Will I be compensated for damage to my car caused by someone else?
Being involved in an accident is, of course, unpleasant enough on its own. Naturally, good auto insurance is essential. What should you do if your car is damaged due to someone else’s fault? In what situations do you have to seek compensation from the other party yourself? Will you still receive compensation if the at-fault party is unknown?
Damage to a car caused by someone else
Whether someone else will compensate you for the damage to your car depends largely on the coverage under your auto insurance policy. If your car is covered by comprehensive insurance, your insurer will recover the damages from the other party on your behalf. You must, however, fill out an accident report form and notify your insurer (or broker) of the damage. If your auto insurance only includes limited comprehensive coverage, different rules apply. In that case, the insurer will not seek compensation for the damage, and you will have to recover the damages from the other party yourself.
Damage to a car caused by a third party – perpetrator unknown
In order to have damage to your car caused by a third party covered (or to have it covered), the amount of the damage must first be determined. To do this, a damage assessor is called in to determine the correct amount of damage on your behalf. For minor damage, it is not always necessary to call in a damage assessor.
You can only hold the other party liable for the damage if it is known who caused it. If the at-fault party is unknown and you have no information about that person, you may in some cases turn to the Motor Vehicle Guarantee Fund. This is only possible if the damage was caused by a motor vehicle. The Motor Vehicle Guarantee Fund is financed by all insurance companies that provide auto insurance in the Netherlands. Indirectly, therefore, everyone who owns an (insured!) motor vehicle contributes to the Motor Vehicle Guarantee Fund.
Alpina
Even if you don’t have a lot to spend, it’s very important to insure your car. It’s a good idea to compare different car insurance policies every so often. By comparing car insurance policies, you can find out which one best suits you and your car. For example, you may have originally purchased comprehensive coverage for your new car. That’s a very suitable level of coverage for new cars. As your car gets older, you can opt for less comprehensive coverage. By switching providers, you can save a lot of money. So it pays to compare premiums not only based on the deductible but also on the type of coverage.
Do you have questions about your car insurance deductible or other insurance-related questions? Check out our frequently asked questions. Here you’ll find the most common questions for each product. If your question isn’t listed or if you have additional questions, please contact us. We’re happy to help! You can reach us on weekdays from 8:30 a.m. to 5:30 p.m. at 088-6883700.
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