The Q3 is an everyday car that spends a lot of time parked outside, and that raises a question that rarely arises on more expensive models: who pays if the other party is never identified?
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In brief
The Q3 is the compact family and commuting car in the range. During the day it stands on a business park or in a multi-storey car park, in the evening in the street or on the drive. That pattern of use produces a recognisable claims picture: a large share of reports concern damage with no known other party. A dent in the rear wing, a scratch across two panels, a mirror knocked off, and nobody has left anything behind.
Whoever caused the damage is liable under Article 6:162 DCC, and their third-party insurance has to pay because Article 2 of the Dutch Motor Insurance Liability Act (WAM) makes that cover compulsory. But without the other party's registration number there is nothing to recover. Your own policy then decides what happens: with comprehensive cover the damage is repaired on your own insurance. With third party only or third party, fire and theft the bill stays with you.
There is one way out for the more serious cases: the Waarborgfonds Motorverkeer. That fund steps in where a motor vehicle has remained unidentified or was uninsured, but it sets strict requirements as to the police report, plausibility and proof that a motor vehicle really was involved. For the choice between the types of cover see comprehensive or third-party, fire and theft; for the overview of makes Audi car insurance.
The structure of the cover in three parts, with an overview per situation below.
Compulsory
Third-party liability
Damage you cause to others.
Required by law
As long as the registration is in your name
Suspend the registration when not in use
Third-party liability plus
Third-party, fire and theft
Causes beyond your control.
Fire and storm
Theft
Windscreen damage
Comprehensive cover
Comprehensive
Including damage you cause yourself.
Own fault
Vandalism
Replacement-as-new period
What is covered
Situation
Third-party liability
Third-party, fire and theft
Comprehensive
Damage to the other party
Yes
Yes
Yes
Theft
No
Yes
Yes
Fire and storm
No
Yes
Yes
Damage you cause yourself
No
No
Yes
Wear and mechanical defects
No
No
No
Driving without a valid licence
No
No
No
This overview is general in nature and is not personal advice. What is actually covered, including exclusions, limits and the excess, is set out in the policy conditions and the insurance card (verzekeringskaart) of the insurer; you receive both before you take out cover. Taking out cover without advice? Then read what execution only means for you.
Where things go wrong in practice
Four points that make the difference between a policy that pays out and one that does not.
Record what you find straight away
Photograph the damage, the surroundings and the position of the car before you drive off, and note the date, time and exact location. Ask residents or businesses whether there is camera footage, and do so the same day; footage is often overwritten within a few days. Report it to the police. Without a police report and a plausible account, a claim to the Waarborgfonds Motorverkeer will not be dealt with, and your own insurer will ask for these documents too.
The Waarborgfonds does not pay for everything
The fund steps in where the person responsible is unidentified or was driving uninsured, but you have to show it is plausible that the damage was caused by a motor vehicle. Scratches from a shopping trolley, a bicycle, a branch or vandalism therefore fall outside it. On property damage caused by an unidentified party the fund also deducts an excess. If the case cannot be proved, only your own own-damage cover remains.
Parking damage counts, even where you are not at fault
If you have a collision caused by an unidentified party repaired through your own comprehensive cover, there is no other party to recover from. Many insurers therefore treat such a claim as an at-fault claim for the no-claims discount, unless the conditions provide otherwise. Ask about that in advance and set the repair cost against your excess and the loss of no-claims years. For a single scrape, paying yourself is often the cheaper route.
What falls outside the cover
Not covered are damage whose cause you cannot substantiate where only third-party, fire and theft is in force, damage caused deliberately by you or a member of your household under Article 7:952 DCC, and damage you report so late that the insurer's interests are harmed, as Article 7:941 DCC provides. Wear, rust and damage to separate accessories such as a roof box or bicycle rack fall outside it too.
What does your premium depend on?
Type of storage. Public road, driveway or locked garage. On a car often left unattended outside this counts heavily.
Postcode area. The number of reports of parking damage and vandalism in the area feeds through into the own-damage rate.
Annual mileage and commuting distance. This car usually covers a lot of kilometres; understating them leads to argument when you claim.
Type of cover chosen. Only comprehensive cover pays for damage caused by an unidentified party; third-party, fire and theft does not.
Excess for own-damage cover. Determines whether it is worth reporting a single scrape or dent at all.
Claims history. A series of small own-damage claims with no other party counts at renewal, even where you were not at fault.
Insurers weigh these details differently. That is where your saving is.
How we arrange it
You request a quoteWe take stock of your situation, your risk and your wishes.
We compareseveral insurers, on premium as well as conditions.
You receive a proposalWith an explanation of the differences and the exclusions.
We arrange the switchIncluding cancellation, so there is no gap in cover.
Customers rate our service on four aspects: personal service, service delivery, availability and the outcome. The reviews are collected and published by NH1816 and come from customers who have actually taken out a policy with Finass Advies B.V. or reported a claim.
My car has been damaged in the car park and there is no note. What now?
Photograph everything on the spot, note the time and location and ask about camera footage the same day. Then report it to the police. Report it to your insurer too, even if you are still unsure about claiming. With comprehensive cover the damage is repaired on your own policy. With third party or third party, fire and theft there is no payment without a known other party.
When can I turn to the Waarborgfonds Motorverkeer?
Where the damage was caused by a motor vehicle whose driver remained unidentified, was driving uninsured or had stolen the vehicle. You have to show it is plausible that a motor vehicle was involved. A police report and witnesses or footage help with that. On property damage caused by an unidentified party the fund deducts an excess from the payment.
Do I lose no-claims years after a collision that was not my fault?
If the other party can be held liable and the loss is recovered from them in full, your years remain intact. If the person responsible remains unidentified and you have the repair done through your own own-damage cover, there is nothing to recover and many insurers treat it as an at-fault claim. Check the wording in your conditions before you report it.
Is my bicycle rack or roof box covered?
Separate accessories and the load you carry are not covered by the car's own-damage cover. That needs a separate arrangement or home contents or travel insurance. Damage your bicycle rack or a load that comes loose causes to others is covered by the car's third-party cover, because that damage was caused by the motor vehicle.
Finass Verzekert is a trading name of Finass Advies B.V. We advise on and arrange non-life insurance on the basis of an objective analysis of several insurers, and receive commission for this from the insurer, which is included in the premium. You pay no separate advice fee. Before you take out cover, we establish your wishes and needs.
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