7 insurances you need in France

1. Health insurance (assurance santé)

France has one of the world’s best healthcare systems, but it can feel complicated when you’re new.

Health insurance is how you pay for care here.

The public system (Sécurité Sociale) covers most residents, but you usually still pay part of the costs yourself.

That’s why many people also have a “mutuelle”, a private top-up policy that pays what the state doesn’t.

To sum up…

There are three main types of health insurance in France:

• Public health insurance: For residents who are part of the social security system. It reimburses most of your doctor visits, hospital stays, and prescriptions, but you’ll usually cover a small portion yourself.

• Private health insurance: Works alongside the public system to reduce your out-of-pocket costs. Often offered by employers or purchased individually.

• Expat health insurance: Ideal if you’re applying for a visa or have just arrived and aren’t yet eligible for the public system. It can also bridge the gap while you wait to be registered (which can take months).

For a comprehensive overview of how the system works and guidance on selecting the right cover, we’ve created a detailed guide on health insurance in France.

2. Car insurance (assurance auto)

Car insurance protects you financially if your vehicle is damaged or if you cause damage to others. In France, it’s not optional.

It’s a legal requirement for every car owner.

There are three main coverage levels:

• Au tiers: Basic third-party coverage. Pays for damage you cause to others, not your own car.

• Intermédiaire: Adds protections like theft, fire, or glass damage.

• Tous risques: The most complete cover. Includes damage to your own car, even if you’re at fault.

France also employs a bonus-malus system: safe drivers receive discounts, while those with claims pay more.

3. Home insurance (assurance habitation)

Home insurance protects your home and belongings from unexpected damage or loss.

Whether it’s compulsory depends on your situation.

If you’re renting, it’s mandatory ( your landlord will usually ask for an attestation d’assurance before you move in).

Co-owners in an apartment building are often required by the syndic to have it.

If you own your home outright and live in it, it’s technically optional, but most banks make it a condition if you have a mortgage.

Typical coverage includes:

• Civil liability: If you cause damage to someone else’s property or injure someone (e.g., a water leak from your flat damages a neighbor’s ceiling).

• Water damage: Burst pipes, leaks, or flooding inside the home.

• Theft: Compensation for stolen items, usually with limits for valuables.

• Natural catastrophes: Storms, floods, earthquakes — covered under France’s special regime.

• Temporary accommodation: Hotel or rental costs if your home is uninhabitable after a claim.

Watch for common exclusions, such as wear and tear, damage resulting from poor maintenance, or valuables exceeding your policy’s limit.

4. Liability insurance (responsabilité civile vie privée)

French liability insurance covers the costs if you accidentally cause damage or injury to someone else in your private life.

It’s different from professional liability, which protects you in a work context.

It’s usually not legally required, but schools, sports clubs, or summer camps often ask for proof, especially for children.

It works in common everyday scenarios too:

• You spill coffee on a friend’s laptop.

• Your child breaks a neighbor’s window.

• Your dog damages someone’s garden.

It won’t cover intentional acts, injuries caused by motorized vehicles (which require separate insurance), or damage to your own property.

It’s often already included in home insurance or student policies, so check before buying separately.

5. Legal insurance (protection juridique)

Legal insurance (protection juridique) gives you access to legal advice and helps cover certain costs if you have a dispute.

It’s optional, but often offered as an add-on to home or car insurance. Standalone policies exist, too.

Before buying, check the coverage cap (the maximum they’ll pay) and any waiting periods before you can make a claim.

Typical situations where it can help include:

• Landlord disputes (e.g., deposit not returned, repairs not done)

• Noisy neighbors (mediation or legal action)

• Online purchases (goods not delivered or faulty)

• Employment conflicts (unfair dismissal, unpaid wages)

With protection juridique, you can usually choose your own lawyer, although some insurers have partner networks that may expedite the process.

The insurer may cover lawyer fees, court costs, and expert reports, but only up to your policy limits and for disputes covered under your contract.

6. Disability insurance (assurance prévoyance)

Disability insurance, often called prévoyance, protects your income if you can’t work due to illness or injury.

There are generally waiting and elimination periods that apply (a set time before benefits begin, ranges from weeks to months).

Payments last until recovery, retirement age, or the end of the policy term (any trustworthy insurer should make that clear on their website).

Benefits may be taxable depending on the policy type and how premiums were paid.

If you, or your family, rely on your income to meet ongoing expenses, having prévoyance means you won’t have to drain savings or rely solely on state benefits, which are often limited.

7. Life insurance (assurance décès/vie)

In France, assurance décès is a type of life insurance that pays a lump sum if the policyholder dies during the contract period, whereas assurance vie is a savings and investment product with tax advantages.

With assurance décès, the main goal is protection: ensuring your family has financial support if you’re no longer there.

With assurance vie, the aim is long-term savings or estate planning; you can withdraw funds during your lifetime, and at death, beneficiaries often benefit from favorable inheritance tax rules.

Regardless of the type, you choose who receives the money, and the policies generally bypass most inheritance taxation rules.

If you want straightforward family protection, a simple French term life policy (assurance décès) is usually enough. If you’re thinking about building savings with an eye on estate planning, Assurance Vie is the better tool.