Agricultural machines travel on the public road, tow implements behind them and run for days on end in dry crops during harvest. Each of those three points raises its own question about cover.
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In brief
In the Netherlands John Deere is found above all on the farm: tractors, foragers, combines and self-propelled implements, alongside construction plant. Agricultural vehicles that go onto the public road must be registered and fall under the insurance requirement of Article 2 of the Dutch Motor Insurance Liability Act (WAM). That cover concerns the traffic risk. Whatever goes wrong while the vehicle is working as an implement in the field belongs to the operating risk and must be arranged separately.
The second point is what is hitched behind the tractor. An attached implement often shares in the cover of the towing vehicle, but an implement that is detached or used independently does not. A tipping trailer that overturns while unloading, or a sprayer standing in the yard, then falls between two stools. List every implement separately on the schedule of plant.
The third point is fire. Harvesting machines work in dust and crop residue, with hot exhaust and bearing parts. A fire in a combine or forager is a real scenario, and insurers set requirements around it: fire extinguishers on board and cleaning of the machine.
The structure of the cover in three parts, with an overview per situation below.
For third parties
Liability
Damage you cause to others with the machine.
Cables and pipes
Damage to buildings
Injury to bystanders
The machine itself
Own-damage cover
Damage to and theft of the machine, including inherent defect.
Theft and vandalism
Fire and storm
Inherent defect and operating error
Extensions
Downtime and transport
What comes into play with breakdown and transport.
Business interruption during downtime
Transport to the site
Hired plant
What is covered
Situation
Covered
Theft from the building site
Sometimes
Fire and storm damage
Yes
Inherent defect in the hydraulics
Sometimes
Damage to cables and pipes
Sometimes
Normal wear and tracks
No
Damage due to deferred maintenance
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.
Road and field are two different regimes
As long as the tractor is travelling on the public road, the WAM cover applies to the traffic risk. As soon as the vehicle functions as an implement, ploughing, spraying or loading, this is the operating risk and different conditions apply. Many claims sit on the boundary: mud on the road that a motorist skids on, an implement swinging out and striking an oncoming vehicle. Place both risks with one party, so that nobody can point to the other.
Attached, detached and stored
Implements are not automatically insured simply because they belong with the tractor. When attached, an implement usually shares in the cover of the towing vehicle; separate from it, it is an independent item that must appear on the schedule of plant. Think of tipping trailers, sprayers, slurry injectors, balers and front loaders. If such an implement is missing from the schedule, damage to or theft of it is not covered, even where the tractor itself is generously insured.
Fire risk during the harvest season
In a forager or combine, dust and crop residue build up around hot parts. A smouldering bearing fire spreads quickly to the crop and sometimes to a neighbouring field or a shed. Insurers include prevention conditions: fire extinguishers present and inspected, and daily cleaning of the machine. Likewise, damage caused by using the machine despite a known fault is refused. Fire spreading to a neighbour's crop is liability damage, not own damage.
Contract work for third parties changes the risk
If you take your own plant onto other people's land, you are working under an assignment and can be held responsible for damage to the crop, to the soil through compaction, or to drainage and dykes. You are liable for your employees' mistakes under Article 6:170 of the Dutch Civil Code. Declare contract work when you apply; cover tailored solely to your own holding may exclude work for others.
Repairs and parts
Electronics and precision farming systems make repairs more expensive than the mechanical parts suggest.
Acceptance differs per insurer
Not every company applies the same policy for this make. With unusual versions, the question is not what it costs but who will accept it.
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.
If the vehicle goes onto the public road, yes. Agricultural vehicles must be registered, and Article 2 of the Dutch Motor Insurance Liability Act (WAM) requires third-party liability insurance for motor vehicles. That cover concerns the traffic risk. For damage arising while the vehicle is working as an implement in the field, you additionally need cover for the operating risk.
Are my implements automatically insured with the tractor?
When attached they usually share in the cover of the towing vehicle, but not when detached or used independently. Tipping trailers, sprayers, balers and front loaders therefore belong on the schedule of plant as independent items, with type and value. If an implement is not listed, damage to or theft of it is not covered, whatever the cover on the tractor.
What does the insurer expect around fire prevention?
Usually inspected extinguishers on the machine and a cleaning regime during the season, because dust and crop residue around hot parts determine the fire risk. Carrying on with a known fault or overheating is treated as avoidable and leads to refusal. If the fire spreads to someone else's crop, that part runs through the liability cover.
Is damage to a client's land covered?
In contract work you can be held responsible for damage to crops, drainage or soil structure. You are liable for your employees' mistakes under Article 6:170 of the Dutch Civil Code. Declare contract work for third parties when you apply. A policy tailored to your own holding may exclude or limit work for others.
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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