Non-rolling car insurance in the garage: what is it?

Non-rolling car insurance in the garage: what is it?
Many motorists store their unused car in a garage or in a parking space, believing it unnecessary to insure it. Know, however, that the law is clear. Even out of circulation, a vehicle must always be insured, that is, non-running car insurance. The only way to escape this obligation is to ensure that your car is roadworthy.

Obligation to insure a non-running car
Cost of insurance for a car in the garage
The exception to the insurance of a non-driving vehicle
Insuring a car is a legal obligation

The Insurance Code obliges all owners of a land motor vehicle to take out auto insurance. This is provided for in article L211-1. This obligation will apply even if the non-rolling vehicle is immobilized in a garage or in a parking space. The insurance taken out must at least include civil liability coverage. This guarantee covers damage caused to a third party in the event of a responsible accident.

Contrary to what one might think, even in a covered garage or in a closed box, a non-driving vehicle is still potentially dangerous. It can cause a disaster like a fire or worse, an explosion during a natural disaster or a burglary gone wrong.


 
Regardless of these dangers, it is important to remember that failure to have insurance constitutes an offense punishable by a fine of up to 3,750 euros. And for information, since April 1, 2017, driving without insurance is punishable by a fixed fine without going to court. This fine is 500 euros, reduced by 100 euros if payment is made within 15 days after the commission of the offense.

Insuring a car in the garage: how much does it cost?

If recent figures from the Compulsory Damage Insurance Guarantee Fund are to be believed, the number of uninsured drivers in France is between 370,000 and 750,000, or 1 to 2% of the French car fleet. Also note that the government's ambition is to fight more effectively against driving without insurance. To do this, the Insured Vehicles File has been created. This file is the link between the registration number and the insurance of the vehicle. And thanks to specially designed radars, law enforcement can easily detect the validity of the insurance contract.

It is therefore high time to insure your non-running car. Especially since if you leave your car in the garage, there is no need to take out an insurance contract with many guarantees. Third-party insurance is more than enough, unless your car is very valuable or your garage is in a risky (high crime rate) area. Note that some insurance companies offer special contracts for vehicles that run infrequently or not at all. This is called parking insurance or non-traffic insurance. Obviously, because of their reduced coverage, these contracts are offered with reduced premiums.

The exception to the legal obligation to take out car insurance

There is an exception to the requirement to purchase auto insurance. Thus, you will not have to take out insurance if your vehicle is unfit to run or cause harm to others. In order for your non-running car to be considered a roadworthy and harmless vehicle, it must meet the following criteria:

the wheels do not touch the ground,
the battery has been uninstalled,
the gas tank has been uninstalled or siphoned off.