Cancellation or suspension: a license withdrawal is always a delicate situation.
Beyond the difficulties this causes in daily life, know that you have obligations with regard to your car insurance.
An insured person who loses their driving license has 15 days to report it to their insurer.
We explain the steps to take in the event of license withdrawal and the consequences on your car insurance.
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Should you report your license withdrawal to your car insurance?
Yes, it is obligatory to declare your license withdrawal to your insurance.
Whether this concerns a permanent or temporary suspension of the driving license.
To do this, you have 15 working days from notification of your license withdrawal.
Simply send a registered letter with acknowledgment of receipt to your insurance company.
You must indicate the nature of your license withdrawal (alcohol, drugs, speeding, etc.) and attach a copy of your notification showing the sanctions applied.
What happens if you don't report your license suspension?
According to article L 113-2 of the Insurance Code, this is similar to a false declaration (intentional or not), recognized as an offense.
Your insurer is then entitled to cancel your car contract and refuse to cover you in the event of a claim.
Did you know ?
Insurers can consult the SNPC file (National Driving License System) which contains all license suspensions.
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What is the impact of license withdrawal on car insurance?
When you have your license revoked, you become a risk profile in the eyes of insurers, leading to an increase in risk.
Consequently, the majority of insurance companies apply additional premiums or deductibles to your car insurance premium.
Note, however, that these increases are regulated by law depending on the reason and duration of the license withdrawal:
Suspension of license between 2 and 6 months: 50% surcharge
License suspension for more than 6 months: 100% surcharge
The surcharges become higher in the event of a license suspension for driving while drunk or under the influence of drugs (surcharge of 150%).
Likewise, if your license is canceled several times, the increase can reach 200%.
An accumulation of additional premiums is possible within the limit of 400% increase for a period of 2 years.
These reasons for license withdrawal sometimes have even more serious consequences on your car insurance.
In fact, insurers have the right to cancel or terminate your car contract, increase your bonus-malus coefficient and refuse compensation in the event of a claim.
Repercussions that can weigh heavily on drivers!
How to find car insurance after having your license revoked?
After a license withdrawal, your insurance company may decide to cancel your car insurance or significantly increase your insurance premium.
In this situation, it is sometimes difficult to find a company that agrees to cover you without paying a high price.
Here are some tips to insure yourself after a license withdrawal:
Turn to specialized insurers for canceled or at-risk drivers
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Contact the Central Pricing Bureau (BCT): in France, insuring your vehicle is compulsory, this organization intervenes with canceled drivers to force a company to insure them by setting the price of contributions.
Please note, however, that the obligation only concerns civil liability guarantee (the legal minimum).
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