Chapter II: Conclusion and proof of the insurance contract - Form and transmission of policies.

It is compulsory for the insurer to provide a price and cover information sheet before the contract is taken out.

Before taking out the contract, the insurer must provide the policyholder with a copy of the draft contract and its appendices, or with a contract information leaflet describing in detail the cover and exclusions, as well as the policyholder's obligations. The documents given to the policyholder specify the law applicable to the contract if it is not French law, the procedures for examining any claims he may make about the contract and for recourse to a mediation process under the conditions set out in Title V of Book I of the Consumer Code (1), without prejudice to his right to take legal action, as well as the address of the head office and, where applicable, of the branch which proposes to grant cover. Prior to the conclusion of a contract including liability cover, the insurer shall provide the insured with an information sheet, the model for which shall be laid down by decree, describing the operation over time of the cover triggered by the harmful event, the operation over time of the cover triggered by the claim, and the consequences of the succession of contracts with different triggering methods.

A decree of the Conseil d'Etat shall define the means of verifying that the documents referred to in the previous paragraph have actually been delivered. It shall also determine the exceptions justified by the nature of the contract or the circumstances in which it was taken out.

Before taking out an insurance contract covering a non-life risk, the distributor provides the policyholder or member with a standardised information document on the insurance product drawn up by the product designer, in accordance with the conditions defined by decree of the Conseil d'Etat.

This document is not required for contracts covering the risks mentioned in article L. 111-6 or for contracts mentioned in b of article L. 861-4 of the Social Security Code. Nor is it required for contracts subject to the obligation to provide the standardised information sheet referred to in article L. 313-10 of the French Consumer Code and for the insurance transactions referred to in article R. 321-1 15 of this Code.

The insurance proposal does not bind either the insured or the insurer; only the policy or the cover note records their mutual commitment.

A proposal, made by registered letter or electronic registered mail, to extend or modify a contract or to reinstate a suspended contract is deemed to have been accepted if the insurer does not refuse this proposal within ten days of receiving it.

The provisions of the previous paragraph do not apply to life insurance.