We live in a time when automobiles and mobility are fundamental concepts. They are, in fact, now part of our way of life. So, for this reason, respecting the highway code and the obligations relating to it is essential to avoid motorists certain sanctions. Moreover, those who do not respect this obligation incur a heavy sanction.
Do motorists have an obligation to insure their vehicle?
Many motorists still wonder whether it is compulsory to have car insurance. It is therefore a document which certifies the coverage of the vehicle. It is essential to protect both the driver and other road users in the event of damage to third parties.
The insurance certificate is a fundamental document in the context of road traffic. Because it represents proof that the vehicle is covered by a policy capable of compensating for any damage to property or people caused on public roads.
According to the Highway Code, this document must be issued by the insurance company to the motorist at the time of taking out the contract. And, it contains crucial information, including the insured's data, vehicle data, and duration of contract coverage.
As indicated the columns ofAutoPlusin France, insuring a vehicle is compulsory. According to 2020 data from the National Interministerial Road Safety Observatory (ONISR), 800,000 motorists would be traveling without insurance on French roads.
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Which vehicles are required to subscribe to it?
The vehicles which are required to take out insurance are therefore the following:
– Cars (private, utility or without a license), tractors and agricultural machinery
– Two or three wheels (motorcycles, scooters) and quads. And even non-homologated ones (for example, mini-motorbikes)
– Ride-on mowersequipped with a seat that allows the driver to maneuver.
– Electric bicycles (VAE) whose power exceeds 250w. Or whose speed exceeds 25 km/h. If you have to take out this category, know that it is the same insurance as for motorcycles.
– Motorized personal travel devices (EDP)electric scooters, monowheels, gyropods, hoverboards.
Obviously, motorists who have not taken out insurance for one of these vehicles are then exposed to a heavy fine.
Sanctions relating to vehicle insurance
The sanction depends, obviously, on the offense and the consequences of the latter.
First of all, motorists are exposed to a fine of 35 euros in the event of failure to present the insurance certificate to law enforcement during a traffic stop. This fine may be subject to a reduction to 22 euros or an increase to 75 euros.
In the event that the motorist has simply not insured his vehicle, the penalties are, in this case, much greater.
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Indeed, not insuring a vehicle is an offense which is punishable by a fine which can climb to 3,750 euros. In addition, the motorist risks one of the following additional penalties:
– Community service sentence.
– Suspension of driving license lasting 3 years or more.
– Ban on driving certain vehicles for a maximum of 5 years.
– Obligation to perform a road safety awareness course.
– Confiscation of the vehicle if the motorist is the owner.
Furthermore, as indicated AutoPlus, Law No. 2016-1547 of November 18, 2016 provides that driving without insurance may be punished with « simple » fixed fine. The police can issue this fine if the motorist first notices the offense.
The amount of the fixed fine is 500 euros. However, it may be subject to a reduction 400 euros in case of payment within 15 days or an increase at 1,000 euros at the end of the 45 days.
Finally, if the motorist in question has not remembered the rules. And if he is checked again, if he has not insured your car, the penalty is heavy! Indeed, in this case of recurrence, it can rise to 7. 500 euros and may once again be accompanied by one of the previous additional penalties.
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