The European Accident Statement
The form records what happened at the moment when both drivers still agree. What is entered on it often determines the whole question of fault.
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In brief
The European accident statement form is laid out the same way throughout Europe: in every language the same information appears in the same place. You complete the front together with the other party and you both sign it. That records which vehicles were involved, who is insured with whom, and which of the numbered boxes apply. Each driver then completes the back for themselves; the other party does not need to see that side.
A signature is not an admission of fault, but it is a confirmation of the facts as set out on the form. That is where the trap lies: ticked boxes, the sketch of the scene and the arrow showing the direction of travel weigh heavily in the assessment. If your accounts differ, each complete your own version, write in the remarks that you disagree, and only then sign. Never complete a blank form for the other party to fill in later.
Driving a motor vehicle must be insured under Article 2 of the Dutch Motor Insurance Liability Act (WAM), and the injured party may claim their loss directly from the other party's insurer. If the other party is uninsured, drove off or is unknown, you can turn to the Waarborgfonds Motorverkeer. Your own cover and the excess follow from your car insurance; the notification itself you make via report a claim.
This page deals with one situation. The full overview is on Compare personal liability insurance (AVP).
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What to watch when completing it
Four points that afterwards make the difference between a swift settlement and a question of fault that drags on for months.
Note the details that really matter
Registration number, make and model, the name and address of the driver and of the registered keeper if that is someone else, the insurer with the policy number, and the place, date and time. Ask to see the driving licence and the proof of insurance. If there are witnesses, note their name and telephone number; afterwards they can almost never be found.
The sketch of the scene weighs heavily
Draw the direction of travel, the layout of the road, the point of impact and any traffic signs or road markings. Also take photographs of both vehicles, of their final positions and of the whole scene from a good distance. A sketch and a photograph that contradict each other almost always lead to a longer argument about fault.
Report it even if you expect no claim
Article 7:941 of the Dutch Civil Code requires you to report an event as soon as you are reasonably aware of it. If you only report when the other party brings a claim months later and the insurer's interests are harmed as a result, the payout may be reduced. Reporting does not oblige you to claim. It keeps your position open.
What a collision never covers
Excluded are damage caused intentionally (Article 7:952 of the Dutch Civil Code), driving without a valid licence and driving under the influence. undeclared use, such as paid passenger transport, hire or a driving lesson, is also excluded, as is taking part in speed events and use on a circuit. Damage to your own car is in any case not covered under a third-party policy.
What does your premium depend on?
- The question of fault in the collision: a claim for which you are liable costs no-claims years
- Type of cover chosen: third-party liability, third-party, fire and theft, or comprehensive cover
- No-claims years: determine your step on the bonus-malus ladder
- Excess: a higher excess lowers the premium
- Age of the regular driver: and whether younger drivers also drive the vehicle
- Postcode and where the vehicle is kept: the chance of a claim varies by region
Insurers weigh these details differently. That is where your saving is.
What is covered
| Situation | Third-party liability | Comprehensive |
|---|---|---|
| You damage your neighbour's car while parking | Yes | Yes |
| Your own car is damaged in a collision for which you are liable | No | Yes |
| Your car is hit by someone who drove off and there are no witnesses | No | Yes |
| The other party admits nothing and their insurer keeps the question of fault open for months | Provided that | Yes |
| A passenger in your car is injured in a collision you caused | Yes | Yes |
| You are injured yourself in that same collision that you caused | No | No |
Who ultimately pays for the damage follows from the question of fault. What you get back yourself follows from your own type of cover.
Frequently asked questions
This is what people ask us most.
Am I admitting fault if I sign the form?
No. By signing you confirm only the factual details and the boxes ticked on the front. The insurers then assess the question of fault on the basis of the form, the photographs and any witnesses. If you disagree with the other party's account, say so in the remarks before you sign.
The other party will not sign. What now?
Complete the form yourself as fully as possible and note the registration number, make, colour and if possible the driver's name. Take photographs of the vehicle, the damage and the scene, and look for witnesses. Where there is injury, a hit-and-run or a suspicion of driving under the influence, call the police and ask for a reference number for the report.
What if the other party turns out to be uninsured or drives off?
You can then turn to the Waarborgfonds Motorverkeer, which pays the losses of injured parties who cannot recover from an insurer. Where the driver is unknown, stricter evidence requirements apply, so report it to the police and gather witnesses. If you have own-damage cover yourself, you can also claim there; the excess then remains at your expense.
Does this form also apply abroad?
Yes, the form has the same layout in all European countries, so you can recognise the boxes by their number even in a language you cannot read. So always keep a copy in the car. Before you leave, check whether your geographical cover includes the country and whether you have assistance cover; that is stated on the insurance card (verzekeringskaart) and the policy schedule.
Every situation is different. For these situations we have a separate page.
- Compare car insuranceThe main page
- The European Accident StatementAccount of events, not an admission of fault, both signatures
- Filling in the accident statement form: step by stepFront, back, what to keep
- What to do after damage to your carClaim form, the question of fault, no-claims years
- How does a claim work with car insurance?Accident statement form, reporting, repair
- The claims process for car damageReporting, assessor, repair
- Car insurance for the Opel AstraQuestion of fault, accident statement form, uninsured other party
- Reporting a claimReport immediately, Article 7:941 of the Dutch Civil Code, what to record