The type of cover
- Match it to the market value
- Third-party, fire and theft as an intermediate step
- Do not scale back on an expensive car
- Review it every year
Type of cover · excess · no-claims years
Saving on your car insurance
There are savings to be made on car insurance, but not every saving is one. Below, each choice is set out with what it gains you and what you give up for it.
- 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: Besparen op uw autoverzekering.
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 situation
- We arrange the switch, including cancellation
A premium indication, not personal advice. Prefer to talk it through? Call 072 - 509 24 56.
In brief
The premium for car insurance is made up of a risk element, costs and 21% insurance premium tax. Nothing can be done about that last part; about the risk element it can, because that follows from information you supply yourself: the type of cover, the excess, the annual mileage, the regular driver and the number of no-claims years. Anyone who makes deliberate choices there pays less without the policy falling short after a claim.
Two kinds of saving run into each other. The first is real: the same cover with a different insurer, paying annually instead of monthly, or a package discount. The second is deferred risk: a higher excess, a lower type of cover or a mileage declared too low. That saves premium now and costs money later, at precisely the moment you need the insurance.
One route is not a saving but a risk: declaring incorrect information. Entering a lower mileage, a different postcode or an older driver than is really the case lowers the premium immediately. After a claim the insurer checks that information, and then the duty of disclosure under Article 7:928 of the Dutch Civil Codeapplies: a breach can reduce or void the payment (Article 7:930 of the Dutch Civil Code) and in the worst case leads to registration and cancellation.
Where is the room in your premium?
Three levers determine most of what you pay. The rest is at the margins.
The excess
A higher excess lowers the premium and increases your costs after a claim.
- Choose an amount you can bear
- Watch for a separate amount for glass
- Sometimes lower for repairs within the network
- Weigh it against your reserves
Use and payment
Mileage, driver and payment term all count in the calculation.
- Declare the mileage accurately
- Paying annually saves a surcharge
- Package discount for bundling
- Protect your no-claims years
What is covered
| Situation | Produces a saving | Costs cover |
|---|---|---|
| Increase the excess | Yes | Provided that |
| Paying annually instead of monthly | Yes | No |
| Replace comprehensive with third-party, fire and theft at a low market value | Yes | Provided that |
| Bundle the car insurance with your other policies | Yes | No |
| Pay a small loss yourself instead of claiming | Provided that | No |
| Declare fewer kilometres than you actually drive | No | Yes |
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 saving does and does not achieve
Four points that determine whether you are left with money or merely shift risk.
Match the type of cover to the market value, not to the age
The rule of thumb that you should move to third-party liability after five years is wrong. What matters is whether you can bear the damage to your own car yourself. On a car with a low market value, third-party, fire and theft is often the logical intermediate step: you keep cover for theft, glass, fire, storm and wild animals, but no longer pay for your own fault. On a recent or expensive car, scaling back is unwise, because a single repair involving sensors and calibration swallows years of premium savings.
No-claims years are your greatest asset
Your discount step is built up from no-claims years that insurers exchange between themselves. One at-fault claim puts you back several steps and works through into the premium for years, including with another insurer. On a small claim it can therefore pay to settle it yourself. Some policies have a no-claims protector, under which one claim a year does not affect your step. That costs premium and is only worthwhile if you are already high on the scale.
What you never save on: the exclusions remain
A lower premium changes nothing about what falls outside every car policy. Not covered are, among other things: wear and tear and mechanical or electronic defects without a collision; taking part in speed or skill trials and driving on a track; damage while driving without a valid driving licence or under the influence; and hire or paid passenger transport without a declaration. Damage through intent or recklessness is excluded under Article 7:952 of the Dutch Civil Code. So compare not only on premium, but also on limits, the excess and the valuation arrangement in a total loss.
Switching often gains more than tinkering with your policy
Insurers' rates vary widely and change every year. A policy that was sharp five years ago rarely still is. When comparing, check whether the premium is inclusive of insurance premium tax and policy charges, whether the type of cover and the excess are the same and which depreciation arrangement applies. Also watch the notice period on your current policy and make sure the new cover starts immediately afterwards; one day without cover is one day driving uninsured.
What does your premium depend on?
- Type of cover: third-party liability, third-party, fire and theft, or comprehensive
- Excess: higher amount, lower premium
- No-claims years: these determine your discount step
- Number of kilometres per year: declare what you actually drive
- Age of the regular driver: young drivers weigh heavily
- Postcode area: the risk of theft and damage
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.
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.
Frequently asked questions
This is what people ask us most.
What gains the most without giving up cover?
Comparing and switching. Rates differ widely per insurer and change every year, while the cover can stay the same. After that come paying annually instead of monthly and bundling your policies into one package. Those are the three routes that save premium without changing your conditions.
Is a higher excess sensible?
Only if you can spare the amount without difficulty. The excess applies per claim, not per year, so with two claims you pay it twice. Choose an amount you can bear out of your own funds and watch whether a separate excess applies to glass damage or to young drivers.
Am I better off paying a small loss myself?
Often you are. Besides your excess, an at-fault claim costs you several steps on the no-claims scale, and that works through for years. Ask the insurer what the fall back means before you have the claim settled. On a claim that is not your fault you usually do not lose your step.
May I declare a lower mileage to save premium?
No. The annual mileage is one of the pieces of information on which the premium is based. After a claim the insurer can check the odometer reading through the service history or the MOT register. If the declaration turns out to be structurally incorrect, the payment can be reduced or refused and the policy terminated.
Is insurance premium tax already included in the premium quoted?
Usually it is, but not every comparison site shows the same thing. General insurance carries 21% insurance premium tax, and some providers also charge policy costs. When comparing, check that you are setting amounts including tax and charges side by side, otherwise you are comparing unequal quotations.
When can I switch?
Many car policies can be cancelled daily after the first contract year, with a short notice period. Only cancel once the new policy is in place and let the cover start immediately afterwards. Your no-claims years move with you to the new insurer; they are recorded and exchanged between companies.
Read more
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Want to know whether it can be cheaper?
Request a quotation without obligation. We compare premium and conditions, and we will say honestly if switching gains you nothing.
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 written and checked by an adviser at Finass Verzekert. Last updated on .
The information on this page is general in nature and is not personal advice.