On an electric car, a third to a half of the value sits in the battery pack. So the question is not whether the car is insured, but in what circumstances that battery is.
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Work out your own premium with the calculator.
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An adviser checks whether the cover suits your situation
A premium indication, not personal advice. Prefer to talk it through? Call 072 - 509 24 56.
In brief
The traction battery is usually insured as part of the vehicle under third-party liability plus third-party, fire and theft and under comprehensive cover — but only where the damage results from a covered event, such as a collision or fire. A technical fault, wear and natural degradation of the battery fall outside the cover; for those the manufacturer's warranty is the route.
If you have a rented or leased battery, it often does not fall under your car insurance. You insure that with the owner or lessor, and that is set out in the rental or lease contract. This is the point most often missed.
On electric cars, repairs run through a certified repairer. Firms working on high-voltage systems are trained to NEN 9140; insurers steer towards them specifically. That limits the choice of repairers and sometimes lengthens the turnaround time.
The structure of the cover in three parts, with an overview per situation below.
The basics
Vehicle and battery
The car including the battery pack, for damage from a covered cause.
Collision and fire
Theft
Wear and degradation excluded
Often insured
Charging accessories
The charging cable and mobile charger, including away from the vehicle.
Theft while charging
A lockable cable is recommended
The limit differs per policy
Not on the car policy
Charge point
Which policy the charge point falls under depends on how it is fixed.
Fixed to the home: buildings insurance
Free-standing: home contents insurance
Business site: buildings or business contents insurance
What is covered
Situation
Third-party liability
Third-party liability + fire and theft
Comprehensive
Damage to another vehicle
Yes
Yes
Yes
Battery damage from a collision
No
Yes
Yes
A battery fire while charging
No
Yes
Yes
A charging cable stolen at a charge point
No
Sometimes
Sometimes
Loss of battery capacity through ageing
No
No
No
A rented or leased battery
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.
Degradation is not damage
The battery loses capacity over the years. That is a normal process and not a sudden event, so no insurer pays for it. What you do need to watch is the manufacturer's warranty: it usually covers loss of capacity below a certain percentage within a number of years or kilometres. Keep the warranty conditions with your policy, so that you know which route to follow if there are problems.
A rented battery is insured elsewhere
With a number of makes and lease contracts the battery is not owned but rented. It then does not fall under the own-damage cover of your car insurance; the lessor or leasing company arranges that. Check your contract, because with damage to a battery worth tens of thousands of euros this is the difference between a phone call and an invoice.
Which policy the charge point falls under depends on how it is fixed
A charge point fixed to your home is insured through the buildings insurance (opstalverzekering). If it stands free on your property, it usually falls under the home contents insurance (inboedelverzekering). On a business site it runs through the buildings or business contents insurance. In none of those cases through the car policy, although people assume it is.
The chance of a battery fire is small, but if it happens the damage is large and hard to extinguish. In a garage, carport or shared car park it can spread to the building and to other vehicles. So look not only at your car policy but also at your buildings and liability cover, and tell the VvE (Dutch owners' association) or landlord that you charge an electric vehicle.
What does your premium depend on?
List price including the battery pack — the main basis for calculation
Make and model — repair costs vary widely
No-claims years
Annual mileage
Charging situation — at home, at work or publicly
Cover and excess chosen — often higher on an EV
Insurers weigh these details differently. That is why comparing pays off.
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.
As part of the car it usually is, but only for damage from a covered cause such as a collision or fire. A technical fault, wear and loss of capacity fall outside it; for those the manufacturer's warranty is the route.
And if I rent the battery?
It then often falls outside your car insurance. The owner or leasing company arranges that; check your rental or lease contract before you assume it is covered.
Is my charging cable insured?
On many policies it is, as an accessory, including away from the vehicle, for instance if it is stolen while charging. Use a lockable cable and check the limit in your conditions.
Which policy does my charge point fall under?
Fixed to the home under the buildings insurance, free-standing under the home contents insurance, and on a business site under the buildings or business contents insurance. Not under the car policy.
Who may repair my electric car?
A repairer trained to work on high-voltage systems, to NEN 9140, or the franchised dealer. Insurers steer towards this, which limits the choice and sometimes lengthens the turnaround time.
Is the premium higher than on a petrol car?
Often it is, because of the higher list price and more expensive repair costs. Some insurers also apply a higher excess for electric cars.
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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