Car insurance: impact of the new 2025 ecological standards

Summary: The year 2025 marks a turning point for car insurance with the entry into force of new ecological standards. This article explores the consequences for policies, notably the evolution of the ecological bonus-malus system, coverage for hybrid or electric vehicles, and the emergence of new guarantees linked to sustainable mobility.

A changing regulatory context

Environmental concerns have now taken centre stage in the automotive sector. From 2025, new ecological standards, resulting from both European commitments and national policies, will impose stricter emission thresholds and encourage the transition to low-emission vehicles. This legislative development has a direct impact on car insurance policies, both in terms of pricing and the covers offered.

Evolution of the ecological bonus-malus system

The ecological bonus-malus system, already well established, will undergo a major reform in 2025. From now on, it will no longer be limited to granting tax advantages when purchasing a vehicle, but will also influence the insurance premium.

• For clean vehicles: Owners of electric or hybrid vehicles will benefit from an additional bonus in the form of a discount on their insurance premium, rewarding their ecological commitment.
• For polluting vehicles: Vehicles exceeding the new emission thresholds will see their malus increase, not only fiscally, but also in terms of insurance contribution amounts.

This development encourages motorists to choose less polluting models, while allowing insurers to adjust their offers according to the carbon footprint of vehicles.

Specific coverage for hybrid and electric vehicles

The rise of hybrid and electric vehicles is accompanied by new insurance needs. Policies are evolving to take account of the technical specificities and particular risks associated with these vehicles.

• Battery coverage: Batteries, a central and expensive component, now benefit from dedicated guarantees covering premature degradation, theft or fire.
• Assistance in the event of charging failure: Many insurers offer specific assistance in the event of a breakdown related to charging or range, including towing to a functional charging station.
• Liability for electricity-related damage: Policies include specific clauses for damage caused by a malfunction in the electrical system or the home charging station.

The aim is to reassure owners of clean vehicles and remove the barriers to the adoption of these technologies.

Sustainable mobility: new guarantees are emerging

Car insurance is no longer limited to simply covering a vehicle. Sustainable mobility, which includes carpooling, car sharing or the use of fleets of clean vehicles, is giving rise to new, tailored guarantees.

• Multi-mobility insurance: Some policies now offer comprehensive cover for all modes of transport used by the insured, including bicycles, electric scooters or public transport as part of multimodal journeys.
• Alternative driver guarantee: The insurer takes into account the increasing number of drivers for a single shared vehicle, thus facilitating access to innovative mobility solutions.
• Environmental liability: New guarantees cover accidental environmental damage (pollution, leakage of toxic substances), reinforcing the eco-responsible dimension of the policies.

These innovations offer policyholders better protection suited to their new uses and encourage more environmentally friendly mobility behaviour.

What are the challenges for policyholders and insurers?

Adapting to the new ecological standards creates both challenges and opportunities:

• For policyholders: The aim is to choose policies suited to their vehicle and their needs, while taking advantage of the financial benefits linked to the ecological transition.
• For insurers: Innovation becomes a lever for differentiation, requiring constant adjustment of the offer and a better assessment of the risks associated with new technologies.

Finally, the digitalisation of services makes it easier to personalise policies and access reliable information, which is essential in a constantly evolving regulatory context.

Conclusion

The new 2025 ecological standards are profoundly transforming the car insurance sector. A strengthened ecological bonus-malus system, guarantees adapted to clean vehicles and sustainable mobility: these are all changes that put the environment at the heart of concerns. For both policyholders and insurers, this is an opportunity to actively commit to the ecological transition, while benefiting from optimised protection against the new risks of mobility.