To find the effective date of your car insurance before driving, consult the document provided by your insurer when you took out the policy. For a registered vehicle, it shows both the document’s date of issue and the date on which cover takes effect. Find the latter: that is the date to check when preparing to drive for the first time.
Where can you find proof of the start of cover?
If your vehicle is registered, the insurer must provide you with a document containing the essential details of the policy when you take it out. These include the policy number, registration, make and model of the vehicle, as well as the two dates to distinguish.
Start by checking that the identifying information matches the vehicle you plan to use. Then find the entry for “date on which cover takes effect” and compare it with when you want to drive. If the date is missing or unclear, or if you need to check the time cover begins, ask the insurer for confirmation before setting off.
Is the date of issue the date cover begins?
The document contains two distinct entries: its date of issue and the date on which cover takes effect. To check when cover begins, do not rely solely on the date shown as the date of issue. Look for the entry relating to when cover takes effect, then ask the insurer for clarification if the way the dates are presented leaves you in doubt.
The formation of the contract is also a separate step: once the signed proposal has reached the insurer, the contract is formed. To find out the effective date, refer to the corresponding entry on the document provided by the insurer. Keep the policy number and vehicle information to hand when speaking with the insurer: they will help identify your request.
What is this document used for after taking out the policy?
For a registered vehicle, proof of insurance is provided primarily by consulting the insured vehicles register (FVA), which lists third-party liability insurance policies taken out in France. The document provided when the policy is taken out can serve temporarily as proof of the contract while the FVA is being updated.
It bears the following statement: “This document constitutes presumptive proof of insurance for the 15 days following the effective date of the policy”. This statement refers to a specific period: it does not replace checking the effective date. To prepare for your departure, read both this statement and the date on which cover under your policy takes effect.
The document is issued only once, except in the event of loss, and it is not renewed every year like the green card. Keep this document in the vehicle or download it to your phone: it can also be used during the term of the policy to complete an accident report or contact the insurer.
What should you ask the insurer before driving?
Prepare for your conversation with the document in front of you. You can ask the insurer to confirm the effective date, the time if you need it, the vehicle’s identifying information and the cover provided for your use. If any detail seems uncertain, show the insurer the entry you have found and ask them to clarify what applies to your policy.
In France, the owner or driver of a motorised land vehicle being driven must have at least third-party liability insurance. Depending on the policy, the cover you want may also include property damage, driver protection, assistance or breakdown recovery. Remember to tell the insurer about using the vehicle to travel to work and the identities of the regular drivers.
The insurance proposal includes a draft contract, an information sheet on prices and cover, and a detailed information notice. These documents provide information on the limits of cover, including the list of risks not covered. Reading them can help you prepare questions about the cover you want, in addition to checking the date.
What about an unregistered vehicle?
If you have insured an unregistered vehicle, the insurer must provide proof to display on the vehicle and proof to present during a police check. The certificate to be displayed must include the start and end dates of the policy’s validity. For this vehicle, look for these entries on the certificate and ask the insurer if you need clarification before driving.
This check is a step to obtain information: if you have any doubts about your policy or situation, ask your insurer for an answer suited to your circumstances.
