Insurance companies warn, many drivers will not be compensated this winter

Insurers may not compensate all drivers this winter.

Beware of uncontrolled skidding! If you cause a road accident this winter, you risk not being covered by your insurance. A shame when you pay on average between 50 and 100 euros each month to be taken care of in the event of a disaster. The information may seem surprising at first. at first sight but its explanation lies in the application of the Mountain law which has come into force in 48 departments of France (see the list below) for two years.

What does this new law say? It asks motorists traveling in or around; proximity mountainous areas equip their vehicle to be able to drive safely. in winter conditions (snow, ice…) between November 1 and March 31. In these areas, marked by large rectangular signs on which a mountain, a tire and a suitcase containing chains are drawn, each car must be fitted with snow or 4-season tires. If this is not the case, the driver must be able to show that he has chains or socks to wear. snow ready to go use in case of unfavorable weather.

For the third winter in a row, the government has decided to No fine, class 4 (135 euros), will be distributed between now and March 31. Good news for the many motorists concerned – the equipment requested can cost several hundred euros – but which hides a bad one. If fines for non-compliance with the Mountain law will not be issued before winter 2024-2025, insurance companies will be much less patient.

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The amounts of compensation The contributions can be pharaonic!

City on the Challenge.fr website, Dominique Stempfel, the president of the Syndicat des Professionnels du Pneu, confides that “insurance companies have alerted us to this situation. on the risks of insurance lapse.'' Faced every winter with a high number of accidents due to driving on snow and/or ice, insurers could refuse to compensate drivers responsible for an accident – probably depending on its severity. – if their vehicle is not equipped with as required by Mountain law.

And there, the bill could be much higher than a fine of 135 euros! Insurance, compulsory in France as in many countries, can cover the costs of repairing your vehicle, medical costs in the event of injuries, as well as material damage that you could cause other people or to their belongings. If he is not covered by his insurance, the at-fault driver risks paying compensation to the victims of the accident for years or even longer. life. Sums which, cumulatively, can reach several tens of thousands of euros. Enough to put expenses for the purchase of snow tires or chains into perspective.

Here are the 48 departments concerned by the Mountain law:
Ain , Allier, Alpes-de-Haute-Provence, Alpes-Maritimes, Ardèche, Ariège, Aude, Aveyron, Bas-Rhin, Cantal, Corse-du-Sud, Côte-d'Or, Creuse , Doubs, Drôme, Eure-et-Loir, Gard, Haute-Corse, Haute-Garonne, Haute-Loire, Hautes-Alpes, Haute-Saône, Haute-Savoie, Hautes-Pyrénées, Haute -Vienne, Haut-Rhin, Hérault, Isère, Jura, Loire, Lot, Lozère, Meurthe-et-Moselle, Moselle, Nièvre, Puy-de-Dôme, Pyrenees -Atlantic, Pyrénées-Orientales, Rhône, Saône-et-Loire, Savoie, Tarn, Tarn-et-Garonne, Territoire de Belfort, Var, Vaucluse, Vosges, and Yonne.