When renting a car in France it is required by law that drivers carry unlimited third party liability insurance, and as a result it is automatically included in the price of all car rentals.

In France, Third-Party Liability insurance is mandatory by law and is legally required to be included in the basic price of every car rental. This covers any damage or injury you might cause to others. However, this does not cover damage to the rental car itself or theft of the vehicle. For that, you would need a Collision Damage Waiver (CDW) and Theft Protection. While many premium credit cards (like Chase Sapphire or Amex) provide CDW as a benefit, you must decline the rental company's optional CDW for your card's coverage to apply. It is vital to check if your card covers "exotic" cars or rentals longer than 31 days. Many travelers in 2026 opt for "Super CDW" or "Zero-Excess" insurance directly from the rental agency to avoid a high deductible (often €1,000–€2,000) in the event of a minor scrape, which are common on narrow French village roads.