Car Insurance in Netherlands
Expats in Netherlands should be aware it is mandatory for all cars to carry third-party liability insurance (‘wettelijke aansprakelijkheid‘ or WA). Extra vehicle insurance for fire, theft, vandalism is optional.
Insurance companies follow a system of ‘no claims bonus’, which means that drivers with fewer claims pay less than drivers who have made more claims. Foreign cars may be insured with Dutch insurance brokers/banks if they are registered or in the process of being registered in the Netherlands.
In the event of an accident, each person involved must fill in a claim report and send it to their respective insurance company. The form used is the same for every insurance company and it is advised to keep a form in the vehicle at all times. The insurance documents must be carried in the car.
INSURING A VEHICLE
In the Netherlands, the weight of a car will be taken into account when the premium is calculated. Discounts for “no claims” apply, and can be carried over from a previous insurer (proof may be required). A person must reside in the Netherlands to purchase auto insurance from a Dutch provider.
There are three types of Dutch car insurance policies…
- WA (‘Wettelijke Aansprakelijkheidsverzekering‘) = third party liability insurance. Every car in the Netherlands is required to have this insurance. It covers any damage caused by the vehicle regardless of who is driving the car at the time of the accident. The insurer needs to have access to the RDW administration system to enter the policy information. Such access is generally limited to Dutch insurance companies only.
- WA Plus = third party insurance plus some additional coverage. Insures damage caused by fire, explosions, lightning, wind storms, road debris as well as theft.
- VC (‘Volledig Casco‘) = all risk insurance. It covers all of the above and more including car damage caused by collision or violence.
What the insurance company will need…
- The car’s licence plate number
- A registered address for the owner
- Bank details for direct debit
- Any relevant customs paperwork (if the expat is importing a vehicle from outside the European Union)
What the auto insurance company should provide…
- Policy
- European accident statement form
- Green card
- Directions for how to make an insurance claim
Contact the broker’s claim call center or submit a claim online. When calling it is important to have the policy number at hand as well as details of the event (damage or accident and contact details of any other drivers and cars involved). Submit the completed claim form; in the Netherlands there is no time deadline.
DUTCH CAR INSURANCE COMPANIES
These are some popular auto insurance companies in the Netherlands…
| INSURER | POLICY TYPE | POLICY TYPE | POLICY TYPE |
|---|---|---|---|
| ABN AMRO | Car Insurance | 2nd Vehicle Insurance | Additional Coverages |
| AEGON | Car Insurance | ||
| ALLIANZ DIRECT | Car Insurance – WA | Car Insurance – WA+ | Car Insurance – VC |
| CENTRAAL BEHEER | Car Insurance | Moped Insurance | Caravan Insurance |
| FBTO | Car Insurance | Motorcycle Insurance | |
| INSHARED | Car Insurance – WA | Caravan Insurance | Moped Insurance |
| NATIONALE NEDERLANDEN | Car Insurance | ||
| UNITED CONSUMERS | Car Insurance |
Related information…