In the first half of 2025, there were nearly 150,000 new electric vehicle (EV) registrations in France. Amongst the most popular vehicles, the new Renault 5 E-Tech car led the way following its launch in late 2024. Whilst the pace of growth in sales has slowed, more and more households are using EVs and charging their vehicles at home. In this article, we consider the insurance issues when installing an EV charging point (Borne recharge à domicile).

Protecting your home & car: where does EV charging liability fall?

In the event of damage as a result of the EV charging set up, liability will generally fall between your house insurance (assurance habitation) and car insurance (assurance auto).

§  Damage to the wallbox: The physical charging point (wallbox) constitutes an electrical fixture of your property. Your home insurance (multirisque habitation) generally will guarantee cover damage to the unit – from fire, a short circuit, or vandalism – provided you declare the installation to your insurer.

§  Damage to third parties: This is where liability becomes key. Your civil liability (Responsabilité civile) covers the financial consequences if a fault in your charging installation causes a fire that spreads to a neighbour’s property, or if the equipment injures a guest. This is usually a standard inclusion in a French home insurance policy.

Why using a certified installer is important

The best way of ensuring that your house and car insurance cover is valid is to use a professional, certified installer. In France, a Qualifelec-certified electrician should install your EV charging point; check for a reference to “Mention IRVE” (Infrastructure de Recharge pour Véhicules Électriques).

Why is this essential for liability?

If they find that a non-compliant, DIY, or poorly installed system caused the damage, insurers may reduce or even refuse to cover the resulting damages and associated third-party liability claims. A certified installation confirms the system meets all safety standards, protecting both your property and your financial liability.

Charging cable liability

What about the charging cable? This item can be a grey area.

If a fault in the cable causes a surge that damages your vehicle’s battery, it typically falls under the specific EV cover of your car insurance.

If you run a charging cable across a pathway and a delivery person or visitor trips over it, the resulting injury liability usually falls under the civil liability section of your home insurance.

The AXA Advantage

It is vital therefore to check your insurance cover. AXA offers specific add-ons and guarantees for EV owners, including bespoke protection for the charging station and its related equipment. This ensures you have a single, clear policy that fully addresses these modern liability risks.

Contact AXA Marthon today for a free, no-obligation quote for home, car or other insurance needs.

Insurance France is the trading name of AXA Marthon. We are an English and French speaking AXA agency, taking care of your insurance so you can enjoy your life in France.

Phone: +33 (0)5 45 70 43 76

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