Car insurance: optional guarantees and "all-risk" insurance

Verified 20 March 2026 - Public Service / Directorate of Legal and Administrative Information (Prime Minister)

Automobile insurance must cover the civil liability of the driver. Optional warranties may supplement the compulsory insurance to cover damage to your vehicle, certain events (theft, fire, natural disasters) or driver injuries. They can be subscribed separately or be grouped in a so-called “all-risk” formula. We present you the main guarantees offered in car insurance contracts.

Insurers offer a number of optional coverage options to extend driver and vehicle protection.

Guarantee damage all accidents

The guarantee damage all accidents allows you to be compensated for the damage suffered by your vehicle during an accident, with or without a collision, even if you are responsible for the accident.

It may cover, for example:

  • deformation of the bodywork,
  • broken windows or traffic lights,
  • burst tires.

This warranty is the most comprehensive for material damage to the vehicle.

The insurer may refuse compensation in certain cases, for example:

  • Driving without a valid license
  • Driving without a valid license (no license, or license withdrawn, suspended or canceled)
  • Intentional misconduct (deliberate collision with another vehicle or pedestrian)
  • Driving under the influence of prohibited substances (alcohol or narcotics)
  • Conduct prohibited by law (hit-and-run or refusal to comply)
  • Driving on an unauthorized track (motor circuit or developed track).

Exclusions must be stated in the contract.

Collision Damage Warranty

The guarantee collision damage allows you to be compensated for the damage suffered by your vehicle during a collision with a third party.

The third party may be, for example:

  • another vehicle,
  • a pedestrian,
  • an animal owner.

Collision warranty applies only if the third party is identified.

If the third party is not identified (e.g. hit-and-run), the collision warranty generally does not apply.

The collision warranty does not usually cover accidents with wild animals.

These accidents are in principle covered by the “all accidents” guarantee.

Certain situations may be excluded by the contract.

These are the following:

  • Driving without a valid license (no license, or license withdrawn, suspended or canceled)
  • Intentional misconduct (deliberate collision with another vehicle or pedestrian)
  • Driving under the influence of prohibited substances (alcohol or narcotics)
  • Conduct prohibited by law (hit-and-run or refusal to comply)
  • Driving on an unauthorized track (motor circuit or developed track)

Ice Breakage Warranty

The guarantee ice breakage allows you to be compensated for damage to the windshield.

It may also apply, depending on the contract, to the following other glazed elements:

  • Side windows
  • Rear window
  • Roof glass
  • Headlight optics lenses
  • Exterior mirrors

Certain situations may be excluded by the contract.

These are the following:

  • Driving without a valid license (no license, or license withdrawn, suspended or canceled)
  • Intentional misconduct (deliberate collision with another vehicle or pedestrian)
  • Driving under the influence of prohibited substances (alcohol or narcotics)
  • Conduct prohibited by law (hit-and-run or refusal to comply)
  • Driving on an unauthorized track (motor circuit or developed track)

Fire warranty

The guarantee fire covers damage to the vehicle in the event of fire or explosion.

The fire may originate from:

  • failure of the vehicle (electric circuit for example),
  • an external event (lightning, fire nearby).

Situations that may be excluded by the contract

Certain situations may be excluded by the contract.

These are the following:

  • Driving without a valid license (no license, or license withdrawn, suspended or canceled)
  • Intentional misconduct (deliberate collision with another vehicle or pedestrian)
  • Driving under the influence of prohibited substances (alcohol or narcotics)
  • Conduct prohibited by law (hit-and-run or refusal to comply)
  • Driving on an unauthorized track (motor circuit or developed track)

Some optional warranties allow compensation for damage caused to the vehicle by exceptional external events, including natural or industrial events.

Natural Disaster Guarantee

The guarantee natural disaster allows you to be compensated for material damage caused to your vehicle by a natural disaster: earthquake, avalanche, floods, tidal wave,...

This guarantee can only be implemented if a interministerial decree recognizes the state of natural disaster in the area concerned.

One frankness legal applies.

Technological Disaster Guarantee

The guarantee technological disaster allows compensation for damage caused by a major industrial accident (e.g. factory explosion).

Compensation depends on the official recognition of a state of technological disaster by order.

In this case, compensation is paid without deductible for the insured victim.

Storm Warranty

The guarantee storm allows compensation for damage caused by a violent climatic phenomenon:

  • storm,
  • hurricane,
  • cyclone.

It applies when the event is not recognized as a natural disaster.

Situations that may be excluded by the contract

Certain situations may be excluded by the contract.

These are the following:

  • Driving without a valid license (no license, or license withdrawn, suspended or canceled)
  • Intentional misconduct (deliberate collision with another vehicle or pedestrian)
  • Driving under the influence of prohibited substances (alcohol or narcotics)
  • Conduct prohibited by law (hit-and-run or refusal to comply)
  • Driving on an unauthorized track (motor circuit or developed track)

Insurance contracts may also provide guarantees to cover theft of the vehicle or the disappearance of objects carried in it.

Flight Guarantee

The guarantee theft allows to be compensated:

  • in the event of theft of the vehicle,
  • in the event of an attempted theft,
  • if the vehicle is found with damage.

The compensation generally corresponds to:

  • or to the value of the vehicle on the day of the loss,
  • or to one value set in the contract.

The insurer may require certain preventive measures (alarm, engraving of windows, etc.).

Warranty vehicle content

The guarantee vehicle contents covers the degradation, destruction or disappearance of objects carried in the car.

Contracts generally set out:

  • one compensation ceiling,
  • the list of excluded objects (valuables, cash,...).

Situations that may be excluded by the contract

Certain situations may be excluded by the contract.

These are the following:

  • Driving without a valid license (no license, or license withdrawn, suspended or canceled)
  • Intentional misconduct (deliberate collision with another vehicle or pedestrian)
  • Driving under the influence of prohibited substances (alcohol or narcotics)
  • Conduct prohibited by law (hit-and-run or refusal to comply)
  • Driving on an unauthorized track (motor circuit or developed track)

Certain guarantees cover bodily harm suffered by the driver or passengers in the event of an accident.

The guarantee bodily injury to the driver allows compensation for driver injuries after an accident, even if:

  • if he was responsible for the accident,
  • or if no one responsible is identified.

Depending on the contract, the guarantee may cover:

  • medical expenses,
  • temporary incapacity,
  • permanent incapacity,
  • the death.

Contracts generally provide for:

  • one compensation ceiling,
  • one intervention threshold for certain disabilities.

Personal injury to passengers is compensated by the compulsory civil liability of the driver.

Some contracts offer an optional supplement to improve passenger compensation (death benefit, additional medical costs).

This guarantee does not replace the CR but supplements it for the specific situations provided for in the contract.

Certain situations may be excluded by the contract.

These are the following:

  • Driving without a valid license (no license, or license withdrawn, suspended or canceled)
  • Intentional misconduct (deliberate collision with another vehicle or pedestrian)
  • Driving under the influence of prohibited substances (alcohol or narcotics)
  • Conduct prohibited by law (hit-and-run or refusal to comply)
  • Driving on an unauthorized track (motor circuit or developed track)

Insurance all risks is a formula that includes:

  • the compulsory civil liability guarantee,
  • several optional warranties (damage all accidents, theft, fire,...).

The exact composition of this formula varies by insurer.

It generally provides compensation for:

  • damage caused to other persons,
  • damage to your vehicle,
  • driver injuries (if warranty is included).

The all-hazards formula remains subject to exclusions provided for in the contract.

In addition to the warranties covering damage to the vehicle, some contracts offer service guarantees, such as assistance in the event of a breakdown or accident and legal assistance.

Motor vehicle legal protection

The guarantee legal protection allows:

  • to obtain legal advice,
  • to be assisted by a lawyer,
  • to be covered by certain procedural costs.

It concerns disputes related to the use of the vehicle.

Assistance and troubleshooting

The guarantee assistance can be assisted when the vehicle is immobilized following:

  • of a breakdown,
  • of an accident,
  • sometimes from a robbery.

It may provide for:

  • on-site troubleshooting,
  • towing,
  • a replacement vehicle.

Information to remember

  • Automobile insurance must at least cover the civil liability.
  • Some optional guarantees may complete this protection (damage to the vehicle, theft, fire, driver injuries, etc.).
  • These guarantees can be taken out separately or in a formula “all risks”.
  • Guarantees, exclusions and compensation limits vary according to the contracts.

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