School insurance in France 2026: prices, coverage and insurer comparison
A practical guide for expat parents whose children attend a French public school or an international section: what the law says, which guarantees to demand, the prices published by the main insurers and how to obtain the certificate in time for the September rentree.
1. What is school insurance?
French school insurance, called assurance scolaire, is a policy that protects a child during school, after-school and sometimes extracurricular activities. It bundles two guarantees that your home insurance, taken alone, does not cover in full.
The contract pays for the financial consequences of an incident involving your child: a classmate hurt in the playground, glasses broken in PE, a fall during a school outing or a fracture during a school trip abroad. It covers medical costs not reimbursed by Securite Sociale, an indemnity in case of permanent disability, plus damage caused to third parties.
The two pillars of the contract
Civil liability (responsabilite civile)
Pays for damage the child causes to third parties: a classmate, furniture, teaching equipment.
Personal accident cover (garantie individuelle accident)
Indemnifies the child for injuries suffered, even when no third party is responsible.
2. Is it mandatory? What the law says
The official fact sheet F1871 from Service-Public.fr sets the precise rule. For compulsory school activities, insurance is not required. For optional activities, it is, and the school can refuse access to your child if you do not provide the certificate.
Not mandatory for
- • Classroom lessons
- • Recess inside the school premises
- • PE inside the school
- • Home-school commute on municipal transport
Required for
- • Canteen and school meals
- • Supervised study hall and after-school care
- • School outings (museum, theatre, optional swimming)
- • School trips and environmental class weeks
- • Municipal extracurricular activities
In practice: almost every family uses the canteen or after-school care. That is why the French Ministry of Economy guidance recommends taking out school insurance from nursery school onwards.
3. Guarantees to demand
Not all plans are equal. Here are the guarantees to compare line by line before signing a contract.
School civil liability
Covers damage caused by the child to a third party during school activities: a classmate injured, broken glasses, torn clothes, damaged furniture.
Typical ceiling: 4 to 7 million euros depending on the contract.
Personal accident cover
Indemnifies the child in case of injury, even without an identified party at fault: a playground fall, a sports accident, an incident during a school outing.
Things to watch: death capital, disability capital, dental and optical care reimbursements.
Frequent additional guarantees
- • Mugging and aggression: reimbursement of stolen items and medical costs.
- • Psychological support and legal assistance in case of bullying.
- • School-bag theft and school-supplies cover.
- • Search costs in case of disappearance.
- • Replacement of broken glasses or dental prostheses with no deductible.
- • Home tutoring in case of long-term immobilisation.
4. Home insurance versus school insurance
This is the most common confusion. The civil liability bundled into your home insurance contract and a dedicated school insurance policy do not protect the same things. The FCPE, the largest federation of parent representatives in France, published a clear comparison summarised in the table below.
| Situation | Home liability | School insurance |
|---|---|---|
| Child injures a classmate | Yes | Yes |
| Child breaks school equipment | Yes | Yes |
| Child falls alone in the playground | No | Yes |
| School-bag stolen | No | Depending on plan |
| School trip abroad | Limited | Yes (extended plan) |
The conclusion is simple: home liability alone leaves your child with no compensation for personal injuries. School insurance remains the cheapest way to get full protection. For more detail, read our guide to civil liability insurance in France.
5. The three plans on the market
Every insurer breaks its offer into three tiers. The table below sums up the differences as a guide. Real prices appear in the insurer comparison just below.
| Plan | Coverage | When | Indicative annual price |
|---|---|---|---|
| Basic school | Liability + limited accident cover | School and commute | 10 to 15 EUR |
| Extended school | Liability + accident + options (theft, bullying) | School, commute, after-school | 15 to 25 EUR |
| Extracurricular 24/24 | Liability + reinforced accident + extended options | 7 days a week, holidays included | 25 to 40 EUR |
Our take: for a child who plays sport in a club or goes on summer camps, the extracurricular plan is the cheapest in absolute value. The gap with an extended plan is usually 5 to 15 euros a year, for true seven-day cover. Prices are indicative and must be confirmed with each insurer.
6. 2026 prices and insurer comparison
The figures below come from the public rate cards published by the insurers themselves in 2025-2026. They are indicative and may vary with the options chosen and the child's profile.
| Insurer | Public price | Profile and differentiation |
|---|---|---|
| MAE | 13 to 39 EUR / year | Mutuelle Assurance de l Education. Historic specialist for the French school sector, instant certificate, junior and high-school plans. |
| Matmut | about 12 EUR / year (1 EUR / month) | Mutualist insurer, the lowest entry-level tariff on the market in 2025-2026, fully online subscription. |
| Carrefour Assurance | about 18 EUR / year (under 1.50 EUR / month) | Insurance arm of the Carrefour retailer, basic and extracurricular plans, 100 percent online management. |
| Allianz | 25 EUR / year (2.08 EUR / month) | International bancassurer, high liability ceilings, certificate downloadable from the customer portal. |
| MAIF | On quote | Mutual of French teachers, extended sibling options, psychological support guarantee included. |
| MACIF | On quote | Generalist mutual, can be combined with the home insurance contract with a multi-contract rebate. |
| MAAF | On quote | Quote in two minutes, three plans, 24/7 assistance. |
| GMF | On quote | Mutual of French public servants, family liability included in the home contract, school cover sold as an option. |
Methodology note: MAE, Matmut, Carrefour and Allianz tariffs come from public product pages consulted during the 2025-2026 school year. The other insurers only publish on-quote rates, which makes comparison harder without a simulation. Figures provided as guidance.
7. The certificate: why and how to get it
The school insurance certificate (attestation d'assurance scolaire) is the document you hand to the school. It proves the child is insured, lists the guarantees subscribed and the validity period. Without it, the school can legally refuse access to the canteen, outings and trips.
The document is generated in two minutes after subscription. All major insurers (MAE, MAIF, Allianz, AXA, Matmut) provide it as a downloadable PDF in the customer portal, as soon as the first premium has been paid.
What to check on the certificate
- • Child s first name and family name.
- • Validity period (usually 1 September to 31 August).
- • Contract reference and insurer name.
- • Civil liability and personal accident cover explicitly listed.
- • Date the document was issued.
8. Home-school commute and transport
The journey between home and school is a grey area for many parents. Here is the rule that applies in 2026.
Most extended and extracurricular plans cover the commute on foot, by bike, on public transport or in the family car. Entry-level school plans at 10 to 15 euros a year may limit cover to time spent inside the school. Read the precise wording in the general terms before signing.
For children using the school bus operated by the local authority, two layers of protection apply. The transport operator carries its own insurance, and your child s personal accident cover applies on top. After an incident, the two insurers negotiate how the indemnity is shared.
9. Bullying and psychological support
School bullying has become a central topic in France since the 2023 interministerial plan. A growing number of extended plans now include a psychological support and legal assistance guarantee in case of proven bullying.
In practice, the insurer pays for a fixed number of sessions with a registered psychologist, plus lawyer fees if the situation leads to legal action. In parallel, the family must report the facts to the school and call the national toll-free helpline 3018, set up by the French Ministry of Education.
Check the bullying guarantee before subscribing. It often appears under wording such as psychological assistance, school support or child legal protection. For a wider view of legal protection cover, read our guide to legal protection insurance in France.
10. How to subscribe in 5 steps
The contract is signed in fifteen minutes online. Here is the route to follow.
- 1Check your existing contracts
Home insurance, a premium bank card or a Garantie Accidents de la Vie may already include a school guarantee. No need to pay twice.
- 2Compare three different quotes
Request at least one quote from a specialist mutual (MAE, MAIF), one bancassurer (Allianz, MAAF) and one bank or retailer. Compare ceilings, deductibles and exclusions.
- 3Choose the right plan
For a child who practises sport in a club, the 24/24 extracurricular plan is almost always better value than a school-only plan.
- 4Subscribe online
Allow five to fifteen minutes. The documents required are parent and child identification plus a French RIB for direct debit.
- 5Send the certificate to the school
Download the PDF, keep a copy and send it to the school by email or in person on the first day of class.
Tip for large families: most insurers apply a discount from the third child onwards. Ask for it explicitly, since it is not always applied by default.
11. How to choose the right plan
Three criteria beyond price are enough to separate the contracts.
Aim for at least 30 000 EUR of disability capital and 1 500 EUR of annual medical cost cover. Below that, the protection becomes symbolic.
Check cover for metropolitan France, the French overseas territories, Europe and worldwide. For an international school trip, only the extracurricular plan usually covers the whole stay.
Pick insurers that offer online declarations and a 30-day reimbursement window. Specialist mutuals such as MAE or MAIF generally publish the shortest delays.
12. Common mistakes to avoid
- Subscribing without checking your home insurance contract. Many contracts already include a school option for a few euros. You may be paying twice without knowing it.
- Picking the cheapest plan without reading the exclusions. A 10-euro plan that covers neither the commute nor team sports is not equivalent to an 18-euro extended plan.
- Forgetting the personal accident cover. Some contracts only bundle civil liability. Without personal accident cover, your child receives nothing if hurt alone.
- Mixing up school insurance and Garantie Accidents de la Vie. The GAV covers the whole family 24/7. It can replace an extracurricular plan, provided ceilings are high enough. Compare with our life accident insurance guide.
- Ignoring the right to cancel. The Hamon Law allows cancellation at any time after one year, with no fee or justification.
13. Common myths about school insurance
"The school provides the insurance."
False. The school informs parents about the obligation, but never provides the contract. Subscribing is always up to the family.
"My health insurance is enough."
False. Complementary health insurance reimburses medical costs but pays no disability indemnity, does not cover civil liability and does not issue the certificate the school asks for.
"The school insures my child directly."
False. The school carries an insurance policy for its buildings and staff, not for individual pupils. Covering each child is the family s responsibility.
"School insurance is always expensive."
False. Published tariffs start at 12 EUR/year with Matmut and 13 EUR/year with MAE, so under one euro a month. It is one of the cheapest insurance contracts on the French market.
14. Frequently asked questions
Is school insurance mandatory in France?▼
Not for compulsory school activities (classroom lessons, recess, PE inside the school premises). Yes for all optional activities: canteen, study hall, after-school care, school outings, school trips, environmental class weeks and municipal extracurricular activities. Since almost every family uses at least one of these services, school insurance becomes essential in practice. Source: Service-Public.fr, fact sheet F1871.
What insurance do I need for school in France?▼
A policy that covers two guarantees: civil liability (damage your child causes to others) and personal accident cover (injuries your child suffers, even with no third party responsible). You can take it out with a school-specialist mutual such as MAE or MAIF, with a bancassurer (Allianz, AXA), with your bank (Caisse d'Epargne, La Banque Postale), or as an option on your home insurance contract.
How much does school insurance cost in France in 2026?▼
Public 2025-2026 tariffs start around 10 euros per year. Matmut publishes 1 euro a month (12 euros a year), Carrefour Assurance under 1.50 euro a month (about 18 euros a year), MAE 13 euros a year for the basic school plan and 39 euros a year for the full extracurricular plan, Allianz 25 euros a year (2.08 euros a month). Plan to spend 10 to 40 euros per child per year depending on the chosen formula. Source: Service-Public.fr and insurers' published rate cards.
Does my home insurance cover my child at school?▼
Partially. The civil liability cover bundled into your home insurance contract pays for damage your child causes to a classmate or to school equipment. It never pays for injuries your child suffers personally. For that protection you need personal accident cover, supplied by a school insurance policy or by a Garantie Accidents de la Vie (GAV). Source: FCPE parents federation and Code des assurances.
Where do I find school insurance for my child in France?▼
Four main channels. 1) Parent associations and specialist mutuals such as MAE, MAIF and MACIF. 2) Traditional bancassurers such as Allianz, AXA, MAAF or GMF. 3) Banks (Caisse d'Epargne, BNP Paribas, La Banque Postale, Credit Agricole) that often bundle school insurance into a family package. 4) Mass-market retailers such as Carrefour Assurance. Always compare ceilings, deductibles and exclusions before signing.
What is the difference between school insurance and extracurricular insurance?▼
School insurance covers your child during school activities and the home-school commute. Extracurricular insurance (sometimes called the 24/24 plan) extends cover to every activity outside school hours: holidays, weekends, sports clubs, stays with grandparents. For often less than 5 euros a month it usually gives the best cover-to-price ratio for a family.
Is school insurance ever free in France?▼
No. School insurance is an optional paid contract that starts around 10 euros a year. No public or free offer exists in France. Some home insurance contracts do include a school option for a few euros a year, and some premium bank cards offer partial accident cover. Always check existing contracts before subscribing to a new one.
Is the school insurance certificate required?▼
The school can request it to authorise your child to take part in optional activities such as trips or canteen meals. Without the certificate, the school can legally refuse access to these activities. You download the document in a few clicks from your insurer's customer portal, usually immediately after subscribing.
Is my child covered on the way to and from school?▼
Yes in most contracts, but check the exact wording. Some entry-level plans cover only school hours and exclude the commute. Extended and extracurricular plans always include the journey, whether on foot, by bike, on public transport or in the family car. The school bus also carries its own insurance, which creates a cumulative protection.
What if my child is a victim of bullying at school?▼
Many extended plans now include a bullying support guarantee, with reimbursement of psychology sessions and legal assistance. In parallel, report the situation to the school and to the national helpline 3018, set up by the French Ministry of Education. Parent associations such as the FCPE and UNAF can also guide families.
Can I cancel my French school insurance mid-year?▼
Yes, after the first year of contract, thanks to the Hamon Law (2014). You can cancel at any time, with no fee or justification, by registered letter or by an equivalent digital channel (Chataigner Law 2023, decree 2023-182, three-click cancellation). The insurer refunds the unused part of your premium within 30 days.
Until what age does school insurance apply?▼
Most insurers cover children from nursery school up to the end of high school, so up to 18 or 19. For students, you need to switch to a student insurance policy (often bundled into student health insurance) or add a specific guarantee to your home insurance contract. MAE and MAIF also offer dedicated plans for apprentices and trainees in workplace settings.
Official sources
- Service-Public.fr - Fact sheet F1871 "Assurance scolaire"
- Economie.gouv.fr - What to know about school insurance
- French Ministry of Education - School insurance overview
- FCPE - Why school insurance is essential
- ABE-Infoservice (Banque de France) - School insurance
- France Assureurs - French insurance industry federation
Related articles
Civil liability insurance in France
Understanding civil liability and family cover in daily life
Garantie Accidents de la Vie (GAV)
24/7 protection for the whole family
Legal protection insurance
Support and lawyer fees in case of a school dispute
Home insurance France guide
Multi-risk home insurance with school options
Hamon Law and cancellation
Cancel your French insurance any time after one year
Health insurance France guide
Choose the right family complementary cover
Disclaimer: prices and guarantees mentioned are provided as guidance. They come from public product pages consulted during the 2025-2026 school year and may change. comparatif24.fr is an information site; every insurance decision should be validated by reading the general terms of the contract and, if needed, with an authorised adviser.