Mixed fleet · abroad · refrigerated transport
Lorry insurance through Nationale-Nederlanden
Few transport businesses run one type of vehicle. The question is not which insurer has the cheapest truck premium, but who is willing to accept your entire mix under one arrangement.
- Several insurers compared objectively
- 9.5 customer rating for a new policy
- AFM licence 12016589
- Personal 072 - 509 24 56, weekdays 9–17
Deze pagina in het Nederlands: Vrachtautoverzekering via Nationale-Nederlanden.
The calculator and the quote form below are in Dutch. Prefer to do this in English? Email info@finassverzekert. nl or call 072 - 509 24 56 and we will take it from there.
Work out for yourself what it would cost.
Enter your details; you will receive a proposal within one working day.
- We compare the offerings of several insurers
- An adviser checks whether the cover suits your activities
- We arrange the switch, including cancellation
A premium indication, not personal advice. Prefer to talk it through? Call 072 - 509 24 56.
In brief
Finass acts as an intermediary for the business range of Nationale-Nederlanden and of more than thirty other companies. With heavy vehicles the difference lies not in the premium but in acceptance: not every insurer wants refrigerated transport, tipper work or journeys outside western Europe. We first take stock of what you actually do and then search the market. If some of your vehicles are already placed with this company, also look at fleet insurance.
Vehicles over 3,500 kilograms do not fall under an ordinary motor policy. Every registration needs its own liability cover under Article 2 of the Dutch Motor Insurance Liability Act (WAM), including a semi-trailer or trailer that stands on the yard for most of the week. With own-damage cover, the the insured value is the subject of discussion: an eight-year-old tractor unit with a reconditioned engine is not a standard case, and without a valuation you fall back on the market value determined by the loss adjuster.
The boundary with other policies is sharper in transport than elsewhere. Failure of a refrigeration unit causing a consignment to spoil is not an own-damage claim but a matter between you, your client and the goods in transit insurance. If the vehicle works as a machine, for instance with a concrete mixer, a crane or a suction unit, you enter the territory of plant and machinery insurance. And downtime that affects your turnover belongs on the business interruption insurance for transport firms.
This page deals with one situation. The full overview is on Compare van insurance.
What to look out for
Four subjects that determine the cover with a mixed fleet.
Area of cover and green card
The standard cover applies to the countries on the green card that are not crossed out. If you regularly drive to destinations outside that area, you need an extension. Without that extension there is no cover once you have crossed the border. Check this per journey if you occasionally drive outside your usual route, and keep the card in the cab.
Spoilage, temperature and refrigeration unit failure
The own-damage policy covers damage to the refrigeration unit itself only in the event of an insured event, and never the value of the load lost as a result. Spoilage, temperature excursions and loss of value of goods are damage to the load. Record the temperature logs. Without logging you have nothing to show your client.
Load securing and overloading
Damage arising because the load was not secured to the required standard or because the permitted weight was exceeded is excluded on virtually every policy. That also applies to overturning on a bend with too high a centre of gravity. Instruction, checks and the driver's signature on the loading note are not a formality here but evidence.
Changes as vehicles come and go
Vehicles you buy or sell must be reported within the agreed period. A tractor unit that is on the road but has not been registered is not insured, while the obligation under the WAM does continue. Designate one person to handle the changes and check the policy schedule periodically against the vehicle registration records.
What does your premium depend on?
- Composition of the fleet: tractor units, rigid lorries, semi-trailers and trailers counted separately
- Type of load: general cargo, refrigerated transport, bulk or hazardous substances
- Area of cover: domestic, Europe or beyond
- Claims burden over recent years: with several vehicles, decisive at renewal
- Security and site surveillance: camera surveillance and fencing count in relation to theft
- Excess per event: often differentiated by vehicle category
Insurers weigh these details differently. That is where your saving is.
What is covered
| Situation | Third-party liability | Own-damage cover |
|---|---|---|
| Your tractor unit smashes the customer's tail lift while manoeuvring | Yes | No |
| A fire in the cab caused by a short circuit while the vehicle is on the yard | No | Yes |
| An entire semi-trailer disappears from an unguarded parking area | No | Provided that |
| The driver enters a viaduct that is too low and the body is torn open | No | Yes |
| A semi-trailer that has come loose rolls into a parked car on the industrial estate | Yes | No |
| Your own driver is injured in a rear-end collision that they caused themselves | No | No |
The third-party liability section pays for the other party's loss, the own-damage section for your own; injury to the driver falls outside both.
Frequently asked questions
This is what people ask us most.
Can my whole fleet be on one policy?
Technically often yes, but not every category belongs on it. Cars, vans and trucks can be placed under one arrangement, while self-propelled equipment such as a forklift truck or excavator belongs on plant and machinery insurance. We assess per category whether combining is advantageous; with a mixed fleet you otherwise pay across the whole fleet at the rate for the heaviest category.
What happens if a semi-trailer with a load is stolen?
The own-damage cover on the semi-trailer covers the semi-trailer, provided that cover has been taken out and the security conditions have been met. The load falls entirely outside it. That claim runs through your carrier's liability and through the interested party's goods insurance. Report the theft immediately and notify the police, as Article 7:941 of the Dutch Civil Code requires of you.
Does damage caused by a hired-in driver count?
Yes. The cover follows the vehicle, so damage caused by a hired-in or seconded driver affects your claims record. When hiring in, check the driving licence, the code 95 and the driving and rest times. Your duty of care under Article 7:658(4) of the Dutch Civil Code also extends to people who are not employed by you but do your work.
Is damage during loading and unloading covered?
Damage to the vehicle itself falls under own-damage cover, but damage you cause to a customer's building or site while unloading is liability and belongs on public and employers' liability insurance (AVB). If you damage the goods you are carrying, that is damage to the load again. These three streams are often confused in transport claims.
Read more
Within Vrachtautoverzekering
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