a fun experience…at least until the insurance point!

License-free cars such as Citroën Ami can be accessed from the age of 14. But to ensure it, you will have to take out a contract that is charged at a higher price, unlike a normal car contract and that will not allow you to improve your experience, even in the absence of an accident.

With its modern, compact appearance, the Citroën Ami has conquered France since its launch in 2020. It is hard to miss it if you pass in front of a middle or high school: because this electric trolley has become a youth icon. Since November 2014, cars without a license have been available from the age of 14 (compared to 16 before). Quick to recharge (4 hours needed on a standard V 220 socket), safer than a scooter, easy to park as it only takes up half the parking space, Ami is special for its ease of use and can be bought at Fnac or Darty. Unless you can break the bank: count on at least €7,990 for its current basic version, the ecological bonus of €900 is not deducted (or from €49.99 per month after the initial tax of €900 for a long term rental. for 36 months and 15,000 km).

Unlicensed vehicles accessible to carpool candidates

It is placed in the category of unlicensed vehicles (VSP) like other competitors such as the Renault Twizy, however it grabs this title: since 1^{it is} March 2024, people born after 1^{it is} January 1988 must have an AM category license (formerly Road Safety Certificate or BSR) to drive a VSP. (arrÃªtÃ© du 27 fÃ©vrier 2024, JO du 28). From this date, candidates for a B driving license can also drive without a license as an Ami, after their initial training (obtaining a training certificate or Affi) and while waiting to take the test. Obviously, to meet this condition, you must be over 15 years of age, be registered for a motor vehicle license (AAC), have obtained your code and have completed 20 driving hours plus an education appointment.

Similar guarantees but different contract

But before you start on the road behind the wheel of your friend, you will need to find him an insurance policy. Despite its power and low speed (kW 9 or 12 horses and a maximum of 45 km / h), Ami must really be insured like any land vehicle, by giving its insurer a copy of the registration certificate (old gray card) . The guarantees are the same as those of a standard car contract: only civil liability insurance that covers damage caused by others is mandatory (included in all third-party contracts) and it is possible to add other protections (broken glass, theft…) by choosing the most complete formula. But be careful: the contract to insure this type of car is not a traditional insurance contract.

Non-transferable automatic bonus assignment

Therefore, if you are asking for a quote on traditional insurance simulators, Rafiki is not one of the car options offered among car deals. Online comparators and brokers do little better and only offer at least one or two deals on this type of car. So there is no competition. Â« Unlicensed car insurance is a separate contract issue and it is impossible to insure an unlicensed car with a traditional car contract.confirms Olivier Moustacakis co-founder of the agency Assurland. The reason is simple: the bonus-malus system does not apply to vehicles without a license.. In other words, the coefficient of reduction-increase (CRM) which allows, in the absence of an accident involved, to obtain a continuous annual reduction, reaching a maximum bonus of 50% (-5% for 3 years then -4% for the 5^e 9 o’clock^e year, then -3% to 13^e year), not applicable. So, if these cars allow young drivers to get used to driving, there is no need to think about your children “holding” a car without a license with the aim of reducing the price of their future insurance contribution when they change. standard car: your child’s quota will not be transferred to the new contract and therefore he will always be considered as a young driver without a precedent.

But young people are not the only targets. Insurers are vigilant about the background of candidates who already have driving experience. At comparators, before getting a quote, the customer is asked questions to find out if their license has already been suspended or revoked. If this is the case, the insurer may refuse to issue the contract or will impose warranty restrictions, and at least punish the customer with higher annual premiums.

High prices to pay for your car insurance without a license

But these deals are expensive and already expensive in the first place. This is not necessarily a market opinion: broker websites often claim the opposite. April notes for example“As a general rule, car insurance for this type of car costs much less than that of ordinary cars. And for good reason: the experience of loss of carts is less, since due to their small capacity, they are rarely involved in accidents of the road.”. With the explosion of sales in this segment, the situation seems to have changed. â€œThese cars are intended either for a young customer who does not always respect the parking rules, or for an older customer who turns to driving without a license after losing your license: in any case, insurers are well aware that the risk of loss is high., concludes Olivier Moustacakis. Our tests carried out by several brokers or comparators improve. For a young person under the age of 18, insuring a friend with a third company using SOS Malus costs from €480/year (with driver’s insurance reduced by €70,000), compared to € ‚564 ¬ Mieux Assure Agency. But above all, the bill increases to benefit from all-risk insurance: from €1,392 with Mieux Assure and up to €2,200 with the Assu 2000 contract That is more than 25% of the car’s price to be added annually for safe driving.