Version and value
- List price at purchase
- Payload and dimensions
- Electric or fuel
- Year of manufacture and market value
Make · specification · fitted equipment
Van insurance for the self-employed: what difference the make makes
The make of your van partly determines the premium, but not the cover. The conditions and exclusions are the same for virtually every model.
- 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: Bestelautoverzekering voor zzp'ers: wat het merk uitmaakt.
Calculate your premium or request a quote
Without obligation; a reply within one working day.
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 your own premium with the calculator.
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
Insurers classify vans on the basis of make, specification, weight, list price and year of manufacture. Two vans of the same make can therefore fall into different premium groups: a long, high version with a powerful engine costs more than a compact city van. On top of that, theft figures per model are taken into account, as are the price of parts and the repair costs of modern driver assistance systems in the bumper and the windscreen.
What does not differ by make is how the insurance is set up. Every van with a valid registration is subject to the obligation in Article 2 of the Dutch Motor Insurance Liability Act (WAM) to insure liability. Above that you choose third-party fire and theft or comprehensive cover. And with every make, the capacity of the load space is not insured: tools, machines and materials call for separate tools or business contents insurance.
So do not choose on make but on the combination of cover and conditions. Compare the excess, the valuation arrangement and the question of whether racking and signwriting are covered. See also the overview of van makes.
What determines the premium per make?
Three groups of characteristics explain almost the entire premium difference between models.
Theft and repair costs
Popular models are stolen more often and are more expensive to repair.
- Theft figures per model
- Price of parts
- Sensors in the bumper and glass
- Requirements for an alarm or tracking
Use and fitted equipment
How you use the van weighs more heavily than the badge on the grille.
- Own-account carriage or delivery
- Annual mileage and area of operation
- Racking and an inverter
- Signage and advertising
What is covered
| Situation | Third-party liability | Comprehensive cover |
|---|---|---|
| Damage to another vehicle | Yes | Yes |
| Theft of the van | No | Yes |
| Windscreen damage or stone chips | No | Yes |
| Fitted racking and permanent fittings | No | Provided that |
| Signwriting and advertising graphics | No | Provided that |
| Tools stolen from the load space | 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.
Four points when choosing by make
The make influences the premium; these four points determine whether you get what you expect when there is a claim.
Declare fitted equipment, vehicle graphics and accessories separately
Vans are rarely driven in standard form. A racking system, a wooden floor, an inverter, a towbar, a roof carrier and lettering increase the value of the vehicle. If they are not on the policy, the payout is limited to the standard specification. When you take out the policy, declare what has been fitted and up to what amount. In the event of a total loss this is usually the biggest difference between the expected and the actual payout, whatever make you drive.
Market value varies widely by model
Some makes hold their value better than others. That feeds through into the valuation arrangement: many policies apply the purchase price or replacement value as new for a period and then switch to market value. With a model that loses value quickly, the difference evaporates within a few years. Under Article 7:960 of the Dutch Civil Code an insurer may not pay more than the loss suffered, so a high sum insured does not solve this. Check how long the arrangement runs and how the market value is determined.
Security requirements depend on the model
For models that are stolen more often, the insurer imposes additional requirements: an approved alarm system, an immobiliser, a tracking system or parking on an enclosed site. Those requirements are not advice but a condition of cover. If you state security on your application that is not there, that affects the duty of disclosure under Article 7:928 of the Dutch Civil Code and the payout can be reduced or refused under Article 7:930 of the Dutch Civil Code. Keep the installation certificate.
What falls outside the cover with every make
Whatever the make, the following are excluded: driving without a valid driving licence or while disqualified, driving under the influence of alcohol or drugs, and taking part in competitions and driving on a circuit. Also wear, mechanical defects and manufacturing faults fall outside it; warranties and manufacturers' schemes exist for those. Hire or use as a driving school vehicle without notification is not covered, nor is damage to the the load carried. Intent and wilful recklessness are excluded under Article 7:952 of the Dutch Civil Code.
What does your premium depend on?
- Make and specification — premium group based on type
- List price — the basis for the own-damage premium
- Susceptibility to theft — some models weigh more heavily
- Security — alarm, immobiliser, tracking
- Use and mileage — carrying your own goods or making deliveries
- No-claims years — step on the bonus-malus ladder
Insurers weigh these details differently. That is why comparing pays off.
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
The questions we are asked most often about this.
Does the make make a big difference to the premium?
It makes a difference, but usually less than the use. Make and specification determine the premium group through list price, weight and theft figures. On top of that, mileage, area of operation, drivers and claims history are taken into account. Two business owners with the same van can therefore pay clearly different premiums. Always compare on the basis of your own situation.
Is an electric van more expensive to insure?
Often it is for own-damage cover, because the purchase price and the repair costs are higher and battery damage is expensive. Check whether damage to the battery pack is insured, whether hire of the pack counts and whether charging cables and a charging point have to be declared separately. The third-party liability premium generally differs less sharply.
Is racking insured as well?
Not automatically. Permanently fitted equipment can fall under own-damage cover, but many insurers ask for a separate declaration and a maximum amount. Loose racks, crates and tools fall outside it in any event. When you take out the policy, declare what has been fitted, including the floor, inverter, towbar and lettering, and keep the invoices.
Can I switch cover if I change van?
Yes. On replacement, the new registration is put on the existing policy and the premium recalculated for the new premium group. Your no-claims years are retained. It is a good moment to look at the type of cover again: with a newer van, comprehensive cover is more often defensible than for the model you are trading in.
Does the cover also apply if someone else drives?
For damage to third parties it does, because the WAM cover follows the motor vehicle and not the driver. For own damage, a limited circle of drivers or an age clause may apply, including for a hired-in worker or agency worker. Check that in advance and record who may drive the van and on what conditions.
Read more
Similar pages
- Insuring a van as a self-employed professional
- Insuring a self-employed professional's van, by make
- Insuring a van or company car as a self-employed professional (zzp’er)
- Business van insurance by make and model
- Van insurance by make and version
- Van insurance through ASR — compare & calculate your premium
- Insuring a van for business use
- Van insurance through Turien & Co — compare & calculate your premium
Also relevant
Comparing premiums by model?
Request a quote without obligation; we work out your make and specification with several insurers.
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.