If there is one area in which rates can vary greatly depending on your situation, it is that of car insurance. In its annual study, the comparator Assurland thus points to spectacular premium differences according to age, region or brand of vehicle.
After revealing that insurance rates had risen by 16% between 2010 and 2020, the comparator Assurland returns with better news in its major annual study. He claims that premiums have remained stable between 2021 and 2020, for the second consecutive year, with an average of €611 in France. This is one of the (rare) positive effects of the health crisis and its procession of traffic restrictions, which have contributed to reducing the number of fatal accidents on the road. The continuous increase in the cost of repairs and spare parts has thus been offset, and Assurland believes that this trend of stability will continue in 2022.
TO READ. Road safety. Death toll on the roads in 2021
Ile-de-France always more expensive
But not all of France is in the same boat. With a 5.3% increase in premiums, Île-de-France thus consolidates its place as the most expensive region. In addition to having the highest number of declared claims, under the effect of very heavy traffic, it is also the only one to have seen the number of road deaths increase by 9% in 2021. Ile-de-France residents must therefore pay on average 729 € to insure their vehicle, when the Bretons can be satisfied with 484 €. The prize for the biggest drop goes to Pays de la Loire, with a price reduction of 9%. Conversely, Provence-Alpes-Côte d’Azur and Auvergne-Rhône-Alpes are above the national average.
TO READ. Car insurance: 16% increase in rates between 2010 and 2020
Young drivers very penalized
However, the criterion that has the strongest influence remains that of age. To the chagrin of 18-25 year olds: for them, insurance premiums exceed the bar of €1,000 per year! Blame it on the application of a “young driver” surcharge which amounts to 100% the first year, 50% the second year and 25% the third year.
Considered “at risk” by insurers, these motorists thus pay a high price for their lack of driving experience, which leads them to have more accidents. To limit damage, Assurland advises them to opt for accompanied driving, to sign on to their parents’ contract or to favor a small used car. From the age of 26, on the other hand, the average prices become more reasonable, before gradually falling, then rising a little for those aged 76 and over. These elderly drivers may in fact suffer from vision, hearing or attention problems and a greater risk of injury, which insurers take into account.
Dacia brand least expensive to insure
The vehicle chosen obviously also has an influence on the rates: the more expensive and powerful it is, the more expensive it is likely to be to have it covered. But Assurland did not go so far as to give a classification by model, or even by engine. The comparator was content to give a list of brands, in which Dacia emerged victorious, without too much surprise. The Romanian manufacturer is ahead of three Asian firms, Subaru, Suzuki and Mitsubishi, while Smart closes the top 5. Now devoid of a thermal model in the range, the latter was able to take advantage of the abolition of the special tax on insurance agreements for electric vehicles between 2021 and 2023. A measure which also allowed Tesla to see its average premiums drop by 17%. However, this does not prevent the American brand led by Elon Musk from remaining at the bottom of the pack, in 32nd position: it takes around €877 per year to insure the Model 3, Y, S and X. Only BMW, Porsche and Maserati do even worse.
TO READ. Electric cars: their insurance is sometimes much more expensive
All risk or third party, an important choice
Finally, the Assurland study also reminds us that the choice of the right insurance formula remains an important point to take into account. If you are 58% to opt for the “all risks”, this one generates an average additional cost higher than 50 € compared to the other types of contract. It may therefore be interesting to prefer “third party” insurance, also called civil liability, possibly with a few options such as glass breakage or theft/fire. A particularly suitable choice if your vehicle is already quite old and has lost most of its value. To find out how to make the right decision, do not hesitate to consult the article that we recently devoted to this subject.
TO READ. Car insurance: when to switch from all risks to third parties?
