The excess on home contents insurance (inboedelverzekering)

How it works

The excess applies per event, not per year. Two claims in one year means the excess twice.

Some policies have a a different excess for specific categories, for example higher for water damage or storm.

How to choose

Choose an amount you can do without any difficulty. A high excess lowers the premium, but only if you can genuinely bear it when you claim.

Work it out: if an excess of five hundred euros lowers your premium by thirty euros a year, you only earn that back once you have gone more than fifteen years without a claim.

Where no excess applies

With some policies no excess applies to certain categories, for example glass damage or damage where a third party is liable and the cost is recovered.

Check this; it varies considerably per insurer and it is stated on your policy schedule.

For small claims

If the loss is only just above the excess, claiming is barely worth it and it may affect your premium in later years. Do the sums before you report it — reporting is always allowed, claiming is a separate decision.