The new year will once again bring its share of various and varied increases for French motorists. It is first of all the insurance that will increase. According to a study by the comparator Assurland, we can expect an increase of 3% with an average contract of 630 euros at the end of 2022, compared to 611 euros at the beginning of the year.
Large Variations in Premium by Age
“Costs for spare parts (+10%) and repairs (+3.5%) have been on the rise in recent months. France was also hit hard by weather disasters this summer. The number of damaged vehicles between June 18 and July 4 amounts to 337,000 and represents a cost of more than 1,000 million euros,” Assurland said in a statement.
Young drivers also appear to bear the brunt of this inflation with an expected 18% increase for those aged 18-25.
“With less experience, they are more likely to be involved in an accident. Therefore, insurers charge an additional 100% premium the first year, which explains the particularly high cost of their insurance,” Assurland says.
“25% of young people aged 18-25 have declared between 1 and 5 accidents in the last 3 years. They are 7 points more than those aged 56-65”, continues the press release to justify this significant difference, with an average premium of 1,255 euros for the first category and 450 euros for the second.
The study found a significant difference between the premium paid in Brittany, 491 euros, with one of the lowest claims rates, and Ile-de-France, 745 euros on average.
Among the solutions to lower your premium: change the coverage plan. 55% of drivers are currently at all risk, 3 points less than in 2021.
“Despite its reassuring side, comprehensive coverage is not always adequate, especially if the vehicle is already ten years old and the driver is experienced. An intermediate formula, namely civil liability supplemented with glass breakage coverage, theft and fire, offers broad protection while being financially more attractive”, recommends Assurland, with an average premium of 667 euros in all risks, compared to 598 euros for the improved civil liability formula.
cheaper electric insurance
Another lesson: a lower cost for electric vehicles, at 562 euros compared to 647 euros for a model that runs on diesel.
Assurland mentions in particular the suppression of the TSCA (excise tax on insurance contracts) for electric vehicles purchased between 2021 and 2023 and insurers that offer additional commercial offers for this type of car.
It all depends, of course, on the size and range of the vehicle. “Teslas, which are high-end vehicles, are among the most expensive to insure: 915 euros on average. A cost that, however, has been reduced by 11% in two years”, emphasizes Assurland.
Among the cheapest brands to insure are Asian brands, as can be seen in the comparison chart below.
Tolls: +4.75% on February 1
The toll rates of the main motorway networks will increase by 4.75% on average on February 1, 2023, after +2% this year and +0.44% in 2021, the Ministry of Transport announced at the end of In the past week.
An expected increase since this increase is set according to a calculation that takes into account at least 70% of inflation (excluding tobacco) for twelve months until October, and possible increases based on the work planned by the different concessionaires.
However, adjustments are anticipated. The discount granted from the beginning of 2019 to motorists who make at least ten round trips per month on the same route will increase from 30 to 40%. In addition, electric vehicles will benefit from a 5% discount for one year, on all their trips, on the Sanef/SAPN and APRR/AREA networks, again from February 1.
Fuels: what rebound in 2023?
Another foreseeable increase: that of the price of fuels. As of January 1, the government discount should disappear, reduced from 30 to 10 cents on November 16, just like the one practiced by TotalEnergies, reduced at the same time from 20 to 10 cents in the stations of its network.
These discounts and the current price of oil mean that prices are currently at relatively low levels -around thirty cents less-, far from the peaks registered at the end of June with diesel at 2.13 euros per liter on average in France , and a peak for gasoline at 2,096 euros per liter.
The main concern currently concerns diesel, with a stricter embargo on all Russian petroleum products, including refined products such as diesel, effective February 5, 2023.
To make up for the end of the bonuses, the government must offer a support system for large vehicles, but it cannot yet give details about this long-awaited aid unless it is in force. The Budget Minister, Gabriel Attal, limited himself to clarifying this Monday on BFMTV that the income conditions would be aimed at the most modest households and the middle classes, a priori below the current average income of around 2,000 euros.
Source: BFM TV
