Car Insurance in France: How MAIF Accepts Overseas Insurance Records (Full Guide for Expats)

Moving to France can be stressful — especially when navigating a new country’s car insurance system. One of the biggest questions expats face is:

“Will a French insurer accept my driving history from abroad so I can keep my no-claims bonus?”

The good news: some insurers DO accept foreign insurance records, and MAIF is one of the more flexible ones. But the process is not always straightforward, and many expats discover that French insurers often reject documents from the U.S., Canada, Australia, the U.K., and other countries.

This guide explains exactly how it works, what MAIF looks for, how I personally got my U.S. driving history accepted, and what you can do to maximize your chance of getting a French bonus.

Understanding the French Bonus–Malus System

France uses a unique rating system called bonus–malus, which adjusts your insurance cost depending on your accident history.

• Bonus = You’ve driven without claims → cheaper insurance

• Malus = You’ve had at-fault claims → higher premiums

• Base coefficient: 1.00

• Each year without an accident: 5% reduction (down to a minimum of 0.50 = 50% discount)

Why it matters for expats:
If your foreign driving history is accepted, you can start with a discount instead of paying the full price as a new driver in France.

If it’s not accepted, insurers usually treat you like someone who never had insurance before — which can be very expensive.

Why French Insurers Often Reject Overseas Records

Not all French insurers recognize foreign no-claims records. Common reasons include:

1. Incomplete documents

Many insurers want official letters showing:

• Full insurance history

• Dates of coverage

• Number of accidents

• Bonus or no-claims status

A simple “claims summary” is often not enough.

2. The insurer doesn’t accept records from that country

Some companies only accept EU driving histories.

3. Gaps in coverage

Even a few months without insurance can lead to rejection.

MAIF tends to be more flexible than most — which is why many expats have better luck with them.

My Experience With MAIF (How They Accepted My U.S. Record)

After contacting several French insurers with my American no-claims certificate, all of them gave me similar answers:

“We cannot accept insurance records from the United States.”

Then I tried MAIF, and the process was significantly smoother.

What MAIF requested

They asked me to upload:

• A claims history / no-claims certificate from my U.S. insurer

• The exact dates of coverage

• Confirmation that I had no at-fault accidents

• My French driver’s license & ID (they would have accepted my US license as well I believe)

• Proof of residence

I submitted these documents through their online portal.

Outcome

A few days later, a MAIF representative called and confirmed:

“We have accepted your previous insurance history, so you start with a bonus coefficient of 0.57 — equivalent to a 43% discount.”

This instantly brought my premium down to a reasonable price.

How to Maximize Your Chances of Getting Your Foreign Bonus Accepted

Here’s a checklist you can follow to improve your approval odds:

✔️ 1. Ask your previous insurer (s) for a detailed “claims history letter”

It should include:

• Your name

• Policy dates

• Number of claims

• Type of claims (fault / not at fault)

• Confirmation that you have no claims — if applicable

• Official signature or company letterhead

✔️ 2. Get multiple documents if needed

Some U.S. insurers issue:

• “Loss runs”

• “Claims summaries”

• “Proof of insurance letters”

Submit all of them.

✔️ 3. Keep proof of continuous insurance

If there are gaps between policies, explain them.

✔️ 5. Try multiple insurers

Some insurers are much stricter than others. MAIF and MATMUT tend to be more flexible; AXA and Allianz can be strict depending on the agency.

Which French Insurers Accept Foreign Driving History?

While policies differ by branch and agent, general patterns include:

More flexible:

• MAIF

• Matmut

• MACIF

Case-by-case:

• AXA

• Allianz

Often strict / rarely accept:

• Direct Assurance

• Budget insurers like L'Olivier / Leocare

This can vary by region and agent, so always ask before applying, as this is simply based on my experience.

Required Documents for Expats Seeking a Bonus in France

Most insurers will want:

• Passport or French ID or proof of visa

• French driver's license, EU license, or USA license within first 12 months with proof of visa

• Carte grise (vehicle registration) even if temporary

• Proof of address

• No-claims certificate (translated if needed, depends on the insurance company)

• Full claims history from previous insurer

• Proof of continuous coverage

Conclusion: MAIF Is One of the Best Options for Expats in France

Getting your foreign driving history accepted in France can be difficult, but MAIF stands out as one of the more flexible and expat-friendly insurers. By preparing complete documentation and knowing what insurers look for, you can often secure a significant bonus and avoid overpaying for car insurance.

If you’re moving to France, gathering your documents early can save you hundreds of euros in your first year.

Once you already have insurance with your bonus established, you can use comparison websites like Le Comperateur Assurance which can provide you multiple quotes.

I am planning on using this service through iGraal to get a great rate and up to 50 euros cashback. If you are not a member of iGraal, it is a French cashback website. You can sign-up with my referral bonus here: https://fr.igraal.com/parrainage?parrain=AG_68812298153b2