financed their car via a Carrefour Banque personal loan can have their write-off/theft indemnity extended to the full purchase value of the vehicle.
- Legal disputes are handled by a dedicated legal-protection claims team, separate from standard claims handling, covering both accident and non-accident vehicle-related litigation.
Coverage limits
Third-party liability – bodily injury
unlimited
Bodily injury caused to third parties, including passengers of the insured vehicle, is covered without any monetary limitation. However, if at the time of the accident the driver was under the influence of alcohol or refused a screening test, or the accident was caused by a driver using the vehicle against the owner's will, the guarantee is limited to the regulatory minimum set by article R.211-7 of the Insurance Code.
Third-party liability – property and financial damage
€100,000,000
Material and immaterial damages caused to third parties are covered up to €100,000,000 per claim, subject to reduction to the regulatory minimum in cases of alcohol/drug intoxication or unauthorised use of the vehicle.
Automotive legal protection / Legal recourse of the insured
€12,000
Legal assistance for disputes linked to the insured vehicle (accidents, purchase, repairs, traffic offences, disputes with other insurers) is taken in charge up to €12,000 per litigation, capped at €16,000 for all claims arising in the same insurance year, with a €76 deductible per event/beneficiary when the insured is the claimant. Managed by a specialist claims department distinct from other claims services.
International motor insurance card (Green Card)
Covered
An international motor insurance card can be issued on request for trips to countries listed on the insured vehicle's memo, in addition to the automatic territorial coverage of EU and listed countries.
Breakdown / towing assistance
€150
Towing to the nearest garage or on-site breakdown repair is covered up to €150. Mechanical breakdown assistance is triggered beyond 25 km from the vehicle's usual garage in the Essentielle formula, versus no minimum distance (0 km) in the Intégrale formula; there is no distance limit for accident, fire, attempted theft or theft. Assistance also intervenes on the parking lot of a Carrefour store even within the 25 km radius.
Driver protection (bodily injury to the named driver)
€300,000 – €1,000,000
Covers bodily injury (permanent invalidity above 10% or death) suffered by the named driver following an accident, fire, explosion, or an attack/aggression in France while inside the vehicle. The maximum indemnity is €300,000 in the Essentielle formula and €1,000,000 in the Intégrale formula, regardless of whether the driver is at fault.
Passenger personal accident cover
No limit stated
No standalone personal-accident guarantee for passengers was found; bodily injury to passengers of the insured vehicle is indemnified as third parties under the third-party liability (Responsabilité Civile) guarantee.
Key conditions
Territorial scope
Metropolitan France and DOM, EU countries and other countries listed on the Green Card, Andorra, Monaco, Liechtenstein, the Holy See and San Marino; assistance, legal recourse, legal protection and vehicle damage guarantees are limited to stays not exceeding three months; natural/technological catastrophe guarantees apply in Metropolitan France, DOM, Saint-Pierre-et-Miquelon and Wallis and Futuna; terrorism-related claims are covered on French territory only.
Green card rules
An international insurance card (Green Card) can be issued on request when travelling to a country mentioned on the vehicle's insurance memo; coverage for stays abroad is limited to three months for several guarantees.
Driver restrictions
Drivers must hold a driving licence valid for the category of vehicle driven. According to the IPID, any driver not evidencing 36 months of insurance coverage over the last 36 months preceding subscription is excluded from the product's scope.
Claim notification deadline
Claims must be declared within 2 business days in case of theft, within 30 days following publication of the relevant ministerial decree for natural or technological catastrophes, and within 5 business days for all other claims.
Bonus-malus rules
Standard French bonus-malus (coefficient de réduction-majoration) system: the coefficient starts at 1, decreases by 5% per claim-free year (7% for 'Tournées'/'Tous Déplacements' usage), increases by 25% per at-fault claim (20% for those usages), cannot exceed 3.50, and cannot fall below 0.50; after two consecutive claim-free years the coefficient cannot exceed 1.
Where to buy
Policy specifics
Repair network agreement
Carrefour Assurance works with a network of agreed repair shops offering no advance payment of costs for repairs
SourceDriver protection coverage
Included in all formulas with varying limits: 300,000€ in Essential tier, up to 1,000,000€ in Integral tier
SourceLegal protection (Motor)
Included in all formulas with specialist legal assistance for disputes related to motor accidents
SourceInsolvency protection
Guarantees compensation when the responsible third party is uninsured and insolvent
SourceCoverage territory
Coverage operates in France and European Economic Area countries as detailed in full policy terms
SourceNo advance payment for agreed repairers
When using agreed repair network, policyholders avoid upfront payment for repairs
SourceClaims declaration deadline
Claims must be declared within 5 business days maximum to Carrefour Assurance
SourceBonus-50 for life option
Optional feature allowing policyholders to retain their bonus (50%) even after a responsible accident
Source