Driving without auto insurance

Driving without auto insurance

Driving any vehicle without being insured by a third party is an offense judged by the criminal court. Not to mention the fact that then few insurers will agree to insure such a driver. Or at a price of gold.

The fine incurred is a maximum of € 3,750, possibly coupled with community service. In the event of a repeat offense, the sanction may be accompanied by a prison sentence, with or without suspension.

Depending on the circumstances of the insurance default, these penalties may also be accompanied by:

    Confiscation or immobilization of the vehicle;
    The suspension, or even the cancellation, of the license for a maximum of three years (without withdrawal of points);
    Prohibition from driving any land motor vehicle, including unlicensed cars / golf carts;
    The obligation to complete, at the expense of the offender, a road safety awareness course.

The same penalty applies if you forget to insure your trailer or caravan if it exceeds 750 kg.

On the victim side, if the responsible driver is not insured, the victims are covered by the Guarantee Fund for Compulsory Damage Insurance (FGAO, formerly FGA). Then, the Fund will seek to obtain full reimbursement, by the driver at fault, of all sums paid to the victims and their beneficiaries. Sums that can be astronomical.

A very bad surprise awaits drivers who drive without a license and have an accident. Indeed, they will have to reimburse all the costs paid to their victims. Then, they may no longer have an insurer, since the latter will have the right to terminate the contract.