CLAUDIA´S
MANGUSTA 92 Claudia’s is a fine example of the famous Mangusta 92 series and is the penultimate yacht built of this series. Claudia’s is a 28.27m Mediterranean sport
THE EYB COUNTRY GUIDES · France
Check national obligations, marina conditions, the actual policy and evidence needed for a yacht claim.
Boat insurance France deserves attention before the yacht changes hands or a berth is arranged. The national rule, the marina's requirements and the chosen policy are separate parts of that decision. Buyers should establish when their own cover begins; sellers should clarify viewings, trials and the end of their arrangements. This guide explains verified official guidance on liability, policy protections, insured value and claims, with practical recommendations for obtaining the actual insurer's answer.
The cover offered for a particular yacht depends on its policy and the information supplied. Confirm current requirements with the insurer, marina and a qualified adviser where necessary. The examples here identify questions to resolve; they do not promise a premium, automatic transfer of cover or compensation for an unassessed event. For anything this guide does not cover, email us at info@europeanyachtbrokers.com for the latest information.
Key facts at a glance
That February 2025 guidance states that insurance is compulsory for pleasure vessels with gross tonnage at least 300.
Service Public, pleasure boat insurance ·That February 2025 guidance says some ports and marinas may require an insurance certificate to obtain a berth.
Service Public, pleasure boat insurance ·DGCCRF pleasure-insurance guidance published 9 June 2023 says insured value should take account of the boat's economic value and essential fittings/accessories and that the declared sum limits the insurer's commitment.
DGCCRF, pleasure navigation insurance cover ·Service Public guidance verified 6 February 2025 lists ownership title, registration certificate and the person in charge's navigation licence among documents for an insurance application.
Service Public, pleasure boat insurance ·That June 2023 guidance states that the contractual reporting period cannot be shorter than 5 working days from discovery, or 2 working days for theft, in its stated pleasure-insurance claim guidance.
DGCCRF, pleasure navigation insurance cover ·Section 1
Service Public says pleasure-boat insurance is generally optional in France. It also states the exception for vessels with gross tonnage at least 300, where insurance is compulsory. As practical advice, establish the boat's actual category before deciding what that national rule means for the proposed purchase. The general statement should not become an assumption that every yacht can be used, berthed or financed without cover, since the operator's agreement and the intended activity need separate confirmation from the people responsible for those arrangements.
A port or marina may require an insurance certificate before allocating a berth, according to Service Public. As practical advice, ask the operator for its required cover and evidence before completion, and show that requirement to the insurer. Confirm the boat, owner and relevant dates shown on the certificate, especially if a purchase and berth handover happen together. The national rule and a berth-contract condition answer different questions, so obtain the actual operator's position rather than relying on the seller's existing berth or insurance paperwork.
Service Public strongly recommends at least liability insurance because it protects financially against injury or property damage caused to third parties. It warns that an uninsured owner may have to compensate victims personally. As practical advice, discuss the potential liabilities of the proposed ownership and navigation with the insurer before focusing only on the yacht's own replacement cost. Ask for the cover limits and applicable exclusions in writing, and have a qualified adviser explain any responsibility that depends on a particular incident or contractual arrangement.
Broker tip: Practical recommendation: ask the marina for its insurance conditions and give them to the insurer. Confirm the yacht's tonnage and planned use, then obtain the actual liability limits and certificate before arranging a berth handover. See also our guide on whether you need a boat survey in France.
Boat insurance and tax paperwork on a desk.
Generally optional insurance
Section 2
DGCCRF distinguishes liability insurance from cover for the boat itself. Its guidance describes liability as covering third-party injury or material damage, and hull cover as responding to the losses and damage specified in the policy. As practical advice, compare those protections separately rather than treating multirisk as a complete explanation. Ask whether crew members are treated as third parties to one another and which people and uses are included. The official examples explain categories of protection; the actual policy still controls a particular claim.
The official guidance describes theft cover and the evidence needed for an insured outboard's protective device if theft occurs. It also identifies possible additional cover for wreck removal, rescue assistance and towing or transport-related losses. As practical advice, ask the insurer to list the included protections, their conditions and limits rather than assuming that every package contains them. Show it any plan for road transport, lifting or a delivery passage so that the response addresses the actual activity rather than a general description of recreational ownership.
DGCCRF separately describes personal accident cover for the skipper and passengers, which can apply independently of another person's liability. It also warns that water-skiing is not automatically included and calls for an extension for that activity. As practical advice, explain the intended use honestly and request confirmation for activities beyond ordinary private navigation. Do not translate the guidance's possible protections into a promise that every guest, borrowed-boat user or specialised activity is covered by the proposed contract without reading its actual terms.
Broker tip: Practical recommendation: compare the policy's liability, hull, theft and assistance terms separately. Explain the intended crew, activities, delivery and transport, and obtain written answers about limits and exclusions before choosing a package. Readers often go on to our guide on what safety equipment a boat must carry in France.
Signing a boat purchase agreement.
Liability versus hull
Buying or selling a boat in France and want a second opinion? Speak to one of our brokers.
Section 3
DGCCRF says the insurance value should be set carefully, taking account of the boat's economic value and its essential fittings and accessories. It explains that the declared amount limits the insurer's commitment. As practical advice, ask how the insurer wants the value supported and how equipment is treated before copying an asking price into a proposal. A brokerage asking price, a survey recommendation and the insured amount serve different purposes, so discuss any difference with the insurer and retain its written explanation in the file.
Service Public lists the ownership title, registration certificate and the navigation licence of the person in charge among the records for the proposal file. As practical advice, compare the vessel and owner details across those documents and explain an approaching purchase or ownership change before inception. Ask the insurer whether any condition report or other evidence is needed for the particular yacht. This guide does not invent a universal compulsory survey for insurance, and the proposed cover should be confirmed for the actual boat rather than inferred from another owner's application.
DGCCRF's general consumer guidance requires clear pre-contract information about the service, price and professional's identity. It also includes payment arrangements and applicable contract duration or termination terms. As practical advice, request the complete proposal and conditions, showing the premium and when cover begins, before deciding. Review exclusions and any excess with the insurer, and ask what happens when the boat is sold or its use changes. No average premium or universal renewal period is quoted here, because the actual terms need their own confirmation. No typical premium, compulsory insurance survey, automatic policy transfer, guaranteed claims payment or settlement time was verified. The newer Service Public guidance supplies the compulsory gross-tonnage exception omitted from the older DGCCRF overview. For these, email us at info@europeanyachtbrokers.com for the latest information.
Broker tip: Practical recommendation: ask how the insured value and equipment should be evidenced, and obtain the complete proposed conditions. Confirm the start of cover and the treatment of a later ownership or use change before agreeing the policy. Our guide on how much a berth costs in France covers a related point.
Model yacht beside a calculator for boat tax costs.
Declared insured value
DGCCRF pleasure-insurance guidance published 9 June 2023 says insured value should take account of the boat's economic value and essential fittings/accessories and that the declared sum limits the insurer's commitment.
Source: DGCCRF, pleasure navigation insurance coverService Public guidance verified 6 February 2025 lists ownership title, registration certificate and the person in charge's navigation licence among documents for an insurance application.
Source: Service Public, pleasure boat insuranceDGCCRF general pre-contract guidance published 21 November 2019 requires clear information about the service, price and professional identity before a consumer contracts.
Source: DGCCRF, pre-contract information for consumersThat November 2019 guidance includes payment arrangements and applicable contract duration or termination conditions in pre-contract consumer information.
Source: DGCCRF, pre-contract information for consumersSection 4
DGCCRF says a claim declaration should describe the incident's circumstances and consequences, including the location, possible responsible parties, damage and estimated loss. It advises supplying as much supporting evidence as possible, such as purchase invoices and relevant medical documentation. As practical advice, keep the policy contact details and vessel records available before navigation, and record an incident accurately when it occurs. Do not invent responsibility or a precise loss amount if those questions remain uncertain; tell the insurer what is known and what further evidence will follow.
For theft, the official guidance requires a complaint to the competent authority and says the insurer will request the receipt. It also explains that the reporting deadline appears in the insurance contract and cannot be shorter than 5 working days from discovery for a covered incident, or 2 working days for theft. As practical advice, notify the insurer promptly and read the actual policy deadline rather than treating the minimum period as a reason to postpone contact or assuming that it describes every exceptional claims regime.
DGCCRF recommends sending the declaration by registered post with acknowledgement of receipt as evidence of meeting the deadline, while explaining that this method is not compulsory. As practical advice, obtain and retain proof of whatever reporting route the insurer accepts, together with photographs, correspondence and the supplied supporting file. Ask what urgent steps should be taken without disturbing evidence unnecessarily, and request a written explanation of any further documents or investigation. The guide does not promise an indemnity amount or settlement time for an incident that has not been assessed.
Broker tip: Practical recommendation: keep the policy's claims contact and deadline available. Notify promptly using an accepted route, retain proof and supporting evidence, and ask the insurer which further steps are needed before authorising non-urgent work. A related question is answered in our guide on whether you need a boat licence in France. For local buying advice, see our guide on buying a boat in Côte d’Azur.
Boat sale contract with a legal stamp.
Claim circumstances and consequences
Practical support
Peter Mattey is a yacht broker at European Yacht Brokers with a BA in Law. He is not a French lawyer: for French law and tax we refer you to a locally qualified adviser. What we can do is help you plan the transaction, put the right questions to the other side and spot gaps in the paperwork before you commit.
If you are buying or selling a boat in France, tell us about the boat and the area through the enquiry form on this page and a broker will reply. For anything this guide does not cover, email us at info@europeanyachtbrokers.com for the latest information.
The handover of a boat at the dock.
Your questions
No, Service Public says pleasure-boat insurance is generally optional, with a compulsory exception for gross tonnage at least 300. A marina may require insurance evidence for a berth. As practical advice, check the actual yacht and operator's conditions before relying on the general statement, and obtain the insurer's confirmation for the intended navigation, ownership and berth arrangements. (Service Public, pleasure boat insurance)
Liability protection and hull protection are different categories in the official guidance: liability addresses injury or material damage to third parties, while hull protection concerns the policy-specified boat losses. As practical advice, compare both parts of the proposed cover and ask about the limits and exclusions, rather than assuming that a certificate proving liability insurance also establishes comprehensive protection for the yacht itself. (DGCCRF, pleasure navigation insurance cover)
DGCCRF says it should account for the yacht's economic value and essential fittings and accessories, and explains that the declared sum limits the insurer's commitment. As practical advice, ask the insurer what evidence it needs and how equipment is treated before using an advertised asking price. Keep its explanation with the proposal, especially where the purchase price and proposed insurance amount differ. (DGCCRF, pleasure navigation insurance cover)
No, DGCCRF specifically warns that water-skiing needs a requested extension rather than automatic protection. As practical advice, explain every intended activity, the people involved and any borrowing or delivery arrangements to the insurer. Obtain the actual policy answer before proceeding; the official examples do not establish that specialised activities or every passenger are included within a particular multirisk package. (DGCCRF, pleasure navigation insurance cover)
DGCCRF requires a complaint to the competent authority and says the insurer will request its receipt. It also advises describing the incident and supplying supporting documents. As practical advice, notify the insurer promptly within the policy's deadline, retain proof of the declaration and provide accurate details with the available purchase and security evidence, asking which further material is needed to assess the claim. (DGCCRF, pleasure navigation insurance cover)
This guide only includes facts checked against official sources. For anything it does not cover, email us at info@europeanyachtbrokers.com for the latest information, and ask a locally qualified adviser to confirm the position for your own boat.
Ready when you are
MANGUSTA 92 Claudia’s is a fine example of the famous Mangusta 92 series and is the penultimate yacht built of this series. Claudia’s is a 28.27m Mediterranean sport
PERSHING 7X Pershing 7X – Motivated Seller | Nearly New | Private Use Only | Warranty Remaining The owner is motivated to secure a sale,
FERRETTI 920 Alegria II is a 28.5m motor yacht built by Ferretti Yachts in Italy and delivered in 2020. Representing the renowned quality and craftsmanship
Check it yourself
Current official guidance on insurance obligations, policy cover and damage to third parties.
Official guidance published 9 June 2023 and opened 3 October 2026: policy cover, insurance value and claim reporting. Current compulsory-insurance exception taken from newer Service Public guidance.
Official consumer-service guidance opened 3 October 2026; general professional-to-consumer obligations, not a declaration that yacht surveying or brokerage is a regulated profession.
Keep reading
Talk to European Yacht Brokers
Buying or selling a boat in France? Tell us what you need
Tell us about the boat, your budget and the area and a broker will reply.
