Faced with the increase in losses linked to bad weather, the “natural disaster” surcharge is increasing. In 2023, climate disasters cost French insurers 6.5 billion euros.
Published on 01/01/2025 06:36
Updated on 01/01/2025 06:36
Reading time: 2min
Home and car insurance will cost more in 2025. From January 1, the “natural disaster” contribution increases. This additional premium increases from 12 to 20% for home insurance and from 6 to 9% for automobile insurance.
These rates have been unchanged for 25 years. But faced with the increase in damage linked to natural disasters, the State has decided to strengthen the damage compensation system. This increase in the additional premium was decided by the government and concerns all French people with a home and/or automobile contract.
Floods in Ardèche, Pas-de-Calais or Seine-et-Marne, storm Kirk in the northern half, cyclone in Mayotte… In 2024, several hundred municipalities have been recognized as being in a state of natural disaster.
Recourse to this compensation fund will increase, according to Alix Roumagnac, president of the risk subsidiary of Météo France: “This regime will be increasingly mobilized, hence the increase in this additional premium. And projections show that the cost of catastrophes will increase further. The central reinsurance fund has carried out studies on the subject and shows a forecast doubling of the cost of these disasters in less than 30 ans.”
The increase in contributions represents on average around 17 euros per year per household. According to Alix Roumagnac, this increase is essential to ensure the maintenance of the “natural disaster” regime. “There are more and more climatic events which generate more and more disasters, he explains. And this fund had become unbalanced, that is to say that there were more expenses than income.”
But beyond this increase, insurers deplore a lack of ambition in the prevention of natural risks. The Barnier fund, intended precisely for measures aimed at reducing vulnerability, is not up to the task for them. In 2023, climate disasters cost French insurers 6.5 billion euros.
