Theft · security clause · claims handling
Business van insurance through a.s.r.
With vans, break-ins are the type of loss that recurs most often. The clauses on parking and security then determine whether a claim is paid.
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In brief
Finass places business vehicles with a.s.r. and with more than thirty other insurers. We are tied to none of them and choose on cover. Every vehicle with a valid registration is subject to the insurance obligation under Article 2 of the Dutch Motor Insurance Liability Act (WAM); own-damage cover is a free choice and concerns your own van. If you run more vehicles, then fleet insurance comes into view; for cars, look at business car insurance.
The element that causes the most discussion with vans is the security clause. The policy may state that the van is parked overnight on an enclosed site or in a garage, that it has an approved alarm fitted, that extra locks are fitted to the sliding door, or that the keys are not kept near the vehicle inside the building. These are not recommendations but conditions. If the van is broken into while it should have been parked elsewhere under the clause, that is a ground for reducing or refusing the payout.
Equally important is the line between the vehicle and the contents. In a break-in, own-damage cover pays for the forced lock, the buckled sliding door and the bodywork. The stolen tools fall outside it; for those there is a tools insurance. If you carry materials between sites, that belongs on a own goods in transit insurance. In the event of a loss, there is also Article 7:960 of the Dutch Civil Code: you never receive more than the loss you actually suffer.
This page deals with one situation. The full overview is on Compare van insurance.
What to look out for
Four subjects that determine how a claim on a van is handled.
Parking and security are policy conditions
Read the clauses literally and adjust your working practices to them. If the situation changes, for example because you move or the van is now parked at an employee's home, report it. An unreported change falls under Article 7:928 of the Dutch Civil Code and can have consequences in the event of a loss under Article 7:930 of the Dutch Civil Code. Also keep evidence that the alarm works and is maintained.
Break-ins: the bodywork yes, the contents no
This distinction surprises business owners most often. Some policies also exclude tools left in the vehicle overnight from the tools cover as well, or limit it to part of the value. If you empty the van in the evening, you not only prevent losses but also avoid an argument you rarely come out of well.
Third-party, fire and theft covers a list, not everything
With third-party, fire and theft cover, the policy conditions set out a exhaustive list of events: fire, storm, theft, glass breakage, collision with an animal running loose and a few others. Anything not on that list is not covered. A collision you cause yourself and vandalism to the bodywork generally fall outside it. Choose deliberately, and not on price alone.
Exclusions that matter in practice
There is no cover for driving without a valid driving licence, under the influence of alcohol or drugs, for hire or transport for payment that has not been reported, or for taking part in speed or manoeuvring trials. Damage caused intentionally is excluded under Article 7:952 of the Dutch Civil Code. Report a loss within the stated period; Article 7:941 of the Dutch Civil Code requires you to report it as soon as you know about it.
What does your premium depend on?
- List price and age — decisive for the own-damage premium and the choice of cover
- Storage and level of security — an enclosed site and an alarm reduce the theft risk
- The company's claims history — earlier break-ins and collisions are taken into account
- Excess — a higher excess lowers the premium, including per glass claim
- Modules chosen — breakdown assistance, a replacement vehicle and occupants' cover cost extra
- Working area — many trips in urban areas produce more claims
Insurers weigh these details differently. That is why comparing pays off.
What is covered
| Situation | Third-party, fire and theft | Comprehensive |
|---|---|---|
| Fire in the load space caused by a short circuit in an inverter | Yes | Yes |
| A storm brings a branch down on the roof of your parked van | Yes | Yes |
| Your employee drives the roof of the van into a canopy at a low entrance | No | Yes |
| Someone kicks the wing mirrors off the van overnight | No | Yes |
| A collision with a deer crossing a dyke road | Yes | Yes |
| The van sinks into a freshly backfilled trench and the suspension is bent | No | Provided that |
If you choose neither, only the compulsory third-party liability cover remains and the policy pays solely for the other party's loss.
Frequently asked questions
The questions we are asked most often about this.
My van was emptied overnight on the street. What is paid for?
The damage to the vehicle itself, so the lock, the door and the bodywork, falls under own-damage cover. The stolen tools do not. If the policy contains a clause stating that the van should be parked on an enclosed site, the vehicle damage may also be limited. Always report the theft to the police and keep the police report.
Does windscreen damage cost me no-claims years?
Most insurers do not count glass damage as a claim against your no-claims years, provided the glass is repaired or replaced through the insurer's repair network. There is often a lower excess or none at all for a repair, and a higher amount for a full replacement. The precise arrangement is set out in the conditions of your policy.
Is a hired replacement van insured as well?
Only if you have the replacement vehicle module or if the hire company arranges the insurance. Without that module, a hire van falls outside your policy and you depend on the hire company's cover, usually with a substantial excess. Agree in advance how long you are entitled to a replacement vehicle and which category of vehicle that covers.
When is third-party, fire and theft enough?
When the residual value of the van is so low that you can bear a collision from your own resources, but you do want fire and theft covered. If the van is central to how you run your business or has a lot of equipment fitted, comprehensive cover is usually the logical choice. Work it out with the excess included, not on premium alone.
Read more
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