Holidays abroad: how to be well insured?

Verified 26 November 2025 - Public Service / Directorate of Legal and Administrative Information (Prime Minister)

During holidays abroad, you may be confronted with unforeseen events (e.g. accident, baggage theft). Taking out an insurance and/or assistance contract helps protect you. We present you the information you need to know before you leave and during your trip.

Before the trip

A guarantee trip cancelation can be subscribed with the travel agency. Depending on the scope of the warranty trip cancelation, your trip may be canceled for example in one of the following cases:

  • You get sick
  • You're a victim of an accident
  • One of your loved ones just passed away
  • Your leave is modified at the initiative of your employer.

An insurance contract (car, home...) or a bank card can integrate assistance services. An assistance contract may also include insurance guarantees.

Before taking out an insurance or assistance contract:

  • Check the guarantees you already have to avoid accumulating them
  • Assess your needs based on your personal situation.

Before leaving abroad:

  • Check that your destination is on the list of countries covered by your assistance and insurance guarantees
  • Check the exclusions in your contract.

FYI  

The closer you are to the departure date to cancel your trip, the lower the amount refunded.

Find out if the accommodation you rent abroad is insured.

Your multi-risk home contract may include a guarantee civil liability holiday. This warranty covers your liability when you are a tenant or occupant of a dwelling (excluding a hotel) during the duration of your stay. For example, if you cause water damage, you damage the appliances in the home.

Third-party liability insurance is usually included in your home insurance policy. This warranty covers damage you may cause to others in connection with your trip and outside the rented accommodation. For example, if you break an object at a shopkeeper or accidentally injure a passerby by by pushing it.

If you use your car, car insurance in France includes mandatory one liability insurance. This insurance is intended to cover compensation for damage you have caused to others.

If you use a rented vehicle, it is normally the insurance of the renter who must repair the damage. Often, the insurance of the lessors provide for deductibles in the event of an accident that will remain your responsibility. They can be raised.

Assistance services related to car insurance include, for example:

  • Sending a driver to repatriate the vehicle in case of impossibility to drive it
  • Towing and/or repatriation of the vehicle in the event of a breakdown or accident
  • Accommodation costs for the duration of the repair.

During the trip

In the event of damage, loss or theft of your luggage, you can benefit from the following guarantees:

  • The holiday guarantee can be included in the multi-risk contracts for ex officio or optional accommodation. It can guarantee some of your property damaged or lost during your holiday.
  • The baggage guarantee can be offered by the travel agency, the carrier or your bank. It covers the goods you have taken away or purchased.

FYI  

Air carriers have fixed compensation obligations in the event of loss or damage to your luggage. This obligation arises from the purchase of an air ticket.

The coverage of your healthcare costs abroad is different if you are going on holiday to Europe or another country:

Supplementary health insurance may cover certain expenses that remain at your expense.

Some contracts include guarantees in the event of an accident or illness. For example: death and disability insurance, contract multi-risk housing.

Personal assistance services are generally offered in multi-risk home or car insurance contracts.

These services most often include the following:

  • Repatriation, transport and admission to hospital in case of illness or injury
  • Coverage of transport costs in the event of interruption of the journey following the death of a relative
  • Return ticket for one of your relatives, if you are hospitalized, without repatriation possible for a fixed period in the contract
  • Advances in case of loss or theft of money
  • Coverage of search costs in the event of rescue or rescue operations
  • Management of urgent procedures on site

The legal protection guarantee allows you to benefit from coverage of legal fees and expenses if you encounter a dispute with a third party (travel agency, airline, hotel).

These contracts usually provide for a legal information service.

Guarantees of legal protection are frequently included in credit card contracts.

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