France: Drivers face incorrect fines following insurance certificate changes

Since April 1, 2024, the physical green insurance card and paper certificates have been abolished for registered vehicles in France. Verification is now conducted digitally through the Fichier des véhicules assurés (FVA).

Despite this transition, many motorists are receiving erroneous 135-euro fines for failing to present insurance documentation. These unjustified penalties often occur during routine police or gendarmerie checks. The issue is reportedly linked to technical failures, such as network outages or difficulties accessing the FVA servers via mobile terminals, which prevent officers from verifying insurance status in real time.

Separately, the Institut mobilités et transitions (IMT) has proposed the introduction of an annual vehicle fee, termed a ‘redevance annuelle véhicule’. This electronic tax, managed via license plate numbers, is suggested as a way to compensate for declining fuel tax revenues caused by the transition to electric vehicles. The proposal suggests the fee could vary between 30 and 910 euros based on household income and vehicle type.