Third-party liability
- Compulsory from registration onwards
- Damage to other vehicles
- Injury to third parties
Insuring a convertible
On a convertible the damage rarely lies in the mechanics and almost always in the roof, the storage and the season in which the car stands idle.
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- 9.5 customer rating for a new policy
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- Personal 072 - 509 24 56, weekdays 9–17
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Work out for yourself what it would cost.
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- We compare the offerings of several insurers
- An adviser checks whether the cover suits your situation
- We arrange the switch, including cancellation
A premium indication, not personal advice. Prefer to talk it through? Call 072 - 509 24 56.
- Independent advice
- Several insurers
- Switching arranged
- Help with claims
In brief
You insure a convertible as a passenger car and third-party liability cover is compulsory as soon as it has a registration number. Insurers simply assess the risk differently, because a fabric roof can be cut open in seconds. Vandalism and break-ins through the roof are the most common claims on this type of vehicle, and a new roof is an own-damage claim of a wholly different order from a window.
There is a second difference: a convertible is rarely driven all year round. That low annual mileage and a a locked garage work in your favour in the rating, but only if you declare them. If you only drive in the summer season, suspending the registration with the RDW (the Dutch vehicle authority) is a realistic option, provided the car does not stand on the public road in those months.
Outside the cover fall ageing and leaks of the roof itself, faults in the hydraulic roof mechanism without a covered cause, and scratches or yellowing in a plastic rear window. No insurer pays for rain damage to the interior because the roof was left open either.
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Convertible: what is covered?
The structure of the cover in three parts, with an overview per situation below.
Third-party liability + fire and theft
Also, external damage to your own vehicle.
- Theft and burglary
- Fire, storm and hail
- Windscreen damage
- Collision with animals
Comprehensive
Including damage to your own vehicle through your own fault.
- Own fault
- Vandalism
- Unknown party at fault
- Total loss
What is covered
| Situation | Third-party liability | Third-party liability + fire and theft | Comprehensive |
|---|---|---|---|
| Damage to another vehicle | Yes | Yes | Yes |
| Theft | No | Yes | Yes |
| Windscreen damage or stone chips | No | Yes | Yes |
| Storm, hail and fire damage | No | Yes | Yes |
| Driving into a bollard yourself | No | No | Yes |
| Wear and deferred maintenance | 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.
What does your premium depend on?
- Type of roof. A fabric soft top, a lined roof and a folding hardtop differ widely in replacement price.
- Where it is kept at night. A locked garage, your own drive or the public road. On a convertible this counts more heavily than average.
- Postcode area. The ratio of break-in and vandalism reports in your region determines the loading.
- Seasonal use and mileage. A car driven only between April and October falls into a lower mileage class.
- Basis of value. Market value, purchase price or a valuation report on an enthusiast version.
- Type of cover and excess. Third-party, fire and theft covers vandalism and break-ins; comprehensive adds damage you cause yourself.
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.
Why arrange it through Finass Verzekert?
We look at the terms as well as the premium, and stay your point of contact when there is a claim.
Independent
We are not tied to one insurer and compare on the basis of an objective analysis of several companies.
One fixed adviser
You call or email someone who knows your file. No menu options, no changing call centres.
Switching without hassle
We cancel your old policy and align the start date, so you are never a day without cover.
Help with claims
We report the claim and monitor how it is handled. In urgent cases you can reach us on the emergency line.
9.5New policy
9.8Claims handling
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.
Where things go wrong in practice
Four points that make the difference between a policy that pays out and one that does not.
A soft top is not glass but bodywork
A fabric roof that has been cut open or pushed in is treated as own damage, not as glass damage. That means the favourable glass arrangement does not apply to it: you pay the full excess and the claim can count in the assessment of your no-claims years. Only with vandalism or a break-in by an unknown third party does that usually stay out of it. Ask your insurer in writing how it classifies roof damage before you choose a policy.
With the roof open the car is not locked
Virtually every car policy requires you to leave the vehicle properly secured. A convertible with the roof open or the windows down does not meet that, not even where you park for five minutes by a terrace and the car stays in view. If a bag, phone or navigation device then disappears, that is a ground for refusing payment. Do not leave loose belongings behind and close the roof, including in a supervised car park.
The roof mechanism is mechanics, not cover
The hydraulics, the small motors and the sensors that operate the roof break down over the years. A mechanical or electrical defect is a maintenance item and falls outside every own-damage policy, however high the bill. Only where the mechanism is damaged by a covered cause, for instance a collision or an attempted break-in, does the repair qualify. Hail damage on a taut soft top is a borderline case; establish in advance how your policy treats it.
Suspending the registration does not remove every risk
If you take the registration off the road with the RDW in winter, the insurance obligation and the road tax lapse. The risk does not disappear: fire in storage, theft of the whole car and water damage all remain. There is storage cover for that. A condition of suspension is that the car stands on your own property or in an enclosed space. It may not remain on the street and that is enforced.
Seasonal use and suspension
If you only drive in the summer season, you can suspend the registration with the RDW in winter. The third-party liability obligation and the road tax then lapse, but the risk of fire and theft in storage remains. You cover that with storage cover.
Your no-claims years are held in Roy-data
You build up no-claims years for each year without an at-fault claim, and you usually lose five at once when a claim is paid. They are registered in Roy-data, the central system of Dutch insurers, and therefore transfer automatically to a new insurer. With most insurers, glass damage does not count.
Work out whether claiming pays
With an at-fault claim you usually lose five no-claims years and your premium rises for years, because you then climb back up step by step. For a small claim, paying yourself can be cheaper. Always ask for a damage assessment before you finalise a claim.
Frequently asked questions
This is what people ask us most.
Is a roof that has been cut open covered?
Under third-party, fire and theft and comprehensive it usually is, as vandalism or break-in damage by a third party. You pay the excess and report it to the police. Without a police report such a claim is rarely taken into consideration. Do not count on the glass arrangement applying: a roof is bodywork and is settled as a full own-damage claim.
What if I leave the roof open?
The car does not then count as properly secured. Theft of belongings from the interior and rain damage to the upholstery are refused, even where you were standing next to it briefly. This is one of the most frequently used grounds for refusal on this type of vehicle. So close the roof even for short stops and leave nothing in sight.
Can I suspend my convertible's registration in winter?
Yes, through the RDW, as long as the car does not stand on the public road during that period. The third-party liability obligation and the road tax lapse. Fire, theft and water damage in storage do still apply; if you cover those with storage cover, the car is insured while standing idle too. Always report the suspension to your insurer.
Do I need a valuation report?
On a classic or rare convertible that is wise. Without a valuation, the market value is paid in a total loss, and that follows the ordinary price guides, not the market for enthusiast cars. A report from a recognised valuer fixes the value for an agreed period, so that no argument about the basis arises after a claim.
Every situation is different. For these situations we have a separate page.
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Read more
Ready to compare?
Request a quote without obligation. We will look at which insurer best matches your activities and your risk.
Prefer to call? 072 - 509 24 56, weekdays 09:00–17:00.
Claim on the road? Emergency line 06 - 55 20 40 72.
About our service
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.
You will find our licence, KvK and Kifid details and our complaints procedure at the foot of every page.
This page was compiled by Finass Verzekert (LinkedIn). Last updated on .
The information on this page is general in nature and is not personal advice.