What car insurance coverage can be chosen from?
Choosing the right auto insurance is more than just comparing premiums. It is important to think carefully about your insurance coverage. Are you satisfied with only a third-party insurance or does a third-party (all-risk) insurance better suit your situation? There is also an intermediate form: the WA limited casco.
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In the event of a claim, it makes a big difference which coverage you chose. A wrong choice can cost you tens of thousands of dollars. On the other hand, you also want to avoid overinsuring your car. So it is important to know which coverage best suits your car.
What types of coverage are there?
There are three standard insurance policies to choose from:
Third-party insurance
Third-party auto insurance is the minimum insurance you are legally required to carry. This insurance only covers damage you cause to others. Damage to your own car is not covered. This insurance is often chosen for cars 10 years old or older, but even then more extensive coverage can sometimes be wise.
WA limited casco
The WA limited casco offers broader coverage than the WA car insurance. Besides damage caused to others, there is also coverage for a number of damages described in the policy conditions. The insured causes of damage are:
- Collision with stray animals
- Hail and storm damage
- Lightning damage
- Fire and explosion
- Window Break
The WA limited casco is often chosen for cars 6 to 10 years old. Damages you claim on this part of the insurance will not affect your claim-free years. This is also the case with the WA limited casco car insurance.
All risk insurance (WA full body)
This is the most comprehensive insurance and is often chosen for new cars up to about 6 years old. The most important extension in terms of coverage is that own collision damage is also compensated by the own insurer. Vandalism damage is also insured in the WA-casco car insurance.
Coverages comparator
WA (mandatory)
- Damage to others
- Theft, joyriding and missing.
- Window damage
- Damage caused by fire or natural disasters
- Own damage from a collision
Limited casco
- Damage to others
- Theft, joyriding and missing.
- Window damage
- Damage caused by fire or natural disasters
- Own damage from a collision
All Risk (WA+Casco)
- Damage to others
- Theft, joyriding and missing.
- Window damage
- Damage caused by fire or natural disasters
- Own damage from a collision
Expand car insurance with additional coverages
In addition to the three forms of insurance, you can take out additional policies. These can be insurance policies to defend your rights.
Roadside Assistance Netherlands
v.a.
7 ,50
p/month
Help after an accident is standardly insured on your insurance. In addition to the insurance, it is also possible to take out roadside assistance insurance for the Netherlands.
Roadside assistance Europe
v.a.
11 ,66
p/month
Help after an accident is covered by default on your insurance. In addition to the insurance, it is also possible to take out roadside assistance insurance for Europe.
Legal Aid
from
7 ,10
p/month
Insured of legal help in traffic disputes. At home and abroad. With the vehicle insured on the policy.
Occupant accidents
v.a.
2 ,25
p/month
Accidental occupant insurance pays fixed amounts in the event of death or permanent disability of the driver and/or passengers.
Occupant damage
v.a.
5 ,66
p/month
This insurance pays for material damages suffered by the driver and passengers due to an accident.
Who is insured
Car insurance is always linked to the car and not the person. This means that anyone who drives your car is basically insured, as long as the driver is licensed to drive. There are exceptions, however, such as driving without a license or renting:
May I lend my car?
Yes, you may lend your car. Just keep in mind that the borrower may not be the regular driver of the car. Please note that the borrower may not be the regular driver. Young people sometimes try to insure the car in their parents' name to save premiums, but this is fraud and can have major consequences.
Are passengers also co-insured?
Passengers are not automatically co-insured in car insurance. However, they can hold the driver liable for their damages or file a claim with the other party's insurer. You can, however, additionally insure passengers with passenger indemnity insurance or passenger accident insurance.
Am I responsible if someone drives my car without a license?
It seems unnecessary to emphasize this, but it is explicit in the policy terms. You are responsible for the conduct of the driver of your car. If the unauthorized driver of your car causes a claim, you as the owner of the car are responsible for the damage.
Am I responsible if someone with a driving record drives my car?
Yes. Even someone with a driving disqualification is not allowed to drive. You remain responsible if you do give permission. However, if your car is stolen and the thief causes damage, this is different. You must always report the theft to the police.
When does car insurance not provide coverage?
Auto insurance pays for the damage you cause to others with your car. Depending on the coverage chosen, damage to your own car can also be compensated. However, there are situations where the insurer does not pay out or recovers the costs from you later. This usually happens with improper use of the car, illegal acts or natural disasters. Below are the most important exceptions.
Driving without a license
Without a license, you are not allowed to drive a car. If you do, there is no coverage. Even a driving disqualification counts as "no license. Damage to others will be compensated, but the insurer can then recover that amount in full from you. This can amount to thousands or even hundreds of thousands of dollars.
Renting your car
Through different organizations you can rent out your car. For example, you can use Mywheels and SnappCar. Keep in mind, however, that the insurance company does not provide coverage for rentals. In case of damage, the amount can be recovered from you.
You can often obtain additional insurance through these platforms, but there are still risks associated with renting out. For example, you can end up on a blacklist, which means you won't be accepted by insurers after a claim.
Driving under the influence
Driving under the influence of alcohol or drugs is prohibited and therefore not insured. Both substances reduce your ability to drive and increase the risk of accidents. If you cause an accident while under the influence, the insurer will refuse to pay for the damage to your car.
Participating in a speed contest
Your car insurance premium is based on normal use of the car. If you participate in a speed contest or street race, the risk of damage is much higher. In that case, the insurer may deny your claim.
Intentional damage
Damage you knowingly cause with your car will not be reimbursed. The insurer may still compensate the injured party, but will then recover the costs from you.
Uninsurable risks
Some risks are simply not insurable, such as earthquake or flood damage. Such damages are too large to be covered by insurers. However, there is often coverage for storm, hail or lightning damage, provided you have third-party limited liability or third-party full liability insurance.
What if car insurance does not provide coverage?
In the exceptions mentioned above, the insurer does not pay. But even in other cases, you may have to pay (part of) the damage yourself. How exactly does that work and how can you limit the costs?
Damage to your own car
- All-risk insurance: damage to your own car is usually covered, even if you are the causer.
- WA or WA+ (limited casco): damage to your own car is usually not covered. Only with limited casco will you still receive compensation for lightning, fire or windshield damage, for example.
Do you only have WA or WA+ and do you cause damage yourself? Then you pay the repair out of your own pocket.
Damage to the other
Third-party car insurance is mandatory and covers damage you cause to others. The other party may sue your insurer directly for the damage. The insurer will then contact you to hear your side of the story.
Recovering damages from the other party
Did someone else cause the accident? Then you can recover damages from that person. The insurer of the other party will then pay your costs. For this you have to hold the other party officially liable. You can do this yourself, but often your legal assistance insurance or recovery assistance (usually as an extra with your car insurance) takes care of this.
Managing your own recovery
Do you have to pay for the damage yourself? Then you can choose where to have the car repaired. There are platforms where you upload photos of the damage and then get quotes from repair companies, such as:
- Fixico.co.uk
- Zibal.co.uk
- Carglass.co.uk
How do these websites work?
- You fill in your details and upload photos of the damage.
- The websites solicit quotes from affiliated repair shops.
Carglass works a little differently: they mainly repair minor paint damage and dents themselves.
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