Compulsory insurance and therefore an expanding market, EDPMs for motorized personal transport vehicles are being watched closely by insurance companies. However, the contracts remain as little developed as their mastery by the users.
In the jargon, they are called EDPM for personal motorized transport vehicles. In the street, they ride too often on sidewalks and are sometimes considered dangerous. But whether it is an electric scooter, a gyropod, a monowheel, a hoverboard or even a hoverskate, in real life, it is mandatory to declare them and insure them like a motorcycle or a car, unlike the electric bicycles (partly protected via home insurance options). Information still too little known and too little applied, regrets Fanny Limare-Wolf of L’Olivier Assurance, despite the communication efforts made by insurers to raise awareness among their customers.
Motorized personal transport vehicles (EDPM) are subject to the same liability insurance obligation as motorized vehicles. (…) This civil liability insurance covers the damage that you could cause, for example the injuries of a pedestrian that you hit or the damage that you cause to a vehicle, summarizes France insurers (FA).
An entry-level from 3.50 euros per month
An obligation that also makes this market of nearly 3 million EDPMs in France attractiveespecially in big cities and with a young audience, agrees Fanny Limare-Wolf, who works with the insurance manufacturer Wakam on these products.
Many insurers offer to take out a specific insurance contract for the use of these EDPMs. Thus, for an entry-level contract, i.e. civil liability (material and bodily damage if you injure a third party and legal aid in the event of a claim), which represents 80% of the total market in 2022, it will be necessary to pay 3.50 euros per month at Luko or at L’Olivier Assurance. The monthly amount climbs 4.50 around euros at Allianz, 5euros the Maaf or Wizzasspecializing in the insurance of this type of product, and around 6 euros the Maif.
To add the driver’s body cover, it will cost around 8 euros at Allianz, 10 euros per month with the insurers Matmut and Groupama. But beware, the more the risk increases, the more the contribution increases. Thus, to insure material damage to the machine, the driver’s guarantee, or your hospitalization or treatment costs if you are injured, or even theft, the price goes up 11 euros at Luko and 13 euros at Wizzas. This last formula includes civil liability, criminal defense recourse following an accident, coverage of care in the event of injury to the driver up to 250,000 euros, damage to the electric vehicle and theft and fire. At L’Olivier, count 21euros for the stretched version.
| Luko | Allianz | maif | Olive Tree | Wizzas | |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
Contract price Civil liability (RC) and legal protection (PJ) | 3.50 euros | 4.50 euros | 6 euros | 3.60 euros | 5 euros |
Coverage of material damage / bodily injury | 1.22 M / Without ceiling | 100 M / Without ceiling | 100 M / Without ceiling | 1.22 M / Without ceiling | 100 M / Without ceiling |
| Ceiling of the driver’s guarantee (GC) | 200000 euros | 250000 euros | CN | CN | 250000 euros |
| Flight of the EPDM (V) | |||||
Monthly price for full RC protectionPJGC+V | 11 euros | from 8 euros | CN | Between 14 and 21 euros | 13euros |
This information has been compiled on the websites of the insurers cited
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What penalties if you drive without insurance?
If you do not respect the obligation to ensure you, you fall under the blow of the law. Article L 3242 of the Highway Code provides for severe criminal penalties and chelonnes: fines, then suspension of the driving licence. In addition, in the event of a bodily injury, you will be required to reimburse the funds – increased by 10% – advanced by the Mandatory Insurance Guarantee Fund (FGAO). In 2021, the FGAO received nearly 400 claims for compensation concerning EPDMs. That is a 34% increase compared to 2020. In detail, 96% of these accidents are caused by electric scooters.
What about rental scooters?
Similarly, if you use a self-service electric scooter rental service, you must check whether the damage you could cause to third parties (pedestrian, vehicle, etc.) is covered by the rental company’s insurance contract. The information must necessarily be easily accessible from the home page of its website.
Driving an electric scooter, a Segway, a monowheel, a hoverboard or even a hoverskate can be learned. Trott’Safe Assurance Prévention offers online training modules and quizzes to develop good practices, starting with front-to-back lighting and wearing a helmet and gloves in the event of a fall. This is an opportunity to also learn that the circulation of EDPM is prohibited on the sidewalks and their speed limit is 50km/h.