The car you own has a direct impact on your premium. A sports or luxury car like a Porsche 911 will be much more expensive to insure than a city car like a Citroën C3. On average, insurance for a Porsche can cost between €2,000 and €3,000 per year, while for a Clio, the premium can be as low as €740 per month.

Cars with powerful engines (e.g., Audi RS, BMW M3) are generally more expensive to insure. Brand-name cars with a high replacement value or a high theft risk will also have a higher insurance cost. On the other hand, a compact car with modern safety features will generally be less expensive to insure.

Your place of residence

Your place of residence also has a significant influence. If you live in Paris or a major metropolitan area, rates can be much higher due to increased risks (theft, accidents). For example, a driver in Paris might pay between €1,200 and €1,500 for comprehensive car insurance, while a driver in the provinces might see their premium drop to €800 to €1,000.

In cities like Lyon or Marseille, the risk of theft or accidents is more frequent, resulting in higher premiums. Conversely, in smaller towns or in the countryside, the risk of accidents is often lower, and premiums can be much more affordable.

The level of coverage chosen

Choosing your insurance coverage is a determining factor. Third-party insurance , the most basic form of insurance, will cover damage caused to others in the event of an accident, but not your own. For example, for a car like a Peugeot 208, third-party insurance can cost around €300 to €500 per year.

On the other hand, comprehensive insurance, which covers all damages, including your own, will be much more expensive. For the same car, the cost of comprehensive insurance could reach €800 to €1,000 annually, or even more depending on the additional guarantees.

Your accident history

Accident history has a direct impact on the cost of your insurance. If you have an at-fault accident within a year, your insurance premium can increase by 20 to 30% at renewal. For example, a driver who causes an accident could go from a premium of €1,000 to €1,300.

On the other hand, if you’ve been a claims-free driver for several years, you’ll often receive discounts. Some insurers apply a 10% discount per claim-free year, which could reduce your premium from €1,000 to €900.

How often you use your car

 If you use your vehicle primarily for personal travel (less than 10,000 km per year), you will generally pay less than a driver who uses their vehicle for daily or business travel. For use of less than 5,000 km per year, the premium could decrease by 10%.

For example, a driver who drives 12,000 km per year might pay €1,100, while another who only drives 5,000 km will pay around €900.

Franchises

The amount of the deductible you choose also affects the cost of insurance. For example, choosing a €500 deductible can lower your annual premium by €100 to €150 compared to a €150 deductible.

If an accident occurs, you will have to pay this deductible before your insurer covers the rest of the costs.

 Use of your vehicle

Your vehicle usage impacts your insurance rate. If you use your car for business purposes (deliveries, private hire), this poses a higher risk to insurers. A driver with business use could see their premium increase by 25% to 40%.

For example, a VTC driver could pay between €1,500 and €2,000 for comprehensive insurance, compared to only €1,000 to €1,200 for private use.

Vehicle safety

Safety features on your vehicle can lower your premium. If your car is equipped with alarm systems, tracking, or automatic braking, this reduces the risk for the insurer.

Modern vehicles with advanced safety features can reduce the premium by €100 to €200 per year, depending on the insurance and safety options chosen.

Discounts and special offers

Some insurers offer discounts for specific criteria. For example, a driver who has completed a defensive driving course can receive a 10% discount on their premium. Similarly, some companies offer discounts for drivers over the age of 50.

If you have multiple policies with the same insurer (home and auto insurance, for example), you can get discounts ranging from 10% to 20% on all your policies.

The price of your car insurance depends on many factors, from your age to how you use your vehicle. While some factors are beyond your control, such as age or driving history, others can be optimized to reduce the cost of your premium. It’s important to compare offers, tailor coverage to your needs, and take advantage of possible discounts to get the best deal at the best price.