A water damage incident on a Sunday evening, a fender bender in a supermarket parking lot, a crack on the facade after a summer of drought: you don’t choose your insurance at the same time or for the same reasons. The problem is that we often sign an insurance contract in a hurry, without having checked what really matters. Understanding your coverage before you need it makes a difference when a claim occurs.
Natural disaster surcharge: what has changed in contracts in 2025
Before comparing guarantees or plans, it’s important to consider a recent parameter that affects the cost of all home and auto contracts. Since January 1, 2025, the natural disaster surcharge on home contracts has increased from 12% to 20% of the premium covering property damage. For automobiles, this surcharge has risen from 6% to 9% on vehicle damage guarantees.
In practical terms, even without changing guarantees, the bill has mechanically increased. This is not a decision made by the insurer; it’s a regulatory component. When comparing two quotes received a year apart, it’s essential to isolate this surcharge to measure the true price evolution of the contract.
Another point to remember: the deadline for reporting a claim recognized as a natural disaster is now 30 days from the publication of the decree in the Official Journal, and not from the day of the event. Before comparing offers, you can consult Planet Argent for insurance to navigate between types of contracts and recent price changes.
Natural disaster guarantee and climate event guarantee: two distinct coverages
These two guarantees are often confused, and this is a costly mistake during a claim. The natural disaster guarantee covers floods, landslides, drought episodes, but only after the publication of a ministerial decree. Without a decree, no compensation can be claimed through this route.
Storms, hail, and the weight of snow fall under another guarantee, often referred to as “climate events.” This one operates without a decree: it is enough for the claim to be observed and reported within the timeframes specified in the contract.
When choosing a multi-risk home contract, you need to check that both guarantees are included in the specific conditions. Some entry-level contracts limit climate event coverage to a low ceiling or exclude certain types of damage (damage to fences, garden sheds, terraces). Reading the exclusions of coverage before signing remains the only reliable method.
Auto insurance: choosing coverage based on actual vehicle use
The classic logic contrasts three plans: third party, extended third party, and all risks. This classification is well-known. What is less known is that the right choice depends more on the daily use of the vehicle than on its age.
A recent vehicle parked in the city center, exposed to parking bumps and theft, justifies all-risk coverage with driver guarantee. An older vehicle used only for short rural trips can suffice with an extended third party plan that includes glass breakage and theft, without all-accident damage coverage.
Key guarantees to check first
- The driver guarantee, often absent from third party plans: it covers medical expenses and compensation for the driver in the event of a responsible accident, which is not covered by civil liability alone.
- The amount of the deductible per claim: two contracts at the same price may have very different deductibles, which changes everything at the time of compensation.
- The exclusions related to the professional use of the vehicle: using your personal car for deliveries or regular business trips can invalidate certain guarantees if the contract does not allow it.
Feedback varies on the actual usefulness of all-risk coverage for a vehicle over ten years old. If the residual value of the vehicle is low, compensation in the event of a total loss will be limited, regardless of the level of coverage purchased.
Cancellation and changing insurers: what the Hamon law allows in practice
Since the Hamon law, you can cancel an auto or home insurance contract at any time after the first year, without fees or penalties. In practice, it is the new insurer who handles the cancellation process with the old one.
The cancellation takes effect one month after notification. During this month, the two contracts do not overlap: the old one remains active until the effective cancellation date, then the new one takes over.
This mechanism changes the way you approach the choice of insurance. You are no longer stuck until the contract anniversary date. If a change in situation occurs (moving, buying a new vehicle, changing family situation), you can adjust your coverage without waiting.
Points to watch out for before changing insurers
Check that the new contract covers the same period as the old one, without any waiting period. Re-read the compensation ceilings, which can decrease from one insurer to another for a comparable price. And keep the cancellation certificate from the old contract: it serves as proof in case of a dispute over coverage continuity.
An insurance contract is not chosen like a phone subscription. The guarantees, deductibles, and exclusions weigh more heavily than a few euros difference in the monthly premium. Reviewing your specific conditions once a year, or at least every three years, remains the most cost-effective action to avoid unpleasant surprises at the time of a claim.
