Car insurance (vehicle): rates and contributions

Verified 01 January 2021 - Directorate for Legal and Administrative Information (Prime Minister)

Before the contract is signed, the insurer must provide you with an insurance proposal. This document shows you the important elements of the contract, such as the overall price, the details of the contributions and the duration of the contract. It allows you to compare the proposals of several insurers with each other. The insurer may change the amount of the contribution after the contract has been signed. If the change is upward, you can challenge it in some cases.

The rates set by the insurance companies are free. So you can compare the quotes, because the prices can vary. However, the guarantees offered must be checked in the quotes.

Generally, rates depend on several factors, the most important of which are:

  • Bonus/Malus Coefficient of the driver
  • Type of vehicle: make, age, power and energy used
  • Vehicle use: private or professional use, use in rural or urban areas
  • Driver's age and/or experience

Some companies offer better rates to people who use their vehicles less. Similarly, the contract may provide that the insured person is the only person authorized to drive the vehicle.

However, fares cannot take into account the sex of the driver.

FYI  

electric cars registered from 1er January 2021 are exempt from the special tax on insurance agreements.

Once you have accepted the quote, you will have to pay your contribution to your insurer.

Amount

The amount of the contribution shall be fixed at the signing of the contract.

If you find that this amount is not in accordance with the amount indicated on the insurance proposal, you can refuse the contract.

Due dates

These are the dates on which you have to pay your dues. A distinction must be made between primary and secondary maturities:

  • the due date principal is the date up to which you are covered. This is the only relevant date for terminating the contract.
  • The contract may provide for a contribution split (monthly, quarterly or half-yearly). Each of these interim payment maturities is a maturity secondary.

Periodically, you will receive a notice of due date, indicating the amount of the contribution to be paid and the date from which you must pay it.

Payment period

You have 10 days from the date on the notice of due date to pay your contribution.

After this time, the insurer can send you a registered letter, called formal notice. You then have 30 days to pay your contribution.

Non-payment

If you have not paid your contribution, you are no longer covered by the insurance.

10 days after the expiry of the period, the insurer may terminate the contract and demand in court the full payment of the contribution.

You cannot dispute an increase in your contribution if it is:

  • the application of an indexation clause provided for in the contract,
  • or the application of the malus,
  • or a change in charges,
  • or a new mandatory guarantee imposed by law.

The insurer may review the amount of your contribution in case of an increase in risk. In this case, he must make you a proposal and you have 30 days to accept or refuse. After this period or in the event of refusal, the insurer may terminate the contract.

If the increase is due to a change in the insurer's rates and there is no reassessment clause in your contract, you can decline. You must then request a recalculation according to the old tariff.

If this clause exists, you can request the termination of your contract only if you disagree on the new amount.

In case of reduced risk, you should benefit from a reduction in contributions. If the insurer refuses, you can decide to terminate the contract. The termination of the insurance takes place 30 days after you have informed the insurer.

FAQ