Third-party liability
- Damage to other vehicles and property
- Injury to third parties
- Also applies while the registered vehicle stands still
- Not: damage to your own camper van
Insuring a heavy motorhome
For the insurer a camper van is two things at once: a registered motor vehicle and living space with contents. On a heavy camper van the weight is added to that, and it affects both your driving licence and the premium.
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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
A camper van falls under the insurance obligation for motor vehicles of Article 2 of the Dutch Motor Insurance Liability Act (WAM). For as long as the vehicle is registered, there has to be third-party liability cover, including in the months when the camper van stands still. Only where the registration has been suspended does that obligation lapse. The third-party liability cover pays for the damage you cause to others with the camper van; damage to the camper van itself is not included.
With a heavy camper van the maximum permitted weight is the pivotal point. A category B licence allows you to drive a motor vehicle up to 3.500 kg; above that a category C1 licence is needed, and above 7,500 kg a category C licence. Insurers use the same threshold: camper vans above 3,500 kg are often placed in a separate weight class and not every company accepts them. If you drive a category your licence does not allow, there is no own-damage cover and the third-party liability insurer will usually recover the payment from you.
Alongside the vehicle you insure the camping contents: crockery, bedding, bicycles, clothing and equipment you take with you. Your ordinary home contents insurance covers items away from the home only to a limited extent and usually not against theft from a vehicle. See also the general explanation of insurance.
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What does camper van insurance cover?
Three parts on one policy, with an overview by situation set out below.
Own-damage cover
Damage to the vehicle itself, including the body and the fixed fittings.
- Collision, fire, storm and hail
- Theft under the security conditions
- Glass and break-in damage
- Not: wear and leaks caused by maintenance
Contents and assistance
Modules for the belongings in the camper van and for a breakdown or accident on the road.
- Camping contents and travel baggage
- Assistance and replacement accommodation
- Personal accident cover for occupants
- Motor vehicle legal expenses
What is covered
| Situation | Third-party liability | Own-damage cover |
|---|---|---|
| Damage you cause to someone else with the motorhome | Yes | No |
| Damage to your own camper van through your own fault | No | Yes |
| Theft of the camper van or a break-in into the body | No | Provided that |
| Frost damage because the water system was not drained | No | No |
| Leaks and damp damage caused by deferred maintenance | No | No |
| Damage while the camper van is hired out to a third party | No | No |
What is actually covered, including exclusions, limits and the excess, is set out in the policy conditions and the insurance card (verzekeringskaart) that you receive before you take out cover.
What does your premium depend on?
- Maximum permitted mass: below or above 3,500 kg
- Value of the camper van: purchase price, market value or agreed value
- Type of cover and excess: third-party liability only or own-damage cover as well
- Storage address and security: a shed, a site or the public road
- No-claims years and age: of the regular driver
- Use and territorial limits: mileage and travel outside Europe
Insurers weigh these details differently. That is where your saving is.
How we arrange it
- You request a quoteWe take stock of your situation, risk and 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 with heavy camper vans
Four points that determine whether the policy actually pays out in the event of a claim.
The weight and the driving licence have to match
Part I of the registration document states the maximum permitted weight. If it is above 3.500 kg, a category B licence is no longer enough and at least C1 is required. This is overlooked on camper vans that turn out heavier than expected after conversion or loading. Driving without the correct driving licence category is a standard exclusion: the own-damage claim is at your expense, and the third-party liability insurer will pay the victim but recover that amount from you. Declare the weight class correctly on the application. That is part of the duty of disclosure in Article 7:928 of the Dutch Civil Code.
The vehicle and the living space are two covers
Own-damage cover concerns the vehicle and the permanently built-in fittings: kitchen unit, fridge, heating, water system and furniture. Loose items do not fall under it. Crockery, bedding, clothing, electronics and bicycles belong to the camping contents, and you insure those separately with their own sum insured and their own limit for valuables. Your home contents insurance usually offers only limited cover away from the home and often excludes theft from a vehicle entirely. An awning, bicycle rack or satellite dish also has conditions of its own: damage to it while driving is regularly excluded or capped.
Winter storage and frost damage
If the camper van stands still for part of the year, the policy often has a storage period with limited cover and a lower premium. During that period cover generally remains only for events such as fire, storm and theft. Frost damage because the water tank, boiler or pipes were not drained is not insured; that counts as inadequate maintenance. The same applies to leaks along roof edges and seams that have developed gradually. Give the storage address and check whether the insurer sets requirements for a fenced site or a locked shed, because a different storage place can restrict the cover in the event of theft.
Hire to third parties is almost never covered
A private camper van policy assumes use by you and your family. If you hire the camper van out — even occasionally and even through a brokering platform — the damage the hirer causes is almost never covered. Separate hire cover or a policy from the platform is needed for that. If you conceal the hire, the insurer can reduce or refuse the payout under Article 7:930 of the Dutch Civil Code. Beyond that, the usual exclusions apply: wear and mechanical or electronic defects without a collision, driving under the influence, and damage caused by intent or recklessness (Article 7:952 of the Dutch Civil Code). Report a claim as soon as is reasonably possible (Article 7:941 of the Dutch Civil Code).
Frequently asked questions
This is what people ask us most.
Which driving licence do I need for a heavy camper van?
That depends on the maximum permitted weight on the registration document. Up to 3,500 kg a category B licence is enough. If the weight is above that, a category C1 licence is required, and above 7,500 kg a category C licence. If you drive without the correct category, own-damage cover lapses and the third-party liability insurer recovers from you the amount paid to the victim. So check the weight before you buy.
Are my belongings in the camper van insured as well?
Not automatically. Own-damage cover concerns the vehicle and the fixed fitting-out. Loose items such as crockery, clothing, electronics and bicycles you insure with separate camping contents cover, with its own sum insured and often a lower limit for valuables. Your home contents insurance usually covers items away from the home only to a limited extent and generally excludes theft from a vehicle.
Do I have to keep paying if the camper van stands still all winter?
As long as the registration has not been suspended, the third-party liability obligation in Article 2 WAM continues to apply and the premium runs on. Many insurers do offer a storage period with limited cover and a lower premium. If you suspend the registration, you may no longer take it on the road and only limited cover at the storage address remains.
Is frost damage during winter storage covered?
No. Damage because the water tank, boiler or pipes were not drained is treated as the result of inadequate maintenance and is excluded. The same applies to damp and leak damage that has developed gradually along roof edges, seams or windows. Drain the water system before the frost sets in and have the seams checked periodically.
May I hire out my motorhome?
On a private policy, almost never without declaring it. Damage caused by a hirer is then not covered and your own cover can lapse as well. If you want to hire it out, report that in advance and ask about hire cover, or use a platform that arranges its own insurance. Concealing it falls under Article 7:930 of the Dutch Civil Code and can cost you the payout.
What is a valuation worth on a camper van?
On older or converted camper vans, market values vary widely. A valuation under Article 7:960 of the Dutch Civil Code fixes the value for an agreed period, so that no discussion about market value arises in the event of a total loss. If the valuation expires, have it renewed; otherwise the insurer works with the value at the time of the loss.
Every situation is different. For these situations we have a separate page.
- Motorhome insuranceThe main page
- Insuring a hobby motorhomeOwn registration number, contents insured separately, damp damage excluded
- Insuring a business motorhome: what you need to knowWeight and driving licence, green card, suspension
- Camper van insurance through Unigarant
- Insuring a business motorhomeCamper van owned by the business, declare hire, contents insured separately
- Using a company motorhome privately as wellRegistered to the business, private use, must be declared
- Camper van insurance through NH1816
Read more
Within Motorhome insurance
Is your camper van properly insured?
Request a quote without obligation. We check the weight class, storage, contents and territorial limits.
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.