Third-party liability for plant and machinery
- Compulsory on public roads
- Also during work
- Cables and pipes separately
Insuring a self-propelled machine
A machine that moves under its own power is usually a motor vehicle in law. That makes third-party liability cover compulsory as soon as it touches the public road, even without a registration number.
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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.
- Independent advice
- Several insurers
- Switching arranged
- Help with claims
In brief
The term self-propelled machine covers a broad group: from a self-propelled aerial work platform or sweeper to a mobile crane, an asphalt paver or a harvesting machine. What they have in common is their own drive. That generally makes them motor vehicle within the meaning of the WAM, and third-party liability insurance is compulsory under Article 2 of the Dutch Motor Insurance Liability Act (WAM) as soon as the machine uses the public road — without a registration number as well and even for a short crossing.
The own-damage cover relates to the machine itself: collision, tipping over, sinking in, fire, storm and theft. What matters is the distinction between damage on the machine and damage through the machine. The first is own damage. The second is liability, and that divides into damage while driving and damage arising from the work you carry out with the machine.
That last category usually belongs on the public and employers' liability insurance. If the machine is working as machine: lifting, digging, spraying, compacting: and damage is caused in the process to the object being worked on or to surrounding property, that is AVB territory and not equipment damage.
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What does the policy cover for a self-propelled machine?
The structure is the same with almost every insurer: compulsory third-party liability, own-damage cover and additional modules.
Own-damage cover
Damage to the machine, the body and the attachments.
- Fire and storm
- Theft from the site
- Overturning and collision
Extensions
What you add separately.
- Inherent defect and machinery breakdown
- Transport to the site
- Hired plant
What is covered
| Situation | Third-party liability for plant and machinery | Own-damage cover |
|---|---|---|
| Damage to a building or a parked car next to the site | Yes | No |
| Theft of the machine from the building site | No | Provided that |
| Fire and storm damage | No | Yes |
| Inherent defect in the hydraulics or the engine | No | Provided that |
| Damage to the item you are working on with the machine | No | No |
| Wear and deferred maintenance | No | No |
Mobile plant is a motor vehicle within the meaning of the WAM and needs third-party liability insurance on public roads; non-mobile plant does not. Damage to cables and pipes is generally only covered if the excavation notification has been made and the trial trenches have been dug. The item you work on with the machine falls under the care, custody and control exclusion.
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?
- Type of machine: crane, aerial work platform or sweeper
- Value and year of construction: the basis for the own-damage premium
- Road use: determines whether the WAM applies
- Lending to third parties: hiring out increases the risk
- Security and storage: tracking, fencing and key management
- Excess and claims history: earlier claims count
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 in practice
Four points that determine which policy actually pays after a claim.
Travelling or working determines the policy
One machine, two regimes. If the machine is moving and hits another vehicle, that is a WAM claims. If it is stationary and the arm, boom or spray boom damages something during the work, the insurer generally assesses that as damage arising from the activity and the claim belongs on the AVB. If the two policies are with different insurers, this is precisely the point at which they point at each other. Set out the boundary in advance.
Use by third parties and hired-in workers
Policies cover only use by people who work with the consent of the policyholder and who are authorised and certified. That applies to agency workers, self-employed professionals and a subcontractor's staff as well. If you lend the machine to another business, that is a material change which has to be reported in advance; hiring out almost always requires a separate arrangement. Keep certificates, instructions and loan forms in your records.
What is not included
The following, among others, are outside the cover: wear and tear and ageing; an mechanical or electrical failure without an external cause, such as a failed pump or burnt-out control system; damage caused by overloading or incorrect use, including lifting or hoisting above the permitted limits; damage to the the load or the workpiece; operation by people without the required certification; and damage caused by intent or recklessness under Article 7:952 of the Dutch Civil Code. Soil contamination belongs on environmental damage insurance.
Theft, security and the duty to report
With self-propelled equipment insurers set concrete requirements: a immobiliser, an active tracker, key management and storage inside a fence or a locked space. If one of those measures is missing when a theft occurs, payment can be reduced or refused. What you stated in the application about the base location and security falls under Article 7:928 of the Dutch Civil Code; a departure from it can have consequences under Article 7:930 of the Dutch Civil Code. You report a claim as soon as reasonably possible (Article 7:941 of the Dutch Civil Code).
Frequently asked questions
This is what people ask us most.
When is my machine a motor vehicle?
When it is moved over the ground by its own mechanical power, other than along rails. A self-propelled machine generally meets that description. As soon as it then uses the public road, the insurance obligation in article 2 WAM applies, without a registration number as well. In case of doubt, for example with a generator on wheels, put the situation to the insurer in writing in advance.
May a hired-in worker operate the machine?
Yes, provided he is authorised, holds the required certification and works with your permission. If someone works without papers, an own-damage claim can be refused. With a third-party liability claim the insurer usually does pay the injured party, because the WAM protects that third party, but it can then recover the amount paid from you. Record who may operate which machine.
May I lend or hire out the machine?
Only after reporting it. Lending to another business changes who operates the machine, where it stands and how it is secured. That is a material change in the risk. Hiring out almost always calls for a separate module or a separate policy. Arrange this in advance and record for each loan who is responsible for damage and the excess.
Is the machine insured during transport?
If it drives itself, the ordinary cover applies. If it goes on a low-loader or trailer, it is cargo and not a motor vehicle in use; damage during loading, lashing, transport and unloading then often falls outside own-damage cover. A transit module or own-account transport cover exists for that. Apply for it before the first move.
Does damage to the work itself fall under the policy?
No. Damage to the object on or with which you are working is excluded on the equipment policy. That claim is assessed on the public and employers' liability insurance, where restrictions often apply to things in your care, custody and control. So align the two policies deliberately, certainly where they are with different insurers.
Every situation is different. For these situations we have a separate page.
- Compare plant and machinery insuranceThe main page
- Which plant and machinery policies are there?Third-party liability under the WAM, own-damage, the boundary with the AVB
- Insuring a bulldozerWAM obligation, own-damage, transport and theft
- Insuring a tractor as plant and machineryWAM obligation, own-damage cover, attachments
- Insuring a dumperWAM obligation, own-damage, load and tipping
- Insuring a rollerWAM obligation, own-damage cover, vibration damage
- Insuring a tractor as plant and machineryWAM obligation, own-damage, implements on the linkage
Read more
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Which cover suits your machine?
Request a quote without obligation. We set the WAM obligation, the own-damage conditions and the requirements around use by third parties side by side.
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.